Aristocracy of Pull in the NFL?
Posted by jmlesniewski 12 years, 5 months ago to Entertainment
I don't often post personal stories here, but the article I've linked to got under my skin and made me wonder what's really going on. Basically the article says the Patriots aren't dominant anymore because they can't play pass defense. However, the following quote reveals something much more insidious:
"Let's go back to the final play of that Jets-Patriots game, because it shouldn't have been the final play at all. Mark Sanchez is sacked on his dropback and certainly fumbles the ball backward, a decision that was reviewed by the notably incompetent Jeff Triplette and confirmed before the game was officially brought to a halt.
What the referees didn't call at the time, though (and couldn't overturn on review), was a personal-foul penalty that should have kept the game going. The initial contact with Sanchez is made by Jermaine Cunningham (no. 96), who falls down at the line of scrimmage in front of Sanchez and crawls at Sanchez before diving at his ankles and knocking him down."
The reason this cry of "the game wasn't over because the Patriots committed a penalty" is so worrisome is because...every time the Patriots defense makes a big stop (which would give the ball back to their offense), the referees call a penalty against them and then the other team goes on to score.
This reminds me of how people who can't get ahead use government, and more specifically the legal system, to tear down their competitors. Ultimately what it does to the Patriots and the NFL is the following:
-Makes players and coaches be criticized when they don't deserve it. Most notably, the young Patriots' defensive backs are destroyed by the media and hated by fans when there's nothing they can do. Every time they make a play, a penalty is called against them.
-Dilutes the quality of football. It's no longer a game about schemes and execution. It's about chucking it deep and hoping the refs make a call. Also, coaches will become (and already have) more concerned with manipulating the refs to be on their side than coaching good football.
Basically it's the Aristocracy of Pull in the NFL.
"Let's go back to the final play of that Jets-Patriots game, because it shouldn't have been the final play at all. Mark Sanchez is sacked on his dropback and certainly fumbles the ball backward, a decision that was reviewed by the notably incompetent Jeff Triplette and confirmed before the game was officially brought to a halt.
What the referees didn't call at the time, though (and couldn't overturn on review), was a personal-foul penalty that should have kept the game going. The initial contact with Sanchez is made by Jermaine Cunningham (no. 96), who falls down at the line of scrimmage in front of Sanchez and crawls at Sanchez before diving at his ankles and knocking him down."
The reason this cry of "the game wasn't over because the Patriots committed a penalty" is so worrisome is because...every time the Patriots defense makes a big stop (which would give the ball back to their offense), the referees call a penalty against them and then the other team goes on to score.
This reminds me of how people who can't get ahead use government, and more specifically the legal system, to tear down their competitors. Ultimately what it does to the Patriots and the NFL is the following:
-Makes players and coaches be criticized when they don't deserve it. Most notably, the young Patriots' defensive backs are destroyed by the media and hated by fans when there's nothing they can do. Every time they make a play, a penalty is called against them.
-Dilutes the quality of football. It's no longer a game about schemes and execution. It's about chucking it deep and hoping the refs make a call. Also, coaches will become (and already have) more concerned with manipulating the refs to be on their side than coaching good football.
Basically it's the Aristocracy of Pull in the NFL.
