The NFL Is Rigged

I use to think there was some people who tin foil hats who believed this, but the game is. Refs control the game and that's that (Vegas odds pull it).

The game against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots swung wildly back and forth, up until the second to last play where quarterback Ben Roethlisberger pass to tight end Jesse James was called back due a strange NFL rule about what constitutes a catch. The call could've gone either way. We all thought it looked like a touchdown. It was called back because James did not control the ball, and actually used the ground to secure it. Ticky tack to say the least. But what was most bewildering is...why is this call seen under such a microscope. Even the commentators were confused. Until we saw the play again in slow motion. Perhaps the line judge saw that it did indeed hit the ground. Though...as it crossed the plain..after what was presumably a catch, isn't that a touchdown? Nope. And that is the Brady mystique (odds). He got it with the Tuck Rule and now with this (which has haunted Dez Bryant, Calvin Johnson, Seattle guy, and so on and so on...)

The rigged part isn't necessarily a numbers thing. I mean, c'mon...how did the Patriots allow a 69 yard tear into field goal territory. Or who would've guessed Roethlisberger would attempt to fake spike and toss a slant route that ended in an interception (Seattle folks can stop grinding their teeth). Or that Patriot coach Bill Belicheck is a Jedi master.

But the Steelers often forget that when Bengal fans cried foul for the referees to punish the ever loving shit out of them, it's met with Shitsburgh fans tossing back the fact that we whine about officiating. Refs favor Steelers over Bengals. Refs favor Patriots over Steelers.

Look, there is holding in EVERY single play, or a block to the back, or an illegal use of hands to the face. The refs can decide who to call these on. Obviously the NFL has their internal rules which will never involve us. But that's the price paid for watching...um...entertainment. We know a Pats/Steeler game generates a TON more viewers than Bengals/Pats. Us Bengal fans DO NOT travel at all.
I would say in every city there is a massive contingent of Steeler or Pats fans. So the game is geared towards...where people spend money. IF you don't like these terms, there is always college football. Which is where I think most viewers are headed.

I think most people go to the NFL these days just to do something on a Sunday. The game is inconsequential, except for the 10% that the NFL wants to do well for the viewership (how did Atlanta and Carolina fall so far so fast, oh right...the Super Bowl isn't going to be played there anytime soon).

Okay, so conspiracy theories aside, I'm glad the NFL chose the Pats to win this one. Even with a debilitated Ryan Shazier in the crowd looking like a Make-A-Wish kid.