Conspiracy? Dont make me laugh

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Re: Conspiracy? Dont make me laugh

CL,

I will concede the point with regards to conspiracy. But Goodell/NFL want to change culture...for a myriad of reasons...the Steelers have been more vocal than any other team including the Rooneys (not as vocal as some would like but just he same they have been extremely more vocal than the Ravens for example).

So Pittsburgh has become magnetic north as the poster child for old school intimidation football...so this has become the battleground to the attempt to change culture in the NFL.

Obviously this is just my opinion, but I do think it has some merits to consider.

brothervad

AND,

The changes NoGoodell wants to make are exactly what our team identity is - hard hitting, smash mouth football. He wants us all to be Peyton Manning clones.

I agree completely.
We are the antithesis of what Goodall wants the league to be. But some Steelers play the way he wants.
Less Ryan Clark, more Troy P
Less Harrison more Farrior
Definitely less Hines from previous seasons.

I am not saying it is right or that I like it.

I think if we won the SB while playing a softer brand of football, he would be fine with it.

This team will NOT win the Super Bowl, or even get anywhere close to the Super Bowl, playing a "softer brand of football." Maybe the Steelers can build a team that will be able to do that in a few years...but NOT this team.

So, in effect, according to your own logic, Goodell IS aiming to keep the Steelers from the Super Bowl this season.

[feltdizz]

Re: Conspiracy? Dont make me laugh

definitely a conspiracy... or whatever the term is for putting the refs on notice anytime Harrison is close to a QB...

[SteelTorch]

Re: Conspiracy? Dont make me laugh

I'm not going to say there's a conspiracy going on. However, with all that's happened this year, I think you're kidding yourself if you don't believe the Steelers are being unfairly targetted this season. Too much evidence to say otherwise.

[steelblood]

Re: Conspiracy? Dont make me laugh

I agree; It isn't a conspiracy of the 1st order.

But, there are two sets of rules out there. There are the standards we hold James Harrison (and perhaps Ryan Clark) too and those for the rest of the league. There are helmet to helmet penalties on other receivers, but not Hines. There are roughing the passer penalties for other QBs that rarely or never get called when they happen to Ben. And now, Suddenly, for two games in a row there are multiple holding penalties against our team that are not enforced against the other team. These inconsistencies are ruining my enjoyment of the game and making me question why Goodell will allow them to exist. He realizes they are there and does not care. His bias is obvious and could cost us our season.

[sentinel33]

Re: Conspiracy? Dont make me laugh

not only cost us a game but possibly a player either due to a suspension(harrison) or due to injury(roethlisberger).

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Re: Conspiracy? Dont make me laugh

Do I think that there is an actual conspiracy? No.

Do I think that the refs are told before each Steelers game that if Harrison hits someone then be quicker to throw a flag than you would for any other player? Yes, the quickness of the flag on his hit yesterday would indicate that the refs are told to anticipate a penalty on Harrison.

Do I think that the refs have been told to err on the side of caution in any Steelers game? Yes

Do I think that Goodell would rather avoid the discomfort of handing the Lombardi over to co-MVPs Ben Roethlisberger and James Harrison? Yes, but not enough to tell the officials to purposely make the wrong call.

[Crash]

Re: Conspiracy? Dont make me laugh

Noticed Captain Bu|l**** here didn't address my reply to him.

It's OK Cap, we both know why.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Re: Conspiracy? Dont make me laugh

Do I think that there is an actual conspiracy? No.

Do I think that the refs are told before each Steelers game that if Harrison hits someone then be quicker to throw a flag than you would for any other player? Yes, the quickness of the flag on his hit yesterday would indicate that the refs are told to anticipate a penalty on Harrison.

Do I think that the refs have been told to err on the side of caution in any Steelers game? Yes

Do I think that Goodell would rather avoid the discomfort of handing the Lombardi over to co-MVPs Ben Roethlisberger and James Harrison? Yes, but not enough to tell the officials to purposely make the wrong call.

I'd go along with this theory.

[Crash]

Re: Conspiracy? Dont make me laugh

Do I think that the refs are told before each Steelers game that if Harrison hits someone then be quicker to throw a flag than you would for any other player? Yes, the quickness of the flag on his hit yesterday would indicate that the refs are told to anticipate a penalty on Harrison.

Um...that sure as hell would sound like a conspiracy, no?

[feltdizz]

Re: Conspiracy? Dont make me laugh

Do I think that the refs are told before each Steelers game that if Harrison hits someone then be quicker to throw a flag than you would for any other player? Yes, the quickness of the flag on his hit yesterday would indicate that the refs are told to anticipate a penalty on Harrison.

Um...that sure as hell would sound like a conspiracy, no?

I don't think it can be called a conspiracy when it's obvious and every commentator discusses how they are keeping an eye on Harrison.

I don't think any rational person can say Harrison is getting the same calls as the rest of the LB's in the league.

[Captain Lemming]

Re: Conspiracy? Dont make me laugh

Noticed Captain Bu|l**** here didn't address my reply to him.

It's OK Cap, we both know why.

Yup we both know why I ignored you.
While I was explaining bad calls, you bring up arguments unrelated to my contention.

But I'll humor you now.

Yeah I'm sure it wasn't deliberately when he scheduled the Ravens in week 4 with Ben out right?

Hmmm, we play the Ravens twice a season. The season is 16 games.
I am no math wiz but that tells me it is a 50/50 chance we play the Ravens in the first four games.

Yeah I'm sure it also wasn't deliberately to schedule Ben's Steelers on prime time TV five times in the seasons final 10 weeks when Ben returned (This would coincide with Ben serving a full 6 game suspension).

I don't even know what your point is.

This is also the same commish who deliberately forced the Rooney's to break up their 20 year old ownership group and by doing so, forced the Rooney's to take on more debt for thier loans to purchase the shares from remaining Rooney's and the McGinley family.

Again not really related but is your point that Goodell is anti-Rooney?

Why is it Crash that Rooney II goes out of his way to support the Commish so often?

[Crash]

Re: Conspiracy? Dont make me laugh

Hmmm, we play the Ravens twice a season. The season is 16 games.

I am no math wiz but that tells me it is a 50/50 chance we play the Ravens in the first four games.

And you think it's mere coincidence that the first meeting takes place in Pittsburgh without Ben who is 6-1 vs the Ravens at home?

I don't even know what your point is.

My point is Goodell doesn't care about the league, it's image, or anything. He only cares about what he gets out of the players.

Ben haters loath the sense of entitlement Ben allegedly felt with his attitude. But if anything the NFL is guilty of fueling Ben's mindset.

Yeah they'll convict him in their Kangaroo Court, but we'll make sure to A) Not schedule the Ben-less Steelers in prime time, and B) Make sure to schedule them 5 times when Ben gets back.

If Ben felt he was above the team? The NFL is guilty of doing the same thing.

[feltdizz]

Re: Conspiracy? Dont make me laugh

So... the NFL and Goodell made Ben into a perceived monster in GA because they scheduled 5 prime time games for the upcoming season?

are you really trying to blame the future for Ben's off field mind set? You don't think the success of the past had anything to do with his mindset?

Are you really that freaking off your rocker? You need to hug a puppy. You are losing it.

[feltdizz]

Re: Conspiracy? Dont make me laugh

If Ben felt he was above the team? The NFL is guilty of doing the same thing.

It's about time you placed blame at Ben's feet.

You do know pointing out 2 wrongs doesn't make something right...

The NFL is wrong for flagging Harrison for breathing on QB's... the NFL is wrong for the random fines... the NFL is wrong for the lack of suspensions for Johnson and the idiot from TN.

Not sure what any of these have to do with scheduling prime time games though

[Crash]

Re: Conspiracy? Dont make me laugh

Yo Cap? Address this OK?

And you think it's mere coincidence that the first meeting takes place in Pittsburgh without Ben who is 6-1 vs the Ravens at home?

So... the NFL and Goodell made Ben into a perceived monster in GA because they scheduled 5 prime time games for the upcoming season?

No stupid, they made him a monster in the court of public opinion when they suspended him.

Then, the NFL is guilty of EXPLOITING Ben's return for higher ratings when they schedule him in 5 prime time games.