killer_ewok;608063 wrote:-The conspiracy talk is overboard but where were some of you criticizing those couple Steeler fans when others were claiming conspiracy after Super Bowl XL and after the Miami game this year? All of the photoshopped photos of referees wearing black and gold in Super Bowl XL, the talk about officials being from the Pittsburgh area, etc. I mean, if a league conspiracy against the Steelers is ridiculous then a league conspiracy FOR the Steelers to win games and Super Bowls is equally absurd, right? I'm just asking for some consistency here. You can't have it both ways. It's hypocritical. I think all of the conspiracy talk is bullshit. But I just wish there was more outrage when people were claiming the league was trying to hand the Steelers games and trophies.
This. If Steeler fans shouldn't be allowed to complain about poor officiating, then fans of other teams shouldn't be talking when the Steelers get the benefit of questionable calls or non-calls. After all, it's a bit hypocritical to downplay the impact a missed call had in a Pittsburgh loss (such as last night or the playoff loss to Jacksonville a handful of years ago) while CONSTANTLY bringing up the Seattle Super Bowl as this profound evidence that things are rigged in their favor. Kind of like how it's hypocritical to relish the Turkey Jones' hit on Bradshaw as this great moment in sports while crying like a little bitch because James Harrison wrecked a couple of guys' days.
But I guess when a team is, say, 5-9 and heading to another dismal off-season with another potential coaching change and another high draft pick, about the most joy their fans get from the NFL from December on would come from things like this. Such is life. Some fanbases celebrate wins, other celebrate the losses of their superiors because it's really difficult to celebrate a loss to a team that last won when it was comfortable to be wearing tank tops and shorts outside.
As for the game, the missed call sucked, but that's life. I look at a lot of the problem being the mid-season rule changes, as they cause the refs to be looking for more stuff and making split-second decisions on those things WITHOUT the sort of training that helps with integrating these new rules more seamlessly. I wouldn't be surprised if, around the league, a number of calls that could/should be made are being missed just because refs are missing things due to the increased emphasis on paying attention to head shots.
Life goes on. Take care of Carolina and Cleveland and the Steelers are the #2 seed and have a first round bye.