[rams1974]

It always amuses me the language people use when shooting down the notion that the NFL engages in these behaviors. Always strikes me a little like protesting too much. It's nonsense! It's conspiracy theories! Okay, okay, I got it - you, um, disagree ..

I believe the NFL always has its finger on the pulse of what fans want to see (note: watching the Cowboys flail helplessly is something a lot of fans want to see). And they know they cannot push it too far, like they can't force the Giants to be a playoff team when they are simply incompetent trash.

And respectfully, I DO believe this can be really as simple as follow the money .. my only ally in this debate passed away a few years back (RIP moklerman), so this may be a very lonely stance for me here

[rams74]

FWIW, I don't think anybody thinks the league is squeaky clean. They certainly push buttons and control certain things when they want to. They push out owners that are no longer doing and/or saying the right things. Maybe they even stack the deck in favor of a given prospective ownership group when a sale is happening.

But do they control things to the point of determining games? That feels like a bridge too far for me.

For example, Super Bowl 36, a subject that won't go away for Rams fans. No rational person would argue that the officials didn't swallow their whistles that game, allowing the Patriots to mug the Rams' WRs all game long. But was that the league determining in advance that they wanted the Patriots to win? Or was it a group of officials who just wanted to "let the players play," and didn't want the outcome decided by a yellow flag? My opinion is more likely the latter.

Then there's Spygate. Did the league tell the Patriots that if they taped the Rams' practice, they would (wink, wink) look the other way? Or did they just decide, ex post facto, to destroy the tapes simply because it was publicity they didn't want? Again, I think more likely the latter.

It sucks, and it's not fair. But was it premeditated, orchestrated, and choreographed? I just can't get there.

[Gareth]

It always amuses me the language people use when shooting down the notion that the NFL engages in these behaviors. Always strikes me a little like protesting too much. It's nonsense! It's conspiracy theories! Okay, okay, I got it - you, um, disagree ..

I believe the NFL always has its finger on the pulse of what fans want to see (note: watching the Cowboys flail helplessly is something a lot of fans want to see). And they know they cannot push it too far, like they can't force the Giants to be a playoff team when they are simply incompetent trash.

And respectfully, I DO believe this can be really as simple as follow the money .. my only ally in this debate passed away a few years back (RIP moklerman), so this may be a very lonely stance for me here

You haven't answered what I believe to be the key question here: if you don't believe the NFL is on the up and up - why do you support it?

[Dare]

Just to play devil's advocate here.

What if the answer is far simpler yet, in some ways, worse? There has always been questionable officiating since the invention of the NFL. But IMO, it's no coincidence that the officiating has become more blatantly biased since the NFL has removed the barriers associated with organized gambling.

Does anyone here think officials don't gamble? It can be done simply via a family member or friend. Not just the officials but ownership as well. It wasn't that long ago when I was living in San Diego, that a local casino wanted to buy advertising on then Qualcomm Stadium and the NFL rejected it immediately because it was gaming related.

When the Chargers were clearly looking to move, Las Vegas made them an offer they were fools to ignore. A 100% publicly funded stadium. I told my friends that Spanos was stupid for not taking it. But everyone and I mean everyone said it would never happen because the NFL would not allow it due to gaming.

Now, the NFL's major sponsor is organized gambling. You don't think they play a huge part in determining games? Simple greed, from the officials themselves up to and including the ownership. To think these people don't bet on games is naive.

Why do you think its always been nothing more than slaps on the wrists for officials "caught" making blatantly bad calls. Now that gambling is officially a partner with the NFL, there is no way it's going to stop.

[BobCarl]

You haven't answered what I believe to be the key question here: if you don't believe the NFL is on the up and up - why do you support it?

does professional wrestling still exist?

[Gareth]

does professional wrestling still exist?

Is this a serious response? If it is, it's a really bad one.

Everybody knows professional wrestling is entertainment and not truly a competition.

[rams1974]

You haven't answered what I believe to be the key question here: if you don't believe the NFL is on the up and up - why do you support it?

OK! I guess I'm not 100% sure why this is important, but sure. I've decided that on the whole I enjoy it enough that I can tolerate whatever shenanigans the NFL engages in.

This decision was made a lot easer with the Rams move to LA ... if they had been forced to stay in St. Louis I know they'd never be allowed to really compete - that would have been difficult.

[Gareth]

OK! I guess I'm not 100% sure why this is important, but sure. I've decided that on the whole I enjoy it enough that I can tolerate whatever shenanigans the NFL engages in.

This decision was made a lot easer with the Rams move to LA ... if they had been forced to stay in St. Louis I know they'd never be allowed to really compete - that would have been difficult.

This is where we differ in a major way. I could not enjoy watching games that I thought were not 100% fair. And I certainly could not put my heart and soul into a team, in my case the Rams, without believing in the sanctity of the league.

[St. Loser Fan]

[ramman2999]

No way.

They’re just a great team Patrick Mahomes Andy Reid.

The NFL would’ve liked to have the 49ers win one of their glamour teams. Not their fault they fucked thier selves and shot themselves in the foot.

This shit is a simple format in the NFL follow it.

Great Quarterback Coach

60’s Lombardi Starr

70’s Bradshaw Knoll

80’s Montana Walsh

90’s Aikman Johnson

2000’s Brady Bellicheck

2010s Brady Bellicheck

2020’s Mahomes Reid.