The Conspiracy Thread

[Reaper Skins]

Beyond that we tend to completely ignore any evidence to the contrary. For instance the 2015 schedule has an unusually easy start and a very difficult finish to it. If that schedule was completely reversed, I'm sure some people on this board would complain that the league wants to bury the Redskins early and not even give the team a shot.

I'd say even the easy teams we play early aren't that easy. Miami just got Suh, Rams have been a thorn in our side for years, Bucs beat us last year and will probably have a new franchise QB in  Winston, Falcons staff is made up of coaches and players who know the ins and outs of our organization...

Edited June 15, 2015 by Reaper Skins

[mistertim]

 

 

Don't remember that... When was that?

 

[Karl B.]

I tend to agree, instant replay calls that you know will be turned over aren't.  Cardinals game fumble comes to mind. You know its bad when the announcers(who always hate skins) are baffled by instant replay going against skins.

Edited April 24, 2015 by Karl B.

[paredskinsfan]

I think his is where it all began. I still have nightmares about this damn play. 

 

https://youtu.be/JX1ruNEo3Ro

 

**** Allstott.

[Reaper Skins]

Lets not forget the Rg3 halftime touchdown at the Giants game last season.  Even the other team thought it was a touchdown.  Moss gets ejected, Redskins meltdown, game over before 2nd half even starts

 

http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2014/12/redskins_disagree_with_call_giants_thought_it_was_td_what_was_said_about_game-changing_play.html

 

http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2014/12/redskins_receiver_santana_moss_ejected_vs_giants_for_berating_referee.html

 

Here's footage of the play as well

http://www.nfl.com/videos/washington-redskins/0ap3000000443375/RGIII-touchdown-call-reversed-players-angry-at-call

[Reaper Skins]

If you want to dig really deep into the archives, here's some interesting stats concerning the Redskins W/L record against Superbowl champs.  We seem to have quite the knack for beating the team that will go on to win the Super Bowl that year.  And the very few times we didn't there are some weird outcomes for the losses.

 

2015 Superbowl Winners - New England Patriots

(Didn't play during regular season)

 

2014 Superbowl Winners - Seattle Seahawks

(Didn't play during regular season)

 

2013 Superbowl Winners - Baltimore Ravens

(Redskins beat them in week 14)

 

2012 Superbowl Winners - New York Giants

(Redskins swept them in weeks 1 and 15)

 

2011 Superbowl Winners - Green Bay Packers

(Redskins beat them in Week 5)

 

2010 Superbowl Winners - New Orleans Saints

(Should have won.  Lost to them in overtime in week 13, due to this VERY CONTROVERSIAL call:)

Campbell then threw a short pass to Sellers near the right sideline that gained three yards before Sellers was upended by cornerback Chris McAlister. Although the ball came out when Sellers hit the ground and McAlister recovered, the play appeared to be over because the official blew his whistle.

But the replay assistant challenged that Sellers was down before the ball came out.

The play was reversed after a lengthy review and New Orleans took over at Washington's 37. New Orleans got the ball to Washington's 1-yard line and Hartley delivered at the 8:31 mark.

Not surprisingly, Sellers took it hard.

"It's not the fact that I thought I was down, it's the fact that as soon as I was hit the whistle was blown and that was it. That killed the play," Sellers said. "Every time the whistle is blown the play is always dead. But now the whistle is blown [and] the play counts? I don't understand that. But nothing is falling our way this whole season. I just don't understand this."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/06/AR2009120602812.html

http://www.blackstate.com/redskinssaints90612092.html

 

2009 Superbowl Winners - Pittsburgh Steelers

(Redskins lose in the infamous Monday night Terrible Towel Game, FedEx Field overrun with Pittsburgh Fans, Jason Campbell has a franchise record 271 completion streak snapped, Controversial call in the 4th Quarter takes away a Campbell Rushing Washington TD that would have made it a one possession game)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/04/AR2008110400172.html

 

2008 Superbowl Winners - New York Giants 

(Redskins beat them in week 15)

 

2007 Superbowl Winners - Indianapolis Colts 

(Washington Loss.  After taking the lead on an 87 yard punt return, officials call 4 personal fouls on Redskins players within a 2 minute span, forcing them to kick off from their own 5 yard line.  The Redskins never retake the lead).

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametracker/recap/NFL_20061022_WAS@IND

 

2006 Superbowl Winners - Steelers

(Did not play during regular season)

 

2005 Superbowl Winners - Patriots

(Did not play during regular season)

 

2004 Superbowl Winners - Patriots

(Redskins beat them in week 4)

Edited April 30, 2015 by Reaper Skins

[mistertim]

I think his is where it all began. I still have nightmares about this damn play. 

 

https://youtu.be/JX1ruNEo3Ro

 

**** Allstott.

That play still causes steam to come out my ears when I watch it. It was so amazingly obvious that his elbow was down before he crossed the plane and unless he managed to grow an extra hand on the top of his arm, there was no physically possible way the ball could have crossed before his elbow hit. ****ing amazing.

Edited April 24, 2015 by mistertim

[Sacks 'n' Stuff]

Or just mention Robert Griffin III in any context. 

Did you call me?

 

edit: The only thing that was purposefully unfair was the cap penalty. There was a conspiracy there but it really was more a conspiracy against the players union than against the Redskins.

Edited April 24, 2015 by Sacks 'n' Stuff

[Reaper Skins]

Of course we also have the infamous 2012 confrontation between Deangelo Hall and the referee after Emmanuel Sanders gives him a body slam and no foul is called.  Hall also hinted that the ref made a racist remark towards him

 

"On Monday, Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said the episode wouldn't have escalated if officials had flagged Steelers receiver Emmanuel Sanders for what the coach said was a "full nelson" wrestling move that put Hall on the ground.

"There's no question about it being a foul" on Sanders, Shanahan said."

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8575713/deangelo-hall-washington-redskins-cb-says-referee-equally-fault-incident

http://sports-kings.com/downanddistance/deangelo-hall-says-if-he-gets-fined-for-ref-incident-ref-should-too/

Edited April 29, 2015 by Reaper Skins

[RedBeast]

Winners close plays and games with strength. If it is left to the refs we have not done our job. No sense in crying over spilt milk. We can't undo history. We need to close hard and win without doubt, irregardless of referees and replay.

Some calls have definitely sucked without a doubt, but my aforementioned statements are true.

Edited April 24, 2015 by RedBeast

[Reaper Skins]

And here in 2013 we have the incident of the referee telling Shanahan that he has a first down, then later telling him its 4th down after not letting Shanahan get a measurement

 

"Well, I said I wanted a measurement," Redskins coach Mike Shanahan explained, "and (the official) said, 'You don't have to, it's a first down.'"

The chains were moved and the far sideline stake was changed to indicate first down. Griffin attempted a pass deep down the middle that was dropped by tight end Fred Davis. As the Redskinshuddled, the stake now indicated fourth down.

"After I saw it was fourth down, I asked (the official), 'You already told me it was first down.' He didn't say anything," Shanahan said.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000291230/article/redskins-on-wrong-end-of-controversy-in-loss-to-giants

 

The refs themselves admitted that they got it wrong, but that obviously doesn't give us any extra points in the win column.

 

“They couldn’t have screwed this up anymore,” NBC broadcaster Al Michael said of the ensuing confusion. “That is brutal.”

 

http://badcallsfootball.com/

Edited April 24, 2015 by Reaper Skins

[Reaper Skins]

Here's a link to the controversial call last season with Andre Roberts that caused a 4th quarter meltdown and lost us the game vs. Arizona

 

Said Roberts, “When the play happened, I felt like my knee was down. I felt my knee down on the ground before the ball even came out. And I really didn’t even know they were going to call a fumble. Like, I still thought it was down at the time. Tyrann was up running around, so, even after that I thought they were going to give it back to us. But they didn’t.”

Coach Jay Gruden agreed with Roberts.

“I don’t understand it, but they go to New York City,” Gruden said. “I don’t know why you have to go to New York City to see the guy’s knee down, but they made the call. I saw it on the replay screen. It was a big play in the game of course. Of course, we’re 0-for-anything in the game getting turned over in our favor, so we’ve got to get that corrected, too. I’ve got to work harder on that, harder on my game. I don’t know what to do there.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/wp/2014/10/12/hochuli-explains-the-controversial-fourth-quarter-fumble/

[theTruthTeller]

That play still causes steam to come out my ears when I watch it. It was so amazingly obvious that his elbow was down before he crossed the plane and unless he managed to grow an extra hand on the top of his arm, there was no physically possible way the ball could have crossed before his elbow hit. ****ing amazing.

If the NFL was serious about accurate officiating, it could easily sync an exact location of the ball relative to the goal line with the video feed by embedding sensors in the ball.  Instead it relies on cameras at an angle to the goal line and referees who are blocked from seeing the ball as the runner goes down.

 

I always love how the refs run up to the runner 10 seconds after the play is over to see where the ball is, as if the runner is on the honor system.

[Reaper Skins]

Here's at least one official, Mike Carey, who has openly admitted that he will not officiate Redskins games due to the name and his inability to remain objective.  Despite this, he was voted one of the two best refs in the league.  Our old friend Ed Hoculi was the other. 

 

"Carey had established himself as one of the most well-respected referees in football. In 2008, an ESPN poll of NFL coaches named him and Ed Hochuli the two best refs in the league.

 

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2014/8/20/6049193/nfl-referee-washington-redskins-name

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2169580-former-nfl-referee-mike-carey-avoided-officiating-redskins-games-over-nickname

Edited April 30, 2015 by Reaper Skins

[goskins10]

The thing about refs is that, when you stink, you've got refs that stinks, as the best refs are kept for the best teams that plays on prime time, and NFL, as any sport association don't want its favorite sport being blown by bad calls. That's usually how it works.

 

Thus, if you sucks, the refs calling your games will suck as well and you'll get subject to blown calls.

 

But, in all fairness, I use to not criticize refs, as most of the times they're just human.

 

 

Don't remember that... When was that?

 

But since we're in it for all the fun, I'd like to point out the hidden fact, that, speaking of the refs, there's two kind of rules in the NFL, there's one for the 31 teams in the NFL, and there's the Redskins rules that applies to them and the team playing them on any given sunday:

Rule 1: Any Offensive Lineman is allowed to hold any defensive redskins player.

Rule 2: You can smack any Redskins QB in the face after the ref whistled the end of play, even 10 seconds after it.

Rule 3: You can shove a Redskins player into a Punt Returner to tackle him. It's legal.

Rule 4: Redskins asked replays are always rejected.

Rule 5: If the Redskins make a big play, watch the replay, there's an illegal formation/offensive holding to call. You don't see it? Watch again, it's here.

 

I am pretty sure I saw these listed with the official rules changes in the winter meetings in 2001. I am trying to find the reference now.

 

Also, they added that all teams will get a free TD via a critical PI call against one of our players giving them the ball inside our 2. I am pretty sure that is law now.

[Reaper Skins]

This next one was just ridiculous.  Here's some coverage from the Rams game from 2012 when the replacement refs lost control and were letting the Rams get away with unsportsmanlike conduct all game.  Redskins players were getting progressively more and more frustrated as the game went on.  This was the game where both Carriker and Orakpo had to leave because of injuries caused by dirty play along the lines.   You all probably remember this one for ending with the Josh Morgan penalty, but also that the refs didn't issue a penalty against the Rams for having coaches and too many players on the field while all of this was going on.

 

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/sep/16/replacement-officials-lose-control-early-on-in-red/?page=all

Edited April 29, 2015 by Reaper Skins

[theTruthTeller]

Why do the 30 owners of teams not in NYC allow meaningful aspects of the game - officiating, suspensions, to be carried out solely by people who live in NYC?  Are the owners so spineless that they can't demand that all substantive operations of the NFL be moved to a neutral location.  And make sure that location gets a even variety broadcasts from all markets.

[Stefanskins]

The Squire built the stadium but never saw a game there because of his untimely death. Was it John? Marlena? Coco? Dan?

Suspect foul play in Middleburg...

Vespaian's Flavian Amphitheater!

 

I still hold a grudge when the ref's let tony homo have that game winner with orakpo literally gettin' tackled! and I'd forgot about this one from last year. Even though we ended up winning - which is probably why I end up forgetting about those... http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/10/were-the-cowboys-saved-in-regulation-against-the-redskins-by-a-missed-holding-call

[Stefanskins]

This next one was just ridiculous

Oh man... we need to kick the chit outta those guys...I want us to so so bad... who do they think they are?! Panthy ath ramths...I'm gonna start calling them the Whams -

 

[Stefanskins]

Here's a link of the 8 challenges, don't know if anyone has video for any of them?

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/GrudJa0.htm

 

Marvin Lewis with 11 consecutive?!!! I'd be like -

 

"Hey!! Watch this replay!!" BOOM!

[Reaper Skins]

Bad officiating from the 2010 week 8 game against the lions.  This was the game where Shanahan benched McNabb for Grossman in the final 2 minutes and our season fell apart after the bye week.  Tons of non holding calls and pressure on McNabb

http://www.hailredskins.com/?p=849

http://www.nflrush.com/story/2010-week-8-recap-redskins-vs-lions/57?icampaign=rush_teampage_article

 

And two huge missed calls against Dallas in this game that the refs later admitted to being wrong and costing us the win

 

"Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs yesterday expressed displeasure with a pair of officiating calls in Washington's 21-18 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night, and the NFL responded by conceding its crew made two mistakes. A club source said league officials reviewed the two plays in question — a pass interference call on Redskins cornerback Walt Harris in the first quarter, and a no-call on a deep pass to Rod Gardner in the fourth quarter. The league conceded error in both cases."

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2004/sep/28/20040928-114300-8708r/

Edited August 4, 2015 by Reaper Skins

[Reaper Skins]

Here's an article concerning the one sided refereeing when the Redskins lost to the Patriots in 2011.

This was the game that London Fletcher got a BS call for an illegal hit against Tom Brady, and also the game Santana Moss is called for offensive pass interference that negated a go ahead score in the 4th quarter.

 

"We don't get no calls around here, man. You guys have been covering us for a long time. Y'all see what goes on out there. We blow our breath on one of the doggone guys over there, and it's a penalty," Moss said. "Our quarterback gets killed — and you just almost hit somebody that's a quarterback, and we get flagged."

There's little doubt that was a reference to the play late in the second quarter when the official announced that Fletcher hit a late-sliding Brady with a forearm to the head — and replays showed the linebacker's arm clearly connected with the quarterback's torso.

"At least in my opinion, I thought it was horrible," Shanahan said. "That's what I saw on the replay."

 

http://www.masslive.com/patriots/index.ssf/2011/12/washington_redskins_say_new_en.html

Edited April 24, 2015 by Reaper Skins

[TSO]

Why do the 30 owners of teams not in NYC allow meaningful aspects of the game - officiating, suspensions, to be carried out solely by people who live in NYC? Are the owners so spineless that they can't demand that all substantive operations of the NFL be moved to a neutral location. And make sure that location gets a even variety broadcasts from all markets.

I gotta be honest, there is definitely something extremely shady with how the NFL handles its refs. Why aren't they just full-time professionals at this point? I mean, you kidding me with where the NFL is now as a financial empire?

Why not make things simpler for them instead of increasingly complicated every year, making it next to impossible to call things consistently? Why not add the technology that's becoming increasingly available and cheaper to the fields so as to alleviate some of their responsibilities and remove human error from the equation?

You almost get the sense that they want the rules to be so convoluted that any call or non-call can technically be argued and justified.

There is definitely something there in my mind, just can't say at this point that it's based on a real gambling/fixing conspiracy or not. At the very least, it's gross negligence or maybe even a belief that the human element adds intrigue and, therefore, entertainment value. Hard to believe that's all it is, though.

[Reaper Skins]

2012 against the Bengals,  Redskins docked additional penalty yardage without reason

 http://www.businessinsider.com/worst-nfl-replacement-ref-calls-2012-9#the-redskins-were-penalized-25-yards-for-two-penalties-when-they-should-have-been-penalized-20-yards-8

 

This was also the game that Kyle Shanahan got fined 25K when he started arguing that the Refs were supposed to have a 10 second run off after a false start that they weren't enforcing.

 

“When I overheard the official tell the head coach that the game was over after the false start penalty, I tried to explain that the game was not over,” Shanahan said. “That is what resulted in the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. I tried to get an explanation of how I could get that penalty when half of the other team was on the field as well."

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/wp/2012/09/25/nfl-fines-kyle-shanahan-25000/

Edited April 24, 2015 by Reaper Skins

[ILikeBilly]

Here is a one that still bothers me.  It was a bad call and then the review, which was clear, did not over turn the call.  That is bad, but I still remember it, because just a few plays later, Robert dislocated is ankle in the Jags game.  I can't find the youtube video, but I am sure all you fans will remember this.

 

Before the injury, Griffin completed two of three passes for 38 yards. He had a potentially long completion to Jackson wiped out when the ball slipped from Jackson's grasp after he hit the ground. The call stood on review.

 

If this is called correctly, does Robert stay healthy?  Does he build some confidence as the game and season continue?