Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Be REFspectful….Not Another REF Story

I felt compelled to write a little something after this weekend of football.

I know you are thinking the constrain is coming from the utter debacle caused by the refs on Monday night between the Packers and the Seahawks, but you would be wrong.  Although, much like the rest of the NFL Nation, I was sickened by the end of the game, but I don't want to go on and on about it because, well, every other person on the planet is still talking about it on TV, radio, and around the water cooler.

The source of my intrigue actually comes from the football GAMES themselves; excluding the Footlocker employees disguised as referees.

With that said, it should be pointed out that although these refs are completely ruining the outcome of the games; they are actually good for the game. 

I know, I know, I can hear you already; "GOOD?  Are you crazy?" 

Well, simply put; even bad publicity is good publicity and despite the fact it's likely someone is going to get terribly hurt or teams are winning that should be losing, we all continue to talk about it and that is good for business.  The fans are threatening to stop watching football games, but that's not going to happen. Get real!  How could you possibly quit watching this sport we all waited 7 months to watch?  We are only three weeks into it and it has been a GREAT three weeks of football.  The best first three weeks I can remember.

The Thursday night games help to make the NFL weekend last juuuust a little longer. My wife isn't so happy about that, but I'm smiling ear to ear. Thanks to Time Warner Cable for finally adding the NFL Network to their lineup. You're the last major cable provider to do so. Welcome to 2012.

With three overtime games during the early match ups in week 3 and wrapping the day up with a last second kick by the Ravens to beat the former AFC Champion 31-30; you can't deny this was an edge-of-your-seat kind of Sunday.  We haven't seen anybody lose part of their ear in sports since the famed Tyson/Holyfield bout.  This past weekend had Matt Schaub lose an ear after a viscous blow by Joe Mays of Denver.  This was both gruesome and cool at the same time.  And, of course, let's not forget Monday and the "Inaccurate Reception."  We are still talking about Monday's game and its Wednesday already with the start of week 4 tomorrow night. 

The Saints have no wins in three games and no coach to help them win ANY games this season.  Good luck with "dat."  The Cardinals are undefeated having beaten a division rival, last years AFC Super Bowl representative, and the Eagles; who are the early favorite to win the NFC East - arguably one of the toughest divisions in football.  The Falcons look like the team to beat in the NFC so far.  At the same time the Texans are flying high at 3-0 in the AFC all while accruing the biggest point differential in the league at +46 (Not coincidentally, the Falcons also are +46).  Ten of the sixteen games in week 3 were decided by seven points or less.

Can't deny that excitement.

Kevin Kolb was benched in place of John Skelton to start the season only to replace Skelton after an injury and now Kolb has the third best passer rating in the NFL.  The much ballyhooed RGIII has had somewhat of an impressive start to his NFL career (although I am still not sold).  My favorite rookie QB, Russell Wilson, has led his team to a 2-1 start while throwing only one interception and quarterbacked his team to arguably one of the most famous fourth quarter comebacks in NFL history.  As a side note, his team could be 3-0 with TWO fourth quarter comebacks if Braylon Edwards could catch.  That would have put the Seahawks in first place and THEY would be 3-0 instead of Arizona. 

But, you can't talk about would'a, should'a, could'a.  Regardless, Russell Wilson STILL looks great in the first three weeks of his career and the sky is the limit for this kid.  Can't wait to see him grow in this league.

Andrew Luck has done pretty well in his first three games as well while ranking in the top 10 in the league in total passing yards with 846.  Of the rookie quarterbacks, I think it is safe to say that Luck doesn't quite have all the necessary weapons around him to make his job easy just yet, but he has still done admirably while only having one less win than last years squad season total only three weeks into the season.

Bottom line: the refs are bad, but the football is GREAT.  The ref situation will get worked out and then we can focus on how great these games have been.  There is still more than 75% of the season to be played and its promises to be a tremendous season in many different ways. 

Will RGIII continue to dazzle?  Will Andrew Luck more than double the Colts win total last season?  Will Russell Wilson continue to lead his stout team on fourth quarter comebacks on his way to Offensive Rookie of the Year?  Will someone let the Cowboys offense know the season started 3 weeks ago and will they decide to show up before the season is a total loss?  Can Matt Ryan and Julio Jones finally lead their team to their first Conference Championship since 1998?  Will Houston finally get off the snide and make a deep playoff run?

All this and more in the 2012/2013 season.  Sit down, buckle up and hang on cause its bound to be one hell of a ride!

FIN




 

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