I believe it's loser shit that blames the refs for losing. You can overcome most of them. I don't care if the Bears lose to Steelers 29-27 because of a few bad calls. It doesn't really matter if they win or lose. It doesn't matter if Justin Fields played the second half. Maybe, just maybe there is a future for all those blue-and orange-clad dopes who have thrown a few decades of their lives down the drain with this criminally stupid franchise that's run by braindeads.
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There are certain things that could cause more damage than just two bad teams throwing themselves at each other without any plan or direction. There are clear calls for refs to miss, such as the one on James Daniels where he was called for a chop block and wrongly credited as a Bears TD. It's a small mistake, but it happens.
The taunting call made to Cassius Marsh will be the main story, as the taunting calls were a major feature of NFL games throughout the year. This rule is based on John Mara's apparent fear of Black people. We won't try to make it more comfortable or couch it. This is all there is to it. There are two Black players who may be afraid of jawing. This could lead to a fight, or send a bad message to children.
Tony Corrente gave an explanation and it was just pure horseshit.
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The big word here is "felt." Corrente was unable to hear Marsh's words, if Marsh was speaking at all. Corrente couldn’t even determine the truth. Corrente's "posturing" may not apply to the next ref who is in a similar situation. This kind of staredown is common in every game. This is how consistency can be achieved in the rules.
It would not be difficult to explain that taunting occurs when words are clearly heard or clearly seen directed at another player within five feet of them, or any distance that the league chooses. It's important to remove the meaning from it because all sports refs have shown time and again that they are very good at determining intent. You can see how far Corrente had go to get this flag.
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It's even more bizarre that Corrente doesn’t throw his flag until Marsh intentionally bumps into it.
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This was baseball's old term for "having your rabbit ears up" before the bump. You can see it when a home plate ump takes off his mask to look at a batter or pitcher as they pass. They are daring players to speak up, almost begging them to do so, in order to get the chance to throw them out. They are making themselves the centre of the game. This is exactly the opposite of what an official should do.
Corrente stares down Marsh before this, searching for an excuse to throw a Flag. Even Corrente seems to be trying to make contact in order to get it. It's one thing for you to take action when something happens. This is what happened with the NHL this season. It's quite another to ask officials and refs to look for it, which they will do because they want.
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Corrente or his bosses, Mara, will tell players that calling like this in crucial moments of nationally televised games will let them know how serious they are about crackingdown on ....whatever Marsh thought was happening. That's true, I suppose. But what's the real reward? In my humble opinion, everyone who does a David Lee Roth karate kick in celebration of his feat should be allowed to take it easy.
This call could swing a playoff or late-season game. What will the NFL gain? John Mara will feel safer? It's all it seems like this was meant to do. To placate an owner three days older than water, and all the fans of Mara's generation -- about a generation he does not understand. The ones who claimed they would never watch Colin Karpernick's game took a knee, and yet, the NFL continues to bend rules in their favor. It's funny how it works. Is it worth it?
