Since the beginning, the National Football League (NFL) has fined, flagged, and ruled in controversial ways. As the league evolves and creates new rules and regulations, players are being forced to adapt to a new system of football.

As one of America’s most significant sports, the NFL is slowly developing from the original gridiron into something many believe is rigged or scripted. Although there’s no rock-solid evidence of this, flags and calls throughout the NFL’s history pose doubt to their loyal fans. There are penalties cemented on lies and others gone unnoticed as referees control modern football instead of the players and coaches. Though there needs to be rules and order, it needs to be just. Some of the biggest scandals and mysteries come in the most crucial moments. 

A perfect example of this left New Orleans Saints fans wondering if the referees simply wanted their preferred team to win. The 2018-19 postseason NFC championship between the Saints and the newly relocated Los Angeles Rams was tied 20-20 with less than two minutes left, though everyone was certain the game was sealed as the Saints were in the red zone ready to score. Normally, this play would’ve sealed the Saints’ seat in Super Bowl 53 against the New England Patriots, as the double penalty play with Pass Interference and Personal Foul Helmet to Helmet should’ve brought the Saints to the goal line. Instead, the play went uncalled. 

Many believe this is much more than a missed flag and that it was purposely ignored due to the four Southern Californian referees present on the field. Rather than this bias, it was just another case of terrible refereeing. 

At first, I figured it would be a late flag but it never came, the hit was so severe it could’ve injured wide-out Tommylee Lewis. The moment cost the Saints a shot at the Superbowl which would’ve been a great end to Veteran quarterback Drew Brees’s career. The unintentional miss of calls is something that should be so easy to avoid when there are over 20 cameras on the field at a time.

New Orlean Saints No Flag Video

With so many cases of referee bias and shocking flags, it’s upsetting to see amazing plays and even seasons go down the drain. With the amount of technology on an NFL field referees should be able to see a replay of every play to ensure any penalties are done right. 

Furthermore, as I watch the league continue to develop with each passing year bringing a new rule change it’s much different than watching games from the 80’s, 90’s, and early 2000’s. With incredibly softer hits, flags on every down, and fewer clutch plays. Though I do not believe the NFL is scripted I do think there are some personal decisions referees take to favor a player or team.

We cannot mention ridiculous and controversial calls in the NFL without talking about the infamous “Tuck Rule”. According to the NFL’s Rulebook, the rule is defined as; “When [an offensive] player is holding the ball to pass it forward, any intentional forward movement of his arm starts a forward pass, even if the player loses possession of the ball as he is attempting to tuck it back toward his body.” This becomes a major problem for the team’s defenses when they try to force fumbles. The 2001 AFC divisional round between the New England Patriots and Oakland Raiders (now Las Vegas Raiders) ended in a close loss due to a forced fumble declared an incomplete pass. Instead of gaining the game-ending turnover, the obvious fumble was reverted because of Brady’s initial forward motion. As the rules stand now the play would’ve been a fumble. 

However, in 2001, the rules didn’t account for quarterbacks being able to just pump fake the ball and allow it to be incomplete in the case of a fumble. Watching this play I initially believed it was a fumble due to the ridiculousness of the tuck rule. I felt truly sorry for the raiders because that was a game that fell to the referees who failed them.

New England Patriots Tuck Rule Video

Poor refereeing is slowly ruining the NFL with a plethora of missed flags and controversial calls. With a great number of viewers and cameras on the field, nothing should be up for discussion. Even though Football is a sport that has been around for decades it completely changes when a crowd is watching. Players should not have to change a game already written just to avoid the referees. As refereeing becomes worse and worse important plays get pushed to the side and forgotten.