The NFL And "Holding".

It's ruining the game.
And I DON'T MEAN - the ref's, for numerous penalty flags !
I DON"T MEAN.........the number of flags thrown for "holding".
My point is a LARGER picture of what is happening to the game.
Rules Committee needs to address it.........maybe, changing the penalty for it.
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I've been watching NFL since childhood.
In the last decade......"Holding" has just grown astronomically.
Yes.......I know........it's a "taught" technique.
All pros are taught to hold.
So get this ............would you rather get a "holding" penalty or have a TD scored on
you and LOSE YOUR NFL paying job ?.......easy choice, EVERY time.
( and I don't mean just defensive players - EVERYONE is included - offense, too )
This is the problem.
The NFL means = Not For Long
These players know this BETTER than we do !
I lose my job with a bad performance............not like 90% of us.
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But you can call a "holding penalty" on every play of the game ?
Yes.......that's the problem !
But the ref's should only call holding "if it impacts the play."
Well, that's how BAD things have gotten in the NFL.
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I don't like this philosophy- "In the big game, let them play."
This is wrong and started by people who NEVER umpired a game !
I have ( Ref'd + ump'd ) in several sports.
NO !........you let yourself in for a disaster - if you ever allowed this philosophy in a game.
The reverse is more true !
If anything, call the game tighter, from the start, and the players will understand quickly !
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Anyway
Nowadays, I can only watch NFL games ( pre-recorded + that Fast Forward button workin).
Too many commercial breaks - too many replays after EVERY SINGLE PLAY - so the jock
analyst can keep his job ( please, show me that 2 yd run, again ?) and keep appearances
as if the game is moving along faster....more action.....than watching an exciting huddle !
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Whew !........I'm done.

 

I honestly believe that the NFL is slowly but surely losing it's grip on the average fan. It will live on due to gambling.

I honestly and truly believe that the crime, misconduct off the field is turning people off. CTE is a clear danger and needs to be addressed. I don't know how this will be received, but I also don't care for all of the dread locks.

 

Holding is up because they want scoring up, they constantly change the rules to hopefully aid scoring or prevent harm to the QB(again to aid scoring).

 

Who here remembers when offensive holding was a 15 yard penalty? Brutal..... There were a TON of first and 25s.

 

I tend to agree with this. The NFL is losing popularity, but inconsistently calling the holding penalty doesn't seem to be the reason (or certainly not the main one).

 

I think this thread got a little sidetracked from my point.
I wasn't equating "holding" to losing popularity w/ fans.
I don't think most fans could see a "hold", as it happens, in real time.
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Breeze is right - Gambling is a HUGE factor w/ NFL popularity.
I don't bet unless I'm in Vegas.....and something looks good.
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I find the bushy beards silly/annoying more than the dreadlocks.
But both looks, are really dated fashion...........leave it to jocks, to pick it up, at least a decade late.
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The NFL has buried any Steroid Scandal -- they seem squeeky clean to other sports.
But let's realize -- nobody can put on that kind of body mass without help --
Yet, we fans don't hear much about steroids in the NFL.
And why is that ?
Because the NFL has put lotsa "P.R." into it !....that's why.
Now they tried to bury Concussion problems + will work on "off field" behavior.

 

Players, especially defensive secondary, are definitely coached to hold, shirt-grab, etc. and hope they get away with it. And they're also (properly) coached to take an interference penalty if it means saving a TD. Some players are just better than others at it.

Some of the calls/non-calls depend on the positioning of the officials and what they can see.

But if you're gonna try to get away with it on every play, don't complain when you get called on it and it happens to be a critical play.

 

Off + Def line = get your hands on the other guy, immediately !
"Hold your block"
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Even more so, than Def backs.

 

There's holding, and then there's CHOKE HOLDING!