SPORTS

There are myriad theories of why the NFL’s ratings have been trending downward in 2017. The player protests of the National Anthem. The blatant blackballing of Colin Kaepernick. Tony Romo’s grating color analysis driving fans batshit.

I don’t know if anyone is NOT watching NFL action because Kapernick’s not a part of it. And the shamockery of Vice President Mike Pence’s plastic protest at the Colts-49ers game in Indianapolis – you know, the one that cost taxpayers $88,000 – helped illustrate the eye-rolling sanctimony of the opposition. (Depite right wing talking heads like Bill Mitchell – host of YourVoice™ America – laughingly clinging to this threadbare theory, even using our beloved Brownies to illustrate his point on Twitter this Sunday to prove his point.)

I call bullshit on both sides.

The reason, or at least MY reason, that the National Football League has become almost unwatchable is the officiating – both on the field and in the replay booth.

It’s not that they’re “blind” or make terrible calls. Of course they do!!  That’s what referees do in every sport in every game. Some calls are right; some calls are wrong. Some go your team’s way; some don’t.

What is becoming untenable to many fans is that these referees – lawyers, insurance guys and in Gene Steratore’s case, a Big Ten hoops ref, during the week – are actually deciding the outcomes of games on Sunday and Monday, specifically on pass interference penalties.

NFL fans – both casual and hardcore – want action. They want to watch elite athletes doing things on the gridiron that mere mortals can only dream of. Men that work all week in the weight room and film room and the practice field. They don’t want to watch Ed Hercules mansplaining calls and flexing nuts all night.

The instances are too varied and common to site, but one that’s fresh on NFL fans mind is Jesse James’ touchdown reversal in Sunday’s Steelers-Patriots game.

It appeared James made the catch and crossed the goal line, giving the Steelers a 27-24 lead with less than a minute to play. But a booth review reversed the call – saying he didn’t complete the catch – negating the touchdown. Big Ben rolled craps two plays later, throwing a pick in the end zone instead of taking the game-tying field goal.

What it seems like most NFL fans are feeling on Monday morning is anger and confusion and the usual hangover effects. They don’t even know what a damn “catch” is anymore. What a touchdown is and what isn’t? What is the ludicrous percentage of penalties on punts and kickoff returns?

Fans feel confused and disoriented – like that nerd who got smushed at First Energy Stadium tailgate by a woman in a Joe Thomas jersey.

NFL fans – both casual and hardcore – want action. They want to watch elite athletes doing things on the gridiron that mere mortals can only dream of. Men that work all week in the weight room and film room and the practice field. They don’t want to watch Ed Hercules mansplaining calls and flexing nuts all night.

I understand calls need to be made throughout the game. We can’t have anarchy. But when the game comes down to the nitty-grit, I want the above athletes to decide the game – not Jeff Triplett.

In terms of calls going one way or the other, I subscribe to the theories of two former Raiders coaches – each who excelled both on the sidelines and in the broadcast booth.

One is John Madden, never a fan of instant replay, who once said: “There’s the rule and there’s the spirit of the rule.”

The other is John Gruden, definitely not a fan of the league’s current over-officiousness, who said: “Pass interference should call itself.”

These are not iron-clad doctrines. They are ways to watch and enjoy the game of football.

Football is a game of passion and physicality. Things move fast – especially when it comes to 250-pound men who can run a 4.3-40.  It was never meant to be parsed by civics teachers and appeals attorneys.