I just could not disagree more and really wonder whether we’re watching the same game. Obviously I was super pissed that the Redskins had two touchdowns called back on the same drive, but that didn’t indicate to me any systematic breakdown in the quality of officiating.

The great thing about this game was that the refs let the people play. Your Cowboys had 3 penalties (4 I think, since one of your defensive holding was declined) and we only had 5. Every fan who watches a football team will disagree with some of the calls the refs make against their team, which is why, unsurprisingly, everyone in the stadium seems to agree that the ref made a bad call whenever it’s against their team, and they signal this through booing.

But, you have a rivalry game in Texas Stadium in what is potentially the last game these two teams will play against one another. As a ref, you can approach it with kiddie gloves and make all the mickey mouse calls and prevent the two teams from being physical, or you can make a decision to call the game loose, let the two teams go out there and battle it out in the manner the most violent and entertaining game is supposed to be played, and whoever is left standing is the victor.

As a general proposition, I think refs should involve themselves LESS in games. That’s especially true, my opinion, under the circumstances of the Redskins-Cowboys rivalry. And that’s what they did. I refuse to believe that the Cowboys did not commit a single holding penalty in 47 pass attempts. That seems remarkably impossible to me, especially when I’m screaming at the TV “HOLDING HOLDING” two or three times a game. But I’d prefer a game where the refs let the players actually play the game the way I thin kwe all prefer it be played. That’s why I was so pissed that the same player gets flagged for holding on 2 plays virtually right after one another. If you’re not going to call holding penalties, don’t call them. Be consistently loose on the calls.

But anyways, the idea that this was horrible officiating I simply disagree with very strongly. I don’t think anyone agrees with all the calls in any game, and this one was deficient of any gross or consequential errors. Actually I was thrilled with the manner in which the zebras let the teams get physical after one another. That’s the way I wish all refs called games, and criticizing them for doing so only encourages mickey mouse reffing.