The NFL has made the referees job impossible.
Sean Payton and the absurd new rule of being able to review PI is the straw that broke the camel's back.
Not so much because of the rule itself, but because of the huge, never ending rhubarb over the non-call in the NFC championship game.
Refs are well aware of the scrutiny (unfair) that they are under because of it, so they call every ticky tack meaningless tug on a shirt tail a penalty. The new rule is: when in doubt throw the flag. In fact, I see Refs anticipating fouls when none actually happen.
It was always understood that the Refs are part of the game. That means there are "mistakes", or their judgment doesn't agree with mine. Their calls necessarily are subjective for the most part (things like off sides and false starts more objective). It used to be that if a foul like holding occurred well away from the flow of the play, it was ignored since it had no bearing on the play's outcome. Not anymore.
All the stoppages make the Refs the focal point... something I don't think they relish but they are only protecting themselves and following through with the NFL's instructions to them.
Yuck.
