Rethinking My Thinking         
   
   The NFL has lost some fans - protesting the players who protest.

   Not for that reason, or broken bones...I stopped watching because of broken brains. But, let everyone including stadium vendors and clean-up crews have their livelihoods.

   My exception - keeping one eye on playoff games and the Super Bowl. I spent a few hours Sunday watching parts of the conference championships, both of which went to overtime. Awesome athletes.

   But, the no-call rocked me, not that I'm a fan of either team, or any team. With less than 2 minutes to play, score tied, the Saints almost certain to - at a minimum - milk the clock and kick a winning field goal, it happened. 

   On a third-down pass, near the end zone, a Rams' defender knocked the Saints' receiver into the twilight zone. The receiver's flight may be an NFL record, though still short of the 12 seconds at Kitty Hawk. No catch.  

   Where was the penalty flag? Current rules don't permit instant replay for pass interference. We guess the refs predetermined to let boys be boys near the end, so as not to affect the outcome. Except that they did just that, by default.

   The Saints kicked a field goal, but then the Rams had time to drive, kick a tying field goal with 15 seconds left, and won it in overtime.

   In the joyous locker room, the Rams' law breaker watched a replay, laughing, "Oh, hell yeah! That was P.I." It was helmet to helmet also. Players are coached to interfere to prevent a touchdown, but they get penalized too. Normally.

   An NFL vice president told the Saints' coach he "couldn't believe" no penalty was called. We can believe everyone made money that day, except 73,000 paying customers.  

   Then late in game 2, the Chiefs intercepted a pass, giving themselves a great chance to hold off the dreaded Patriots. But, no, a professional defensive lineman who had years to perfect the art of lining up properly was flagged. Pats keep the ball, score, and win in overtime.    

   Oh, and a coin flip gave the Patriots the ball. After 60 exhausting minutes, advantage offense. Rules of play already favor the (entertaining) offense. College OT rules are more fair.  

   Just call me when there are 2 minutes to play in the Super Bowl. I don't want to miss the confetti shower. 

       Jimmy