While We’re at It, a Few Shots at NFL Officials

Mike Downey’s Sunday column, “Officials Ruining a Good Sport,” could not have been more timely, as evidenced by the zebras’ performance in the San Diego-Miami game. Only dumb luck permitted the ridiculous and missed calls to balance out, failing to ruin the best game of the playoffs thus far.

The NFL should take a lesson, not only from Downey, but from the NBA, where policy permits the officials to exercise better judgment. During playoff time, they back off and “let them play.” This doesn’t mean they lose control of the game, it just means we get to see more plays and fewer penalties.

JAMES V. KOSNETT

Los Angeles

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Has Downey lost his mind? I officiate at a far lesser level than the NFL, but the principle is the same. Officials are there to prevent a team/player from gaining an unfair advantage over another team/player.

There are no minor rules that we can ignore. If we let a player hold “just a little” or a defensive back bump “just a little” while the ball is in the air, it is allowing an unfair advantage. “Just let them play” is like saying the biggest guy who walks into the 7-Eleven store gets all the money if he wants it.

I think a deal can be struck here. Downey doesn’t officiate from the press box and the officials won’t write any sports columns.

ROBERT G. XIQUES

Garden Grove

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Much is being written this week regarding the poor showing of the NFL officials this year, especially after the Miami-San Diego game.

At the beginning of the season, the officials were ready to walk out. That was the time when you guys should have been on the bandwagon chastising the refs, not now when it’s too late.

MICHAEL HANNIN

Woodland Hills