So, another week, another set of NFL referee assignments to check out. For Week 7 this time. It’s become a bit of a habit for me, almost like checking the injury reports. Most folks probably don’t give it a second thought, but I do.
It’s not like I’m looking for some secret sauce to win a bet or anything, not really. It’s more about getting a feel for how the game might be called. You know, some crews are quick on the whistle, others let the guys play a bit more. It just adds another layer to watching the game, makes it a bit more interesting for me.
Finding the info isn’t always super straightforward either. It’s not like they blast it on the main sports pages first thing Monday morning. You kinda gotta know where it’ll pop up, or be patient. Sometimes I see people chattering about it online, but I’ve learned to take that with a grain of salt until I see something more solid.
Why bother with all that, you ask? Well, I got a good reason, learned it the hard way, like most things in life, I suppose.
I remember this one particular season, must have been a few years back now. I was really into my fantasy league, super competitive. There was this one game, a big one for my matchup. I’d heard a rumor, see, about who the head ref was gonna be for that game. And this ref, well, he was known for calling a tight game, lots of flags, especially on the offense, real stickler for holding, that kind of thing. So, I got clever, or so I thought. I benched my star receiver, thinking, ‘Nah, he’s gonna get shut down with penalties or limited plays, no big gains for him this week.’ Felt pretty smart about it at the time.
Boy, was I wrong. Come game day, I tune in, and it’s a different ref entirely! Not the flag-happy guy I was expecting. This new guy, he was letting them play. It was a shootout! And my receiver, the one warming my bench? He would have absolutely feasted. I watched the game, just fuming, knowing he’d have gone off. My opponent’s players, of course, were having a field day. I lost that fantasy week by a whisker, a tiny margin. All because I acted on some half-baked info about the refs.
That stung, let me tell you. It wasn’t about the fantasy points really, it was about feeling like a chump for not doing my homework properly. So, after that, I made a change. No more listening to whispers from who-knows-where or some random comment I saw online. That’s when I started my own little routine. I decided I’d find the actual, confirmed list each week. It usually comes out mid-week, not too hidden if you know the general timing. Takes a bit more effort, sure, digging around a bit, but it beats getting burned like that again.
So yeah, when Week 7 rolls around, or any week for that matter, I’m already on it. I’ve got my routine down. I check a couple of my usual spots where the reliable info tends to land. It’s just part of my football week now. Doesn’t guarantee anything, of course, but it makes me feel a bit more prepared, a bit more in the know. It’s all part of the fun, isn’t it? Just another piece of the puzzle to think about before kickoff.
