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Quote: Originally Posted by Last Gunfighter

Ummm, actually they do. Sean Payton said after Sunday's game against the Bucs that the team has meetings and reports every week regarding the refs that will be doing the game and make adjustments accordingly. For instance, they knew the crew who was doing this Sunday's game were more likely to call penalties, almost twice as many, than any of the other crews. As a result they were particularly aware of this on Sunday and it paid big dividends. He even said it was most likely the difference in the game and was the only thing that offset the turnover differential. Saints had 6 for 50 yds, Bucs had 15 for 113 yds!

I would need to watch the interview, and game planning on trying to avoid penalties that a particular referee team may call is one thing, changing a players style of play is another...LB James Harrison, S Rodney Harrison didn't, at least notably change their style of play due to penalties or fines.

Every team will preach reducing penalties...

But if you are correct, and players change their aggressiveness or refrain from something that may get called more in one game than another, then the whole theory presented by the OP is back up for debate...Thus now we have to consider if a higher penalty chance may cause a player to not jump the snap or get too close to a receiver...

Though from observation; With a raise in RTP, I have not witnessed a slower or cautious pass rush, but just more RTP calls, and very weak acting by the QB as he falls down when brushed up against after passing the ball.