I am now fixing the NFL officiating problem

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WarnerToBruce

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Enough is enough. I have read and crafted countless posts about how NFL games are consistently tarnished by poor officiating. I am now the Judge and jury and will decide where to go from here.

PRELIMINARY RULING:
1) Stop the nonsense that we need better training, and/or we need to hire them full-time. This isn't the problem. Let's just agree that it is not difficult, it IS IMPOSSIBLE, to accurately call an NFL game. Statistically speaking, there will be countless KEY plays that are decided by poor calls, since there are so many opportunities. Even youth leagues are difficult to call. HS? College? NFL? Puh-lease. Errors WILL happen.

2) Stop the blaming of all of this on wagering. Although the massive conspiracy of manipulating games for Vegas or merely entertainment purposes may be true, it is impossible to prove. The league can stick to its MO and metaphorically burn the video evidence. Besides, this really is insulting to officials, who for the most part are trying to do their jobs well, and my ruling below will make this a moot point.

3) Just admit the goal isn't to get it right with just the field crew. Just get the call right, by whatever means available.

SIMPLE OBJECTIVES
1) Improve the NFL experience by removing the ability of officials to impact result of a game
2) Do not substantially increase the time required to play a game

FINAL RULING:
1) No more losing a Timeout when throwing a red challenge flag. Far too many stupid ass side effects from this restriction.
2) Total number of challenges is 5 (the entire game).
3) Implement eye-in-the-sky oversight similar to college/USFL/XFL and any other league that "gets it". Sky Judge has access to all views.
4) Any play WHERE THERE IS OBVIOUS ERROR (I ain't talking blades of grass for out of bounds), Sky Judge can buzz the field and correct the call.
5) On any play (this should be rare given the Sky Judge), the coach can throw a challenge flag. Like other leagues, Sky Judge must render verdict with 20 seconds. If the ruling STANDS, or is CONFIRMED, the team is penalized 15 yards for delay of game.

You may argue this will introduce other issues. You would be wrong. Some may complain (human nature), but this will eventually be like the unsolvable "What is an actual catch?" that cursed us for so long, but is never questioned anymore.

Court dismissed.
 

Londoner

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Besides, this really is insulting to officials, who for the most part are trying to do their jobs well
But what is their job?

If their paymasters have told them to provide certain results, isn’t that “doing their job well”?
 

Merlin

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BC Ramfan

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Enough is enough. I have read and crafted countless posts about how NFL games are consistently tarnished by poor officiating. I am now the Judge and jury and will decide where to go from here.

PRELIMINARY RULING:
1) Stop the nonsense that we need better training, and/or we need to hire them full-time. This isn't the problem. Let's just agree that it is not difficult, it IS IMPOSSIBLE, to accurately call an NFL game. Statistically speaking, there will be countless KEY plays that are decided by poor calls, since there are so many opportunities. Even youth leagues are difficult to call. HS? College? NFL? Puh-lease. Errors WILL happen.

2) Stop the blaming of all of this on wagering. Although the massive conspiracy of manipulating games for Vegas or merely entertainment purposes may be true, it is impossible to prove. The league can stick to its MO and metaphorically burn the video evidence. Besides, this really is insulting to officials, who for the most part are trying to do their jobs well, and my ruling below will make this a moot point.

3) Just admit the goal isn't to get it right with just the field crew. Just get the call right, by whatever means available.

SIMPLE OBJECTIVES
1) Improve the NFL experience by removing the ability of officials to impact result of a game
2) Do not substantially increase the time required to play a game

FINAL RULING:
1) No more losing a Timeout when throwing a red challenge flag. Far too many stupid ass side effects from this restriction.
2) Total number of challenges is 5 (the entire game).
3) Implement eye-in-the-sky oversight similar to college/USFL/XFL and any other league that "gets it". Sky Judge has access to all views.
4) Any play WHERE THERE IS OBVIOUS ERROR (I ain't talking blades of grass for out of bounds), Sky Judge can buzz the field and correct the call.
5) On any play (this should be rare given the Sky Judge), the coach can throw a challenge flag. Like other leagues, Sky Judge must render verdict with 20 seconds. If the ruling STANDS, or is CONFIRMED, the team is penalized 15 yards for delay of game.

You may argue this will introduce other issues. You would be wrong. Some may complain (human nature), but this will eventually be like the unsolvable "What is an actual catch?" that cursed us for so long, but is never questioned anymore.

Court dismissed.
15 yards for a failed challenge is too harsh IMO.
How about 5 yards?

Otherwise, sky judge, totally. Duh even. No effing brainer.
What is up with Goodell? Gets paid a fortune, can"t be bothered to improve the product. As other leagues have done!

BC
 

RAMSinLA

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There needs to be officials in the booth who can stop play and review obvious bad calls or non calls... The Chiefs got screwed last night on a missed pass interference call and that non call could hamper the Rams playoff chances. Memo to the NFL refs... if a defender tackles a receiver before the ball reaches the receiver its pass interference. I don't get that non call at all. How do you miss that?
 

Da-Rock

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Most of the rules thought of here will have their own issues so creating new rules will just create new problems. THE actual fix is a little thing called, "CONSISTENCY"!!!

If they ALL called it the same, (Both good and bad calls) it would be closer to equal in the end.
 

WarnerToBruce

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  • #8
15 yards for a failed challenge is too harsh IMO.
How about 5 yards
?

Otherwise, sky judge, totally. Duh even. No effing brainer.
What is up with Goodell? Gets paid a fortune, can"t be bothered to improve the product. As other leagues have done!

BC
This was done to balance out the additional no-timeout-lost challenges the team will have, along with the Sky Judge getting calls corrected quickly.

Bottom line, you shouldn't need these. But if you use them, you'd better be prepared to get a major penalty (15 yards) if you're wrong.
 

Elmgrovegnome

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There needs to be officials in the booth who can stop play and review obvious bad calls or non calls... The Chiefs got screwed last night on a missed pass interference call and that non call could hamper the Rams playoff chances. Memo to the NFL refs... if a defender tackles a receiver before the ball reaches the receiver its pass interference. I don't get that non call at all. How do you miss that?
They missed it the same exact way they missed Tee Higgins facemask against Ramsey. It’s the same way they missed a ton of calls against the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI.

They are either stupid, or the league ordered it.
 

snackdaddy

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Instead of asking just one ref questions in private, maybe have the ones who made bad calls stand in front of the same reporters that players and coaches have to talk to.
 

bubbaramfan

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Fixing bad officiating is easy. Front office reviews games and when they find official fuck ups, fine em.

Without oversite from the front office and accountability of officials, bad call and no calls will continue.
 

FaulkSF

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Instead of asking just one ref questions in private, maybe have the ones who made bad calls stand in front of the same reporters that players and coaches have to talk to.
If the pool reporters conducts interviews after the game with not only the referee, you’re going to get the same canned response. “What I saw on the field at the time didn’t warrant X penalty. It is possible that seeing the play from another angle may have indicated a foul. I’ll need to review the All-22 tape before making conclusions if that was the correct call on the field from my position.”

I’m unsure if that does anything to move the needle to improve officiating. I think if there is a review system in place such as a sky cam and booth that can quickly correct an official’s mistake within 20 seconds, I say go for it.
 

FaulkSF

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They missed it the same exact way they missed Tee Higgins facemask against Ramsey. It’s the same way they missed a ton of calls against the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI.

They are either stupid, or the league ordered it.
Incorrect. The field judge was parallel with Higgins and Ramsey. This is poor mechanics as officials are taught to be either 5-10 yards in front or behind of the ball. This allows a better depth of vision and eliminates the size of blind spots. The field judge could not see the foul as he was staring at Ramsey and Higgins’ back. The foul occurred on the field side of the ball and not toward the sidelines.
 

dieterbrock

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When a team successfully challenges a call, they should retain the use of it. Its ridiculous that you lose the ability to challenge even though you've been correct
 

Elmgrovegnome

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Incorrect. The field judge was parallel with Higgins and Ramsey. This is poor mechanics as officials are taught to be either 5-10 yards in front or behind of the ball. This allows a better depth of vision and eliminates the size of blind spots. The field judge could not see the foul as he was staring at Ramsey and Higgins’ back. The foul occurred on the field side of the ball and not toward the sidelines.
And no other Official could have seen it? They couldn’t review it on their own?
 

jap

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  The officials have been missing blatant calls involving AD99 and, before him, Robert "The Mighty" Quinn for decades. They should all be declared legally blind and be replaced at once! :thumbsdown:
 

FaulkSF

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And no other Official could have seen it? They couldn’t review it on their own?
It’s possible, but unlikely. Back judge was watching his zone with Chase. Good mechanics. The line judge would be the only other individual able to help. However, the LJ is responsible for the tackle and closest receiver at the snap.

When the pass play runs, the LJ is responsible for the tackle and any receiver within about 10 yards. As the ball passes the line of scrimmage the LJ should be keying on the TE who ran a shallow cross to their side of the field. Dependent on the referee’s game day instructions, some want the LJ to hold that zone others may want you to follow the play to ensure Higgins’ feet are in bounds.

In either scenario, the FJ is on an island. It’s on them to practice good mechanics and maintain their distance from the receiver to see the whole play. Reviewing the play, the FJ position wasn’t bad, I think they just missed the play as he had a good view of Higgins’ back.

View: https://youtu.be/DvnqF3Z-1ks?si=HYbj4j0xTHN26coL


No they can’t review and correct it. Maybe that should change.
 

WarnerToBruce

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When a team successfully challenges a call, they should retain the use of it. Its ridiculous that you lose the ability to challenge even though you've been correct
This was my original rule as well. I then eliminated it when I realized the spiteful prick coaches would abuse it. There are clear bad calls ALL the time. If you throw that challenge flag, and get it back for each successful challenge, you would violate one of the two main objectives of not increasing game time.

That's why I settled on 5 MAX per game. That should be enough if the Sky Judge is doing his job of reversing obvious errors. What we'll end up "losing" is the challenges over meaningless things or situations where 10 minutes dissecting slow-mo video is required. I think that's actually a win.