saintsfan200

In light of the recent officiating debacle, here are my proposed changes to replay.

1. Coaches get two challenges per half, however if they win the challenge they keep a challenge. There would be exceptions though. Challenges for yardage only, and other nitpicky ones (yardage is only one I can think of right now) would result in a loss of one challenge.

2. Coaches could use 1 of their allotted challenges (per half) for “a penalty challenge�. This again could only used once, - if the coach wins the challenge their challenge amount does not change, but the team loses the ability to challenge penalties for the rest of the half. Obviously, coaches must have at least one challenge left to make a penalty challenge.

The penalty challenge would work as follows:

When challenging for no-call (no flag was thrown, but one should have been) the team challenging must tell the official who the penalty should be on (opposing player, and what penalty occurred).

Teams can also challenge to waive off a called penalty.

Only certain penalties could be challenged (non- nitpicky ones).

The Officials in the booth would decide penalty challenges, not the ones on the field.

3. Under two minutes, control would go to the booth, but if a coach had not used a “penalty challenge� and had at least one challenge left, he could make a penalty challenge.

I really think these changes would help correct mistakes, especially game altering ones. At the same time I think it wouldn’t slow the game down.

ScottyRo

Your suggestions may indeed help, but my problem with the replay system is that it really seems to interfere with the flow of the game. I do understand the importance for having some sort of replay system (remembering Testaverde\'s non-TD), but I would prefer if they pulled back on how often it can get in the way of the game.

First of all, why should it be up to a coach to challenge a call? If it\'s questionable, you\'d think it would be in the NFL\'s best interest to get it right. Therefore, I would propose that the NFL put a ref in the booth who has the power to have the officials pause for 15 seconds to quickly review a questionable play. If in that 15 seconds the replay ref finds sufficient evidence that the play might have been called incorrectly, then the officials would take an additional 60 seconds to review the play (all done in the booth) and then make a ruling. This would all take place in less than the 90 seconds alloted for the referee to go under the hood now. Plus, we wouldn\'t have that down time just waiting for him to get to the hood. The time limits should be strictly enforced and the standard of irrefutable visual evidence should be used to overturn a call.

I would probably still give each coach one opportunity to have a play reviewed, but that would be limited to plays that involve either TDs or whether the play would result in a 1st down.

DblBogey

I agree with Sottyro, per the quote. However, the admission from the NFL of the officiating errors was like squeezing lemon juice into an open wound. I think a team should have the ability to file an official protest with the league office and, as in the case of the Saints/Panthers, have the game overturned based on any protested play(s) that would have resulted in a score difference (i.e. Delhomme\'s intentional grounding). I know it will never be done, but the NFL letter hurt. Although, I know in my mind now -- WE WON!

deadflatbird

I agree with you on why do we let the coaches call for a review but its a way the league feels it gets \'the fan\' into the decision making process of reviewing a call. I do disagree with you about reviewing penalties. Sometimes penaties happen to quick and or subjective even the replay could get it wrong. I wouldn\'t change much about the instant replay. Its not suppose to call the whole game but its to those cruical decisions in a game that will adversely effect a game. A holding penalty review... the team still has a chance to over come the call by getting a first down. To argue, that a holding call cost a game... well the team should have never but themselves into a position to lose a game over a holding call. The game is 60 minutes. A turn-over now that can be cruicial.

[Edited on 2/11/2003 by deadflatbird]

whowatches

As much as I\'d like to have the W, I don\'t want it given to the team after the fact. There\'s no way to account for the different possibilities that would have occured had the Saints gotten that safety. I know and you know it was a blown call, but I personally would rather have not gotten the letter of apology. Officials are human, they make mistakes; it\'s the responsibility of the players and coaches to overcome those mistakes. I don\'t want to be a team that whines and moans about the officials. Sure teams are the victims of bad calls weekly, but on the other side of that thought, other teams benefit from those same mistakes. It all evens out in the end.

Let\'s just hope we can beat Gruden\'s Gangplankers and the officials this week.