The NFL is officially making a big rule change ahead of the 2020 season. Pass interference will no longer be a reviewable foul whenever the league next plays games, a source told Mark Maske of the Washington Post (Twitter link).
Maske reports that owners won’t even take a vote on the issue and the pass interference replay review rule will simply be allowed to expire. In a separate tweet, Maske notes that teams “overwhelmingly indicated” they didn’t want the rule renewed for another season. In a huge move last offseason, the league made pass interference penalties reviewable by coach’s challenges and by the booth.
They made the decision last year at the behest of the Saints following the controversial no-call that likely cost them the NFC Championship Game to the Rams. The rollout was a disaster, and seemingly everyone hated the implementation right from the start. The replay booth was very strict for the most part, but also inconsistent, with what they would overturn.
As for new rule changes that could take effect in 2020, the NFL released the full list of proposed rule changes that owners will vote on at upcoming meetings. Included are the Eagles’ proposals to “provide an alternative to the onside kick that would allow a team who is trailing in the game an opportunity to maintain possession of the ball after scoring (4th and 15 from the kicking team’s 25-yard line),” as well as to make overtime 15 minutes and reduce the importance of the overtime coin toss.
There are a handful of other interesting but less significant proposed changes which you can view in the release. All proposed rules need support from 24 of the 32 owners in order to pass.
Thank God…..common sense does exist…..rare for Goddell
It makes perfect sense to have PI as a reviewable play if the NFL could just figure out what PI really is.
PI calls are by far the worse calls in the game.
I agree, nobody knows what PI really is…they call the most pettiest graze of a Jersey sometimes, but then ignore the most blatant PI….what killed me was Refs were clearly told from the beginning not to overturn calls and it just became a huge waste of time for everyone
Double agree
PI is called based upon the quarterback throwing the ball, if a ref thinks there will be PI and the right quarterback is throwing the ball the flag is 15-20 yards behind where the PI happened, the nfl needed to do something to change that saints call it had to happen but allowing challenges of PI was stupid from the beginning
Since the nfl and refs have no idea what pass interference is in real time….how in the world does it make any sense to review it to not know what it is in slow motion?
That’s why it’s a smart move.
They know what it is. Rule states what it is.
They just don’t know how to properly call pi.
Pi should be a booth review no coaches challenge like a fumble is automatically reviewed.
You can watch the play happen and if the booth feels there was sufficient pass interference they call it.
what a terrible choice
Good riddance. It feels like a saw PI reviewed 500 times last season, (always accompanied by a commercial) I remember maybe 3 overturns. Refs stick together and hate to be second guessed. Basically refusing to overturn obvious calls. It was laughable.
Just go to college OT rules
Completely with you here!
hell no. I’m all for both teams getting the ball an even amount but starting on a preset line already in fg position totally changes the game
Get ready to listen to all Saints fan wind up their whining. The NFL did a knee jerk reaction to do this is the first place. They acted like NASCAR and change to pander to a certain group. Glad it is OVER.
what nascar change are you referencing?
Restrictor plates? Different drafting technics? Dear baby jesus, what change?
well i mean there have been a few changes to be fair. you really have to be specific.
This rule was to get Saints fans to stop crying for a year. Now theres a new playoff gut wrenching loss for them to dwell on.
I was waiting for “to prevent teams from manipulating the game clock by committing multiple dead-ball fouls while the clock is running.”
Good!!!!!!! It was total overkill, driven by one play
Good. The NFL needs to stop overacting.
How about Get it right the first call?
Your asking a lot from guys who manage to botch a coin toss.
It amazes me how many people are fine with taking away a tool to help get a call correct. Personally, I think it’s a garbage decision. They could’ve tweaked it, and maybe actually figured out what pass interference really is.
I seem to recall some pretty good football games being played back in the 60s and 70s when nothing was reviewed. We should get back to that because reviews are a time waster and no matter how many you conduct the quality of officiating isn’t going to improve.
Lol
I agree with the decision. If they could get the play right with a replay, I’d be okay. But there is contact on about 100% of pass attempts. A review makes it that much more random. Like balls and strikes, I’d prefer the players to figure out which refs will allow more and less contact, and play accordingly.