NFL officiating is broken. How do we fix it?

[Returntoglory]

I have been a proponent for all NFL Refs to be full-time employees.

This part-time crap needs to stop.

[GaryPinC]

I think the idea of game oversight by a studio official with power to overrule is a good potential option due to the speed of the game.

 

The other biggest thing to me, is getting more consistency of calls by officials from game to game.  I think there needs to be more and a lot of feedback from an oversight committee between games and even within games about the judgement quality of the calls being made, and if the officials are zeroed in on one team too much.

 

Much of the PI and holding rules have evolved to depend on refs judgement, whereas in the past they were looking at specific markers.  Holding now means significantly restricting or changing the path of the defender and doesn't discuss hand placement inside or out.  PI has to significantly impact the receiver's chance to catch the ball and in many situations the defender has equal opportunity to attack the ball.  "Incidental" contact/hand fighting is now more allowable than in the past.

 

Refs in all sports swallow the whistle more at the waning moments of games, regardless that Cincy TE got hosed on the two point conversion.  Yet, if the ref didn't have a good angle, I could see how they felt the contact wasn't impactful enough.

 

 

[Bookie Man]

Been saying this since...forever..

 

Cut down on penalties. Probably by at least 50%. The game is so much more entertaining, enjoyable and watchable when officiating is at a minimum. Only blatant penalties should be called. Nothing ticky tacky or far away from the play. Less flags also means less of a chance to make a bad call. And if there is a egregious, game affecting penalty, issue a fine or suspension. 

 

 

[HappyDays]

Penalties that take TDs or 3rd down conversions off the board (or create 3rd down conversion) should be reviewable. That would be one simple way of removing the most frustrating calls without completely slowing the game down.

[paulmm3]

Keep a rotating stable of refs, not all of whom call a game each week. NFL has tons of money and can do this. Only assign refs with good games the previous week to work the following week - send refs like last night to the "bench" for a couple weeks for some film review and rotate in another crew.

 

Also allow fast use of video review on big calls by a team of refs looking at video feeds and communicating with on field officials by ear radio quickly.

Edited November 8 by paulmm3

[Mr. WEO]

Just now, BuffaloBillies said:

 

Good points (especially simplifying the rules). But they wouldn't just be sitting around watching film. The idea is they all review, discuss and agree on what should and should not be called... for consistency throughout the league. A consistency that is severely lacking these days. Just last night is a great example. Mugging WR, Burrow's face hit 3x, all with no calls. In some other game this weekend all 4 will be called. Just terribly inconsistent. 

 

That's above their pay grade.  The NFL writes the rule book--what constitutes a penalty and what the consequence is.  They decide what should be called.  In fact, they frequently issue guidelines for the refs and delivers edicts on "points of emphasis" for an upcoming season.

 

See my post above--I think refs should get some discretion allowing for the ability to judge a penalty based on its impact on a play.  They are not allowed any as it stands. So your proposal isn't possible.

1 minute ago, paulmm3 said:

Keep a rotating stable of refs, not all of whom call each game each week. NFL has tons of money and can do this. Only assign refs with good games the previous week to work the following week - send refs like last night to the "bench" for a couple weeks for some film review and rotate in another crew.

 

Also allow fast use of video review on these by a team of refs looking at video feeds and communicating with on field officials by ear radio quickly.

 

this is the current system,

[RiotAct]

bring back Red Cashion!

[paulmm3]

1 minute ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

this is the current system

 

I'm thinking similar to our current system, but more and better I guess. With the ability to tell refs to throw flags. Refs do get help from officials in the sky, but not enough. For example, the two consecutive phantom holding calls on the Bills last weekend could have had someone in the sky tell the refs to pick up those flags quickly, but nope. Similarly, sky refs should be able to tell refs to flag stuff like the obvious face masks last night.

[sleeby]

I hate defensive pass interferance.  Called when barely happened and sometimes not called when blatant.  So random and way too powerful a penalty. 40 yards and a first down? Nothing else like it.  Make it 10 or 15 yards.  

 

I think the NFL keeps it as a lnneasy way to control games when wanted.  One of those at the right time can easily declare the game.

[LABILLBACKER]

Paying refs as year round employees is a great idea but the NFL will never do it. The game is too fast for older refs to ever get it right. Smart coaches like Belichick know to tell their players to break the rules late in games because the NFL won't ever call these infractions at the risk of stopping the flow of the game. And yes a competent team of NFL replay people upstairs (at every game) could drastically reduce these egregious mistakes. But again the NFL will probably pass on this idea.

[MJS]

57 minutes ago, Chicken Boo said:

Nothing in that tweet is likely to happen.  All it would do is draw more attention to mistakes that officials make.

 

It doesn't matter what they do, there will always be bad or missed calls.  

 

The job is so much harder and the game moves so much faster at eye level than most people can fathom.  It's easy to criticize when you're at home, watching in 4K from a wide angle.

I agree with this. Sometimes I am amazed at how accurately they spot the ball given the chaos and speed of the game. Or when they notice the slightest twitch for a false start.

 

It is holding and pass interference that are the real issues. Those two penalties are so nuanced and subjective, and every single instance is unique, so it is tough to have a baseline to compare. Roughing the passer and defenseless receiver are two others that are so nuanced and subjective.

 

The catch rule used to be an issue, but I think they get that right nearly all the time now.

[JP51]

5 minutes ago, MJS said:

I agree with this. Sometimes I am amazed at how accurately they spot the ball given the chaos and speed of the game. Or when they notice the slightest twitch for a false start.

 

It is holding and pass interference that are the real issues. Those two penalties are so nuanced and subjective, and every single instance is unique, so it is tough to have a baseline to compare. Roughing the passer and defenseless receiver are two others that are so nuanced and subjective.

 

The catch rule used to be an issue, but I think they get that right nearly all the time now.

I like this... and agree with everything you have said here...  I think increasing replay or challenges will slow the game down... when I get excited for a play everytime I am like wait... they can still throw a flag so it takes away from the game... however getting it right is also important. So, I think number one 

 

1. Questionable or technical penalties that did not effect the play need to be examined. 

2. Offsetting Penaties minus PF when a false start or Offside (pre snap) has occured need to be reviewed ... especially like an Offside, lineman gets jump, they dont blow the whistle, throw the flag, and the lineman holds to protect the QB and the penalties offset.  If its a pre snap play is dead. 

3. Simplify the catch and the holding calls to make them more black and white (dont ask me how) but they are confusing now

4. Allow a replay for an egregious judgment call error like Epinesa's RP penalty. ( I know I said I hate replays) but there are sometimes that the call is so wrong, that it makes sense. 

[Don Otreply]

Unless the actions of the referees negatively affects the league’s cash flow, nothing, and I mean NOTHING is going to be done concerning the officiating, does this reality suck? Yes it does, but there ain’t a damn thing that we can do about it, I’m going to day drink now 😁🍸🚬

[strive_for_five_guy]

1 hour ago, US Egg said:

Here's the biggest obstacle:

Cheers to you strive. 🍻 

Agreed, whether they fix it or not, I’m still going to watch.  Same reason so many people watch WWE, even though it’s scripted.  For a lot of people, it’s still satisfying when whomever you’re cheering for wins.

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

Many times I've heard the argument that they want officials who have high paying jobs like bank presidents, school board superintendent, attorneys, etc. so they are not going to be tempted to take a bribe.  The problem with that argument is that even if you are in one of the type of job positions I mention, there's too much in the game today to not still be offered a bribe that could easily double your salary. 

 

40 to 50 years ago too people in these positions were often making close to as much money as some of these players, now it doesn't come close.  Recall reading how in 60's and earlier, players would take jobs in the off season in construction or something to make some extra cash to tide them over.

 

The other issue today to is 50 years ago people in these positions would work a 9 to 5 job and just like Ward Cleaver, come home.  Now folks in these jobs are going into work at 8:00 and may not leave the office until 7:00 at night, when not traveling half way around the world for business so little time for them to study or review the rules.

 

So yes I agree need full time officials with extra crews so can easily and quickly replace or suspend someone when needed.

[Simon]

1 hour ago, machine gun kelly said:

Good one Simon, especially the ECT (shock therapy) but seriously.....

 

I wasn't kidding

[CNYfan]

AI 

[Royale with Cheese]

I honestly don't know if officiating has gotten worse or the bad calls are highlighted more with technology.

There was terrible calls in the 80's and 90's when I was growing up.  But those calls weren't on social media for the entire world to see over and over and over again.

Bad calls were shown once on replay for regular season games and that was it. 

Edited November 8 by Royale with Cheese

[GottaRun]

All I can think of is video review being able to call major fouls (blatant facemask etc) within a larger time frame, perhaps within 3 plays instead of before the next play.  It's unrealistic to expect all calls to be immediate and perfect.  

 

Sounds impossible but they managed to add VAR in soccer and the VAR official can call the penalty as the game proceeds, but still within a reasonable amount of time.  

 

I'm all for younger officials but even they will miss calls and make mistakes.

[That's No Moon]

It's not broken. It's exactly how they want it to be. If they felt like it were broken you'd see them try very hard to fix it to protect the product.

 

Remember, the NFL put themselves into the same category as the WWE. Sports entertainment.