(This article is a counterpoint to Zach Goblisch’s Nov. 15 editorial)
By Noah Guyette, Aviator contributor
There have always been problems with NFL officiating, and there will continue to be until robo-refs roam the field.
Recently, several controversial plays have brought into question whether or not the pass interference penalty should be reviewed. This would possibly be the worst change to the game since the tuck rule. This proposal should never take place on an NFL field.
First of all, NFL games are long enough as is. Additional review time would make the games even less watchable than they already are, which contain almost three hours of grown men standing around doing nothing.
On average, there are currently 1.6 reviews per game, and any added ones would eat up more time. If you like commercials, though, this idea is for you: as of now, TV networks take an ad break 48% of the time during reviews.
The nature of the pass interference penalty itself makes the idea of reviewing it nonsensical. Any true football fan will tell you that PI takes place on virtually every pass play in the NFL; it’s just not called.
Because of this fact, an NFL coach could theoretically challenge essentially all passes and and attempt to get a penalty called, and if he retains his challenge for using one correctly, then it becomes an infinite cycle.
The biggest issue with the idea, however, is the integrity of reviewable plays. If we review pass interference, then why isn’t holding reviewable, offensive or defensive? Or facemask? Or illegal contact? It would open a Pandora’s box of problems for the NFL, and its players, officials, and fans.
Opening all of those plays to a review would destroy the game’s product on television with increased scrutiny on every down. And while the argument can be made that this would make the game more fair, I feel that sports seem more natural than when technology like replay is used all the time.
Pass interference in the NFL should remain a judgment call by the referees. Ability to review the infraction could have devastating effects on the league. Lengthened game times, expanded arguments over what can and can not be reviewed, and misuse of the rule could snowball into a bigger and bigger issue.
The NFL game will be better off without reviewable pass interference.