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The NFL is introducing new replay rules for the 2011-12 season |
The game of football was just fine before challenges were brought in. Occasional mistakes were made by referees but we’re all human.
Challenges were introduced, which made the game even better. It gave teams the opportunities to dispute calls that they disagreed with. If they were wrong they lost their challenge and a timeout. They were penalized so the game wasn’t slowed down with an excessive amount of stoppages for mildly controversial plays.
Apparently, the NFL wants the game to be perfect. New replay rules are being put in place for the new season to ensure that no mistakes are made. Apparently, the NFL doesn’t want the game to be fan-friendly. Apparently, the game isn’t about the fans.
A replay official will now automatically review any score. If there is any question whatsoever to the ruling on the field, the play will be reviewed by the referee in the same manner that a challenge is.
I can’t tell you how highly unnecessary this decision from the NFL is. The challenge system was fine that way it was. The coach could used his challenges how he pleased and if he ran out of them, tough luck. There was a reward for being able to use challenges properly.
The NFL is taking strategy away from the game while also adding on needless time to an already lengthy game.
The fans don’t want that. “Getting the call right” shouldn’t be at all costs necessary. The fluidity of the game can only be compromised to a certain extent.
Perfection isn’t what fans need from the game of football. Every aspect of the game doesn’t need to be controlled by the higher office.
The intent of the new replay rule is so coaches can increase their chances of not running out of challenges or timeouts.
The whole beauty of the previous challenge system is now gone. It made challenging calls challenging. It added a certain special something to the game. The system wasn’t made and shouldn’t be for the Homer Simpsons of the world.
It seems like the NFL wants to get rid of controversy entirely. Scoring plays are no doubt the most important but an attempt at eliminating controversy from the game all together is a hopeless endeavour. It’s like asking Homer Simpson to think logically.
In the end I’m probably griping about 5 to 10 minutes a game of extra garbage time but it’s the principle of the matter. This sounds like the slippery slope that Major League Baseball has been worried about.
The speed of the game isn’t a problem for the NFL like it is for the MLB. However, that doesn’t suggest that the fans shouldn’t be considered in the decision-making process. It looks as though the fans were an afterthought in this case.
The NFL has already gotten to the point where they are needlessly reviewing plays. It’s not far-fetched to believe that it could go further than this. The new rules could be taking the game one step closer to a video replay dictatorship of Hitler proportions.
That might be extreme thinking but I don’t want my point to get lost. The NFL shouldn’t be using constant advancements in technology to mess with the game too much. If keeping the game of football the way it is means a rare controversy caused by a human mistake then so be it.
Perfection was never in the description.'
By Chris Ross
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