Source: NFL likely to mull judgment challenges
Adam Schefter says the NFL will discuss a rule change during the offseason that allows coaches to challenge judgment calls. (0:38)
As a possible solution to avoid the type of missed call that occurred in the NFC Championship Game, the NFL is expected to consider a plan that would allow limited coaches’ challenges for incorrect judgment calls that also could include a penalty or time run off if the coach is wrong, per a league source.
The anger about a no-call in the NFC Championship Game has turned into disappointment for Saints coach Sean Payton, who finally has left his “cave” almost two weeks later.
There is concern in NFL circles about how the league allowed four game officials who live in Southern California, including referee Bill Vinovich, to officiate a conference title game involving the Rams.
It is a proposal designed to get those against allowing coaches’ challenges of officials’ judgment calls more supportive of the potential rule change. By creating a disincentive or penalty to even question a judgment call, it would be used rarely and wouldn’t be abused — at least that’s the hope.
One source predicted the competition committee will figure out a way to get a rule like this passed, especially considering that it has the attention of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
During the NFC Championship Game, Los Angeles Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman appeared to run into New Orleans Saints wide receiver Tommylee Lewis before the ball arrived from quarterback Drew Brees on third-and-10 at the Rams’ 13-yard line with 1 minute, 45 seconds remaining in a 20-20 game.
No penalty was called, although Saints coach Sean Payton said NFL head of officials Al Riveron told him the officials “blew the call” by not penalizing Robey-Coleman.
Robey-Coleman was also fined $26,739 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on the play, another potential penalty that was not called during the game.
Just like “what is a catch?” became a hot-button item last offseason, what coaches can challenges will be a hot-button item this offseason.
There will be other proposals the competition committee considers, but this one seems to have some traction, per a source.