Football -- A Game of Opinions and Judgments

The 2020 Super Bowl is in the books, officially ending the 2019 season for the NFL.  However, this post is not about the Super Bowl or how the 49ers blew a big lead, although they did, or the miraculous comeback by the Chiefs, which it was.  It’s about the rules of football and enforcing them at all levels of the game.

I’m a fan and student of the game, as well as being a former player at the high school and college level and a coach of youth football for several years.  One of the things that has always angered me about football is bad officiating.  I experienced it as a player, and as a coach, and I’m still experiencing it as a fan and viewer.

It doesn’t matter if it’s not the Super Bowl.  What matters is that players and coaches deserve to have the success of their efforts determined by play on the field, rather than by an official who misses an obvious fowl, or, just as bad, calls a fowl that didn’t happen.

Previous rule changes have greatly improved the game.  A couple of those changes occurred because they took “Judgement Calls” off the field.

One example is whether or not receiver lands in bounds or out after a catch.  Before the change, it was a judgement call if the receiver was pushed out by a defender.  If in the mind of the official, the receiver would have probably landed in bounds if not pushed, they’re awarded the catch.  The rule, now, is black or white, in or out, irrespective of being pushed.  The receiver either lands in bounds or not.  No judgement.

Another example is on fumbles.  “The ground cannot cause a fumble.”  Period.  If a player had control of the ball when he hit the ground, he is ruled “down by contact,” and it doesn’t matter if the ball pops out on impact.  No judgement, here, because all turnovers have a video review.

This year the pros had a new rule making Pass Interference reviewable, but there is still too much judgement involved.  Defenders and receivers, today, routinely mug each other running down the field and during a catch.  Pushing shoving and “hand fighting” are the norm, rather than the exception.  Whether or not it was Pass Interference by receiver or defender is purely the opinion of the official.  If challenged, it’s still judgement by another official based on the video replay.  That’s better, but not good enough.

We’ve all seen it on television, and heard the announcers say something like, “Well there was contact, but I don’t think it was enough to really hamper the receiver,” or “They were both pushing and shoving, so it was a good No-Call.”  BS.  Either there was contact or there wasn’t.

The Face Mask rule isn’t based on an opinion of whether or not it was intentional, or on the relative severity of the grab of the mask.  The Horse Collar rule isn’t based on the judgement of the official on how hard the defender grabbed and jerked the back of a runner’s shoulder pads.  The offender either did it or he didn’t; black or white.

Last night’s Super Bowl did not have a critical Pass Interference penalty blown by an official.  There was a significant interference call against a 49er defender on a catch near the goal line, but it was a blatant fowl and the officials got it right.  There was also an offensive Pass Interference call against the 49ers that wiped out a big play, but the officials got that one right, too.

Looking back one season, a "no-call" of a blatant Pass Interference fowl by the Rams defender against the Saints receiver put the Rams in the Super Bowl.  That shouldn't happen.

What needs to happen, now, irrespective of last night’s officials making two penalty calls correctly, is to take judgement out of Pass Interference.  It’s simple.  The defender and receiver either put hands or body on his opponent or he didn’t.  Yes or no.  Black or white.  Make it like the out of bounds call and the fumble rule.  The change would make it easier for defenders and receivers to do their jobs, as they’d know exactly what they can and can’t do.  It would be easier for coaches to teach, train, and coach defenders and receivers.  It would even make the officials’ jobs easier.  Everybody wins.  Do it now.