The NFL could consider implementing limited coaches’ challenges for judgment calls to avoid mistakes in important moments, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
According to Schefter, incorrect challenges could lead to time run off or even a penalty assessment as a way to keep these interruptions to a minimum.
The news comes after the NFL publicly admitted that referees failed to flag a pass-interference call in the NFC Championship Game between the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints on Jan. 20. Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman collided at full speed with Saints wide receiver Tommylee Lewis while the ball was still traveling in a final-quarter, third-and-10 play with the game tied.
The Rams made a field goal in overtime to win the game and move on to the Super Bowl.
“Because the officials on the field are humans, like the players and coaches, errors will happen,” league attorneys wrote in a brief state,emt, as reported by Dan Martin of the New York Post. “The NFL parties do not dispute that they have previously advised the Saints, including the club’s head coach, that one or more penalties for pass interference or illegal helmet-to-helmet contact were mistakenly not called late in the NFC Championship Game, and that the NFL would like its officials on the field to make these calls.”
League rules wouldn’t have allowed the call to be overruled, but according to Schefter, the new proposal could gain enough traction to change that in the near future.
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