This offseason, football needs to clean up the officiating and get the calls correct

[EMH]

There is way too much money involved, the tech is there. Game after game, terrible game changing bad calls. It needs to stop.

This offseason, the sport of football needs to rethink officiating. The "chain gang" is archaic and needs to go. There should be laser measuring. There should be only one official on the field, and he/she needs to get out of the way when the play happens. Every play gets 10 seconds for experts in booths to review the tape. The "flag" should be a completely yellow scoreboard with a loud sound. It is more important to get the calls right than to aid the hurry up offense. There is nothing more frustrating than watching your team lose a close game because of a terrible call.


Just about every single weekend this board has had people complaining about bad calls. They happen. They happen way too often.


2026 - the sport of FOOTBALL starts valuing GETTING THE CALLS RIGHT!!!

 

[ReinyDays]

There is way too much money involved, the tech is there. Game after game, terrible game changing bad calls. It needs to stop.

This offseason, the sport of football needs to rethink officiating. The "chain gang" is archaic and needs to go. There should be laser measuring. There should be only one official on the field, and he/she needs to get out of the way when the play happens. Every play gets 10 seconds for experts in booths to review the tape. The "flag" should be a completely yellow scoreboard with a loud sound. It is more important to get the calls right than to aid the hurry up offense. There is nothing more frustrating than watching your team lose a close game because of a terrible call.


Just about every single weekend this board has had people complaining about bad calls. They happen. They happen way too often.


2026 - the sport of FOOTBALL starts valuing GETTING THE CALLS RIGHT!!!

The 49ers are 12-4 right now ... seems like the officiating is fine ... how are you measuring this effect? ...

 

[EMH]

The 49ers are 12-4 right now ... seems like the officiating is fine ... how are you measuring this effect? ...

It is literally every game. In 2024 when Vandy played Texas there was a fourth and one, Vandy made it, but was called for an "illegal formation" that the replay showed was completely wrong, there was a WR on the LOS on the side the ref claimed there was not. Vandy had to punt instead.

All it would have taken was 10 seconds of replay to get the call correct.

When Texas played UGA, Arch Manning was picked off. The replay clearly showed a UGA defender holding that WR, which prevented that WR from getting to the ball. That was a huge game changing turnover that should not have stood.


ESPN or someone should do a poll of football fans.

Is it worth stalling the game 10-15 seconds after each play to get the calls right?

I'm a big time YES there.

 

[MarathonMike]

Is it worth stalling the game 10-15 seconds after each play to get the calls right?

At a bare minimum, give coaches two additional challenges for calls and missed calls review. Even MLB with much more qualified officials than football is implementing a balls/strikes challenge. The only reason that the leagues haven't done it is they don't want a spotlight on just HOW BAD the refs are.

 

[EMH]

At a bare minimum, give coaches two additional challenges for calls and missed calls review. Even MLB with much more qualified officials than football is implementing a balls/strikes challenge. The only reason that the leagues haven't done it is they don't want a spotlight on just HOW BAD the refs are.

and it is just BAD...

Five young refs with great eyes and 10 seconds of replay in a booth, likely get it right. Only would affect the "hurry up" offense a bit. Would weed out the absolutely horrifically bad calls we see all too often.

But those 10 seconds will weed out most of the crap. And tonight SMU vs AZ another ref got trucked in the play. Get the refs off the field during the play!!

 

[Couchpotato]

There is way too much money involved, the tech is there. Game after game, terrible game changing bad calls. It needs to stop.

This offseason, the sport of football needs to rethink officiating. The "chain gang" is archaic and needs to go. There should be laser measuring. There should be only one official on the field, and he/she needs to get out of the way when the play happens. Every play gets 10 seconds for experts in booths to review the tape. The "flag" should be a completely yellow scoreboard with a loud sound. It is more important to get the calls right than to aid the hurry up offense. There is nothing more frustrating than watching your team lose a close game because of a terrible call.


Just about every single weekend this board has had people complaining about bad calls. They happen. They happen way too often.


2026 - the sport of FOOTBALL starts valuing GETTING THE CALLS RIGHT!!!

You want them to review every play and call all the missed infractions? Yeah that will be a thoroughly unwatchable product.

 

[EMH]

You want them to review every play and call all the missed infractions? Yeah that will be a thoroughly unwatchable product.

Well, if the offense is not in hurry up mode, there is plenty of time to do that, no need for a delay at all.

During a hurry up offense, yeah, there would need to be a delay of 10-15 seconds before the one on the field ref spots the ball.


I'd rather have that than watch another game with 5 terrible calls and 5 terrible non calls that affect the outcome.

 

[Couchpotato]

Well, if the offense is not in hurry up mode, there is plenty of time to do that, no need for a delay at all.

It’s not about the delay though that will not help. There will just be too many penalties called which will make it unwatchable.

During a hurry up offense, yeah, there would need to be a delay of 10-15 seconds before the one on the field ref spots the ball.

Which would defeat the entire purpose of tje hurry up.

I'd rather have that than watch another game with 5 terrible calls and 5 terrible non calls that affect the outcome.

 

[EMH]

Which would defeat the entire purpose of tje hurry up.

Well, under 2 minutes you could have a 10 second clock stop to check the replay so the hurry up won't be "penalized" for the wait.

 

[Couchpotato]

Well, under 2 minutes you could have a 10 second clock stop to check the replay so the hurry up won't be "penalized" for the wait.

That’s not the only reason for the hurry up are you just this uninformed about football?

 

[EMH]

That’s not the only reason for the hurry up are you just this uninformed about football?

The hurry up in the middle of the game can get sacrificed. I'd rather have better calls.

That's another debate like the phalanx, the tush push. I'd ban any "phalanx" plays that are scripted to be phalanx plays, too many will get injured because the forces involved are too high.

 

[ReinyDays]

I'd rather have that than watch another game with 5 terrible calls and 5 terrible non calls that affect the outcome.

Then you'd get defensive holding on every play ... the quarterback need only drop back and that's 5 yards and an automatic first down ... if not spot of the foul and an automatic first down ... every play is first down, every drive is a touchdown ... [yawn] ...

Maybe I'm too much an American ... but salary caps are up from $180M in 2020 to $340M in 2025 ... or 15% increase per year ... pfffft ... only a complete moron would want to change anything in football right now ...

Were you working for Coca-Cola back in '85 by any chance? ...

 

[Couchpotato]

The hurry up in the middle of the game can get sacrificed. I'd rather have better calls.

You are missing the point. Every play there are tons of infractions that don’t get called either because the refs didn’t see it or for judgement reasons. All that will happen is they will still miss some call that losers (only losers complain about the refs) like you will blame for their team losing or for losing a bet.

That's another debate like the phalanx, the tush push. I'd ban any "phalanx" plays that are scripted to be phalanx plays, too many will get injured because the forces involved are too high.

I’m fine with getting rid of the tush push. I feel like they could have and should have just called false start every time since that’s what was happening. I’m also surprised teams didn’t start really hammering the QBs from the side. Take a few shots from a hard hitting DB to the ribcage and you’ll start reconsidering that play.

 

[LA RAM FAN]

WELCOME TO THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF THE NFL. same as our government the refs have far too much power and are NEVER held accountable for their criminal actions.

 

[EMH]

WELCOME TO THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF THE NFL. same as our government the refs have far too much power and are NEVER held accountable for their criminal actions.

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The refs are human. To call the play correctly in real time is often very hard to do. The replay shows the precise truth.


There is something terribly wrong with a big time sport where a penalty is called (or not called) and then 10 seconds later all fans get to see on the replay the call is completely wrong.


I don't agree that the 10-15 second stall will result in a widening, and hence an increase, in the number of calls. Sometimes pass interference is called and it was completely incidental contact with both sides involved, s/b no call.



It comes down to whether or not truth matters. It does to me. I hate seeing games decided by bullshit bad calls. HATE IT!!!

 

[EMH]

I’m fine with getting rid of the tush push

I think "phalanx" is a much more accurate term for it.

Human bones and joints can only withstand so much force before breaking. The "phalanx" increases that force to silly levels that will result in more players getting badly injured. Football should be man on man, not ancient Persian vs Spartan.

 

[mikegriffith1]

There is way too much money involved, the tech is there. Game after game, terrible game changing bad calls. It needs to stop.

This offseason, the sport of football needs to rethink officiating. The "chain gang" is archaic and needs to go. There should be laser measuring. There should be only one official on the field, and he/she needs to get out of the way when the play happens. Every play gets 10 seconds for experts in booths to review the tape. The "flag" should be a completely yellow scoreboard with a loud sound. It is more important to get the calls right than to aid the hurry up offense. There is nothing more frustrating than watching your team lose a close game because of a terrible call.

Just about every single weekend this board has had people complaining about bad calls. They happen. They happen way too often.

2026 - the sport of FOOTBALL starts valuing GETTING THE CALLS RIGHT!!!

It's not just the bad calls: it's the non-calls, especially the non-calls on obvious pass interference.

I agree that every play should be reviewable, but I'm not sure about taking 10 seconds to review every single play. I say give each coach eight challenges per game, including non-calls, with a 30-second time limit to review each challenged play, and with the review done by two remote officials in a centralized review booth (not on the field).

 

[sealybobo]

There is way too much money involved, the tech is there. Game after game, terrible game changing bad calls. It needs to stop.

This offseason, the sport of football needs to rethink officiating. The "chain gang" is archaic and needs to go. There should be laser measuring. There should be only one official on the field, and he/she needs to get out of the way when the play happens. Every play gets 10 seconds for experts in booths to review the tape. The "flag" should be a completely yellow scoreboard with a loud sound. It is more important to get the calls right than to aid the hurry up offense. There is nothing more frustrating than watching your team lose a close game because of a terrible call.


Just about every single weekend this board has had people complaining about bad calls. They happen. They happen way too often.


2026 - the sport of FOOTBALL starts valuing GETTING THE CALLS RIGHT!!!

What games are you talking about? They seem to get it pretty right on this year. I don't see what you are seeing.

Imagine if we were this critical about you at your job. Watching what you do. Replays, slow motions. It's a lot of pressure. I was a umpire in baseball once. Never again. It's hard. And now they have replay to help. I'm sure they will improve next year don't worry. And the year after that. But ever year people will complain. Like look at how this year some colleges complained they didn't make the top 12 teams. Cry me a ******* river. Next year do better. Would you have made the top 4? Then don't worry about it. We just opened it up to 8 more teams. I guess we can never make everyone happy. Sorry Norte Dame.

Honestly, I think if you have AI ref the football games there will be a penalty on every play. Truly. If a computer were watching every player that closely, with everything that's going on, they'll find something every play.

But saying that, I hate seeing a pass interference on replay but it goes unpenalized.

Maybe we make pass interference just a 5 yard penalty. Even if I commit it on a 40 yard pass, it's only 5 yard penalty. So on first and 10 it would just be 1st and 5. Go ahead and call it. OR, let them play. LOL

 

[mikegriffith1]

What games are you talking about? They seem to get it pretty right on this year. I don't see what you are seeing.

HUH??? You haven't seen dozens of obvious missed calls and bad calls that affected the outcome of the game? Really?

 

[sealybobo]

HUH??? You haven't seen dozens of obvious missed calls and bad calls that affected the outcome of the game? Really?

I've seen some and I hope the NFL improves next year. I think they will. Remember that Lion's game where he threw a backward pass, Goff picked the ball up and put it over the line but time had already expired or there was a penalty? It was a very sloppy play. Happens to the Lion's all the time so if anyone wants this fixed it's me.

Yea, I hope they do better but I can see it's not easy.

I also don't want big brother calling every time a defensive back grabs the shirt a little. That's why I said maybe just make it a quick 5 yard penalty and move on.

I just don't like penalties keeping a drive alive at the end of the game. Let them play.