NFL thinking of putting microchips in the ball to help with spots.

[Dave Gray]

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2010/08/nfl-considering-computer-chip-in-ball-to-help-on-controversial-calls/1

Thoughts?

I'm all for it.  Wherever you can use technology within reason to solve a problem that doesn't stop the flow of the game, I say go for it.

[Sunstroke]

^^^ For that exact reason... If you can make the spotting of the ball (or any judgment-based call) more accurate through use of new technology, and that technology does not affect the playing of the game itself or cause delays in play, then it's a no-brainer, imo.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I like the idea. 

I also think they should put fixed cameras aimed down the lines.  Not that it will catch every thing, but it increases the chance that if there is an instant replay there will be something worth replaying. 

[Spider-Dan]

They should use lasers to determine strike zones in baseball.

That is all.

[Brian Fein]

I say no.

The spot it part of the game, and the old geezers do a pretty good job.  I don't think we need robots and stuff to officiate a game.  We gonna have instant replay after every play for the computer to tell us where the ball gets spotted?  What if the computer gets it wrong?  And they'd need a chip at each nose of the ball to be precise.

Its a game of inches, and that's what makes it exciting.  Leave it as it is.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I say no.

The spot it part of the game, and the old geezers do a pretty good job.  I don't think we need robots and stuff to officiate a game.  We gonna have instant replay after every play for the computer to tell us where the ball gets spotted?  What if the computer gets it wrong?  And they'd need a chip at each nose of the ball to be precise.

Its a game of inches, and that's what makes it exciting.  Leave it as it is.

Say use the technology but spot manually, unless someone tosses a red flag on the ground which can happen at absolutely most 6 times in a game. 

[bsfins]

I voted No,While I think the NFL should use every piece of technology possible to do the right thing...I'm not sure how to truly employ it accurately,or correctly.....I prefer to start with like something Spider, or Hoodie mentioned first....

Is are there going to be big grey things along the sideline like a security device at the store to detect where the chip is?  Maybe if I had a better idea of exactly how it's going to work....Is this GPS? even those have a margin of error, and in a game of inches....It's no good...So until I have more info I vote no...

[Pappy13]

I think it's safe to say they wouldn't consider using the technology unless it was feasible and reliable.  There's probably some bugs to work out (there always is), but you won't find them till you start using it.  Do a preseason using it and see what the problems are.  If you like it, use it if not don't.  It's as simple as that.  And of course it should be like mentioned, only used when a precise spot is of utmost importance.  You wouldn't use it every single play.

[Dave Gray]

I don't see why you wouldn't use it every play where you needed it, whether it was an important situation or not.  If the technology works as advertised, it would be an instant reading.  So, the ref could potentially have a wireless thing in his hand that says "33 and 1/8 yard line" and then he places the ball there immediately.  It shouldn't take any longer.

I heard the guy on SportsNation today say something pretty wise, I thought.  He said (paraphrasing) "You never hear about a situation where someone was against technology in sports and now we look back and say 'that guy was right'."

[Pappy13]

I don't see why you wouldn't use it every play where you needed it, whether it was an important situation or not.  If the technology works as advertised, it would be an instant reading.  So, the ref could potentially have a wireless thing in his hand that says "33 and 1/8 yard line" and then he places the ball there immediately.  It shouldn't take any longer.

I just don't think it's necessary.  The spot of the ball really doesn't have to be that accurate most of the time the only time it's really necessary is for 1st down measurements, crossing the goal line etc.  99% of the time the zebras get it right or close enough without any aid so there's really no need for it.  They could use it every play, but I doubt they would.  It's the old kiss addage.  Keep it simple stupid.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I doubt a hand held wireless device would do any good. 

The question is rarely where is the ball right now?  ("Hey its in my hand the wr tossed it to me after he got tackled")  But where was it at a specific instant in the past.  That requires reviewing the tape.

Nor is midfield spots often the issue. 

I invision using this technology to answer one question and one question only:  "Did the ball break the plane of the goal line or not?" 

[Spider-Dan]

I heard the guy on SportsNation today say something pretty wise, I thought.  He said (paraphrasing) "You never hear about a situation where someone was against technology in sports and now we look back and say 'that guy was right'."

Someone had to have said that when the NFL got rid of Instant Replay (before they brought it back).

[Spider-Dan]

I doubt a hand held wireless device would do any good. 

The question is rarely where is the ball right now?  ("Hey its in my hand the wr tossed it to me after he got tackled")  But where was it at a specific instant in the past.  That requires reviewing the tape.

Not really.  When the appropriate official decides that the play is dead, he pushes a button.  The ball's current position is marked in memory.  The ball is flipped to him, and he uses the device to set the ball to that exact position.  No tape review required.

The only time you'd need to check the tape would be a situation like if there were a question as to whether a knee was down when the play was called dead (something that exists now anyway).

Nor is midfield spots often the issue.

Then why do the chains exist?

This technology would remove the need for the chains.

[Phishfan]

Personally, I don't believe the technology is there to do what most of you are proposing. I'm skeptical of any application other than it being able to determine if the chip has crosses certain line barriers. I seriously doubt it has the ability to be used for every single spot. We are talking inches here. Is there any GPS in the world sensitive enough to differentiate between inches? I imagine this thing has to relate to other sensors.

FYI, I just looked up the company and their technology is very close to what I imagined. The only applications I see are them being placed at the goal line, or if you can make it portable and attached to the chains to tell if the crossed the first down marker. Exact positioning for any other circumstances are not part of the technology.

[Spider-Dan]

Personally, I don't believe the technology is there to do what most of you are proposing. I'm skeptical of any application other than it being able to determine if the chip has crosses certain line barriers. I seriously doubt it has the ability to be used for every single spot. We are talking inches here. Is there any GPS in the world sensitive enough to differentiate between inches? I imagine this thing has to relate to other sensors.

Have you heard of a Wii?  I hear it's a fairly popular device.

The technology certainly exists.  Is it expensive?  Maybe to citizens, but I doubt it's anything extreme compared to what the NFL already spends.