Superbowl

[dolphins4life]

Rewrite the holding and illegal contact rules to say,

"If, in the referee's judgement, the hold does not significantly impact the receiver, the ref should not throw the flag"

Maybe this is an argument for having a sky judge, or somebody with a second opinion.

Anybody got any other ideas?

[DenverFinFan]

It’s as good as any, I seriously think there’s gotta be some kind of overhaul here. Maybe defensive holding shouldn’t be an automatic first down or in some cases it just has a no play? I don’t know the thing is in the game tonight like technically it could be considered holding but the dude wasn’t gonna catch that pass anyway and in a game like this it’s lousy that it was called.

Maybe PI shouldn’t be a spot foul either. I don’t know but officiating in these playoffs was atrocious.

[Spider-Dan]

"If, in the referee's judgement, the hold does not significantly impact the receiver, the ref should not throw the flag"

This is already how the rule currently exists.

If the officials called holding that they did not believe affected the play, there would be a flag on literally every down.

[dolphins4life]

This is already how the rule currently exists.

If the officials called holding that they did not believe affected the play, there would be a flag on literally every down.

Is it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIbNQblAIqU

In this video, it says, "ANY GRAB OF THE JERSEY"

However, this is NOT how the rule is enforced.  Referees will NOT call ANY grab of the jersey.  They will judge how long the grab was for, how much it affected the receiver's ability to run his route, and if the defender tried to make a play on the ball.

My proposal is to put this outright in the rulebook.

For the record, I didn't agree with the late hit call out of bounds in the AFC title game either, but that's another story.

Also, HE DIDN'T EVEN GRAB THE JERSEY!!!!  NOW I'M LIVID!!!!  We were robbed of a thrilling finish to the Super Bowl.

[Spider-Dan]

You can see the jersey grab at 25:10-25:11 of this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gXU353fwRk&t=1504s

[EDGECRUSHER]

Just more ammunition for the “NFL is rigged” conspiracy theorists to call upon.

I don't think the NFL purposely tries to rig games, even when they probably want certain outcomes. However, I absolutely think one or two refs will do what they can to change the outcome of a game when possible. Not on the behalf of the NFL, but probably for gambling reasons.

[CF DolFan]

The DB, James Bradbury, admitted to it after the game.
"It was a holding. I tugged his jersey. I was hoping they would let it slide," he said after Super Bowl LVII.

I'd be more upset they gave up a 10 point lead than one single play I might not agree with.  

[Pappy13]

Actually I think we need a change to the rules around the use of the red flag. In my opinion if the offense tries to run a hurry up play the other team should be allowed to throw the red flag and have a chance to review the play and determine whether or not they really want to challenge the play or not. If they do the normal rules apply, if not they can pick up the red flag and decide not to challenge. That would put an end to this BS about running a quick play to prevent the other team from challenging. Another possibility would be to just allow a challenge after a single play is run. If you challenge and win the challenge the play that was run is wiped out by the challenge, if you lose the challenge both the play and the quick play stand. After a year it would never even be an issue anymore as there's no benefit to try running a quick play if the other team still has a chance to challenge.

On the hold call, I believe the rule of thumb is does the hold impede the WR's progress. If it does then it's considered a hold, if not then it's not. I think you can clearly see on that play the WR's progress was impeded by the hold therefore a good call. It's pretty close, but not nearly as bad as some fans want to try to make it. Not being either a Philly or KC fan, I can see that call going either way.

[Dave Gray]

Like the call that solidified KC making the Super Bowl in the first place, it sucks when and how it happened, but it was the correct call.

I'm really surprised that KC elected not to score.   They played it well.  I get falling down the first time, but I thought they might've tried to run it in on 3rd down. 

[Pappy13]

I don't think the NFL purposely tries to rig games, even when they probably want certain outcomes. However, I absolutely think one or two refs will do what they can to change the outcome of a game when possible. Not on the behalf of the NFL, but probably for gambling reasons.

I think that's pretty conspiracy theory there. The refs can't just get some plays wrong innocently from time to time? Does bias play a role? Maybe, but I don't think the refs are doing it for gambling purposes. That's a lot to actually think about during a moment. Their job is hard enough to try to imagine how they would be thinking "When can I call something that will benefit me without drawing too much attention?"

I actually think the refs do a pretty good job now except for the call of roughing the passer. That's the one that literally the refs don't know how to call. I'd say they get about 50% of those calls wrong which is just horrible.

[EDGECRUSHER]

I think that's pretty conspiracy theory there. The refs can't just get some plays wrong innocently from time to time? Does bias play a role? Maybe, but I don't think the refs are doing it for gambling purposes. That's a lot to actually think about during a moment. Their job is hard enough to try to imagine how they would be thinking "When can I call something that will benefit me without drawing too much attention?"

I actually think the refs do a pretty good job now except for the call of roughing the passer. That's the one that literally the refs don't know how to call. I'd say they get about 50% of those calls wrong which is just horrible.

I think a conspiracy would be all the refs getting together for a point shaving scandal or something. I just think some human beings are taking opportunities to make money. Certainly possible they are just dumb or have a personal bias, but never discount money.

[CF DolFan]

Like the call that solidified KC making the Super Bowl in the first place, it sucks when and how it happened, but it was the correct call.

I'm really surprised that KC elected not to score.   They played it well.  I get falling down the first time, but I thought they might've tried to run it in on 3rd down.  

I get what you are saying but third dwn was all about positioning of the ball for the kicker. They played the clock more than points and it paid off.

[Dave Gray]

^ Yeah, I can't argue the result.

I just think that trying to run it in on third down up the middle -- that gives you two chances to score instead of just the one.  You could miss the kick, though unlikely.


The field conditions were bad.

[CF DolFan]

The field conditions were bad.

That's a whole nother story. With all the money floating around it's rediculous that any NFL surface be this bad let alone the Super Bowl. No excuse IMO. 

[Pappy13]

I just think that trying to run it in on third down up the middle -- that gives you two chances to score instead of just the one.

But you risk having the ball stripped.

You could miss the kick, though unlikely.

The field conditions were bad.

Yeah but when the FG is a chip shot, this is not really an issue as power is not a concern. You could even slip a little and still make it when it's short and between the hashes.