NFL Uprights
 

Often, we will see a field goal go over an upright, which is a legal goal in the NFL, but often with controversy, because it is hard to prove, or disprove. The logical thing, to me, would be to raise the uprights. The only drawback I can imagine are safety issues, exposing the uprights to more wind. Could there be any other drawbacks, because if a Super Bowl is decided over a ball going over an upright, there would be hell to pay the next day.

Their height, or minimum height, has already been raised 2 times, or 3 if you want to consider pre-NFL history. It's always the same issue.

Kicker's legs are stronger now, I think this is a disaster waiting to happen. It did happen in the 1986 AFC Championship game in Cleveland in OT, if that happened today, it would be a weeks worth of controversy.

It is only controversial to those that do not know the rules and complain about things they have no idea about. What else is new?

Peace

+1

I can't remember anything recently happening save for the end of one of the games with the replacement officials...but that controversy was more the fact that it was a replacement official making the call...and a correct one at that. Could they raise the uprights? I suppose they could, but that would only to be solve an "issue" that hardly comes up (at least in the sense where people who actually know the rules have a hard time saying conclusively or not).

I think it really is a non-issue. Any portion of the ball over the upright? No good. I am not an engineer and I did not stay at a Holiday Inn last night but I would think raising the upright height even further without widening them would lead to structural stability issues, especially when wind comes into play.

Lasers on the goal posts. So, when the ball goes over them, on replay you'll see exactly if it's in, out, or over.......or, whatever. :p

Plasma cutters. If any portion of the ball is missing, you know it was no good. :D

Yikes! I guess that means no more Goodyear blimp at football games!

Honestly, I don't think some sort of visible light extending upward is all that bad an idea.

You want to get super hi-tech? Get rid of the uprights completely. Just a bottom bar that projects a red field straight up, equipped with the technology used by police radar... if the field is interrupted, it's good.

But then who would Bill Belichick grab when the game was over?

Cheap technology alternative- fiberglass rod extensions like the bicycle flags were on in the 10 speed heyday.

In all seriousness, I do think that some sort of laser technology will be employed in the future...perhaps have them situated on top of the uprights. I still think we're a while away from that though.

Then how would you determine if the ball would have bounced through or not if the ball contacts the laser beam?

:confused:

Why would you have to determine that???

This is similar to what I was thinking. Put a little screw-in slot in the top of each goal post, then screw in a 30-foot tall aluminum rod, or just have a 30-foot telescoping antenna, like a much longer version of what I used to have on my old portable TV. If the ball touches it at all, no good. Best part is, you could even check it on re-play--you wouldn't need to move the officials to under the goal posts, since the ball will be dead if it goes that far, anyways. The score is checked by an official who views it in a booth, like in ice hockey.

Hey, I was just thinking, volleyball already does it. Quick- to the patent office!!!

http://www.athleticbusiness.com/micr...e-product3.jpg

Hmmm..... Gives me an idea.

There is no upright where the laser would be. Therefore, it makes no difference if it "would have bounced through or not." This is for above the upright. The laser is only to determine whether the ball is INSIDE the upright or not.

You can't extend an upright to the moon.

I saw that in 1983 at the USARFU national championships in Hartford, where the desires for precision and safety had combined to produce very tall plastic uprights that bent quite a bit in the wind.

at some point, we'll just have the whole thing officiated by video and replay. We could sell it for the aspect of safety for the refs and the accuracy of the game...:eek:

Part of the aspect of sports is the human side to officials and players. When that disappears, the fan base dimishes.

Just leave it and don't sweat the stuff that happens one time in a million ;)

Sad thing is, you could probably get the district court of East Texas to uphold your complaint against a company if you patented it and they went and made it.

You think the human element was a necessity when Jeff Nelson blew the world's most obvious out on the tag at second base in the Giants-Cards Game 2?