Patriots-Browns

Anyone see the ending of Pats-Browns?

Pereira: No, that definitely was NOT pass interference

I was reading a fan message board and found some "interesting" comments I think you might enjoy:

"The reason this is happening is because the rules are becoming so complex and so obtuse, even referees don't know what to call and what not to call anymore.
The solution isn't more reviews, it's clarifying/simplifying the rules so that they are clear cut, and not as subjective as they are now."

"The problem is that too many calls are becoming the ref's choice. For example, a false start is a false start. If the offensive player moves, its a penalty. Not a lot of grey area. However, what is the exact time frame that you can hit a QB after the throw? When is the exact time that a receiver stops being defenseless, and are there times when he isn't defenseless? And pass interference, well I honestly think offensive players get away with too much of it. Look at the big tight ends. Many of these guy's routes involve running directly into the defender then turning around and catching the ball, or running a slant through the defender rather than past or around. The defenders need a break when it comes to penalties."

"IMO they need to really start looking at if the ball was catchable. If it wasn't, then illegal contact. If it was and the defender wasn't actually preventing the receiver from catching it but was touching/holding them in some way, illegal touching or defensive holding. If they were literally preventing them from catching the ball without playing the ball, PI."

[Adam]

So his complaint is that the rules are too complex, but his solution....

[bisonlj]

I thought it was a weak call when I saw it. One of the angles shown was the same angle as the covering official and I saw nothing that fit into the traditional categories.

[maven]

Originally Posted by bisonlj

I thought it was a weak call when I saw it. One of the angles shown was the same angle as the covering official and I saw nothing that fit into the traditional categories.

That crew will have a couple downgrades from that game. Since Boger called ING on Brady, he had to get one on the Browns' QB too, even though he was (a) out of the tackle box, and (b) the ball landed near an eligible.

Originally Posted by Adam

So his complaint is that the rules are too complex, but his solution....

Two different posters.

Originally Posted by maven

he had to get one on the Browns' QB too

What do you mean by this?

[APG]

Some of those suggestions are stupid...the instant a rule is made black and white, fans will go back and complain that officials should use judgement in making calls.

As to that illegal contact/DPI suggestion, that seems to come from someone that doesn't understand the NFL rules in place during a pass play. Catchability is written into the pass interference rules as it is. The fact is, with these players being freaky athletic, officials are going to judge the ball catchable except in the most obvious of cases. Whatever that person is suggesting is adding even more judgement and complexity to rules and fans would be crying when an official judged holding or whatever he was trying to say instead of going with DPI.

I don't think the rules are too complex for the officials. Are they too complex for the average fan? Yes, but they don't also spend actual time in the rule book and case book. These guys are constantly in the rule book...get quizzes from the league every week during the season...are constantly being quizzed and have to stay sharp during the offseason.