49ers/Seahawks

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by AremRed

Too little, too late. The NFL has been one step behind for several years now. Starting with the penalty for challenging an automatically reviewed play. That cost the Lions a game a few years ago. Now this. The NFL needs to decide which things are non-reviewable and allow reviews on everything else. Problem solved.

"Problem solved" and "Game Improved" are not always the same thing.

As technology continues to improve the potential for precision, not all the potential enhancements will benefit the game. Over the past 125+ years Football (at all it's levels) has become, far and away, the most popular sport in America, and is growing elsewhere. A considerable part of that success is derived from the dynamic excitement and drama of teams dealing with and responding to the periodic element of human mistakes, by players, coaches and at times officials.

Ultimately, various technologies will likely be able to reduce, if not eliminate, a majority of these unpredictable risks. That does not automatically translate to the game being "better", more "exciting", more "popular" or more "successful".

If absolute precision is your objective, go buy yourself an XBox, or whatever new technology will give YOU absolute control over all factors of the game, but leave the game, which includes all sorts of potential human failings, to struggle along for the next 125+ years of growing success.

When something clearly isn't broken, excessive "tinkering" can cause a lot more unexpected consequences than perceived improvements.

[bisonlj]

Originally Posted by ajmc

"Problem solved" and "Game Improved" are not always the same thing.

As technology continues to improve the potential for precision, not all the potential enhancements will benefit the game. Over the past 125+ years Football (at all it's levels) has become, far and away, the most popular sport in America, and is growing elsewhere. A considerable part of that success is derived from the dynamic excitement and drama of teams dealing with and responding to the periodic element of human mistakes, by players, coaches and at times officials.

Ultimately, various technologies will likely be able to reduce, if not eliminate, a majority of these unpredictable risks. That does not automatically translate to the game being "better", more "exciting", more "popular" or more "successful".

If absolute precision is your objective, go buy yourself an XBox, or whatever new technology will give YOU absolute control over all factors of the game, but leave the game, which includes all sorts of potential human failings, to struggle along for the next 125+ years of growing success.

When something clearly isn't broken, excessive "tinkering" can cause a lot more unexpected consequences than perceived improvements.

I agree with most of this. I'm a fan of replay in general, but to think it has to make everything perfect is not a good goal.

I think the primary reason so many fans get so passionate about these calls - gambling. It has been one of the key contributors to the success of the league, and I think it has fueled the screams for perfection. This includes fantasy leagues to an extent. It's one thing if your favorite team loses a game or a chance at a championship. It's another if a team loses a game which results in a lost bet. Or a call reverses a score that would have resulted in your player not earning points that would have helped you win a championship.

[HLin NC]

On the PF shove OOB, I noted that the player struck the box man and or box. Not hard but it's a safety thing, IMO.

[Suudy]

Originally Posted by HLin NC

On the PF shove OOB, I noted that the player struck the box man and or box. Not hard but it's a safety thing, IMO.

The box should have been dropped when he got near them. The safety as related to the chains is the responsibility of the crew, not the players. The players shouldn't be expected to pullup if they tackle or take other action near the chains.

(Full disclosure: I'm a Seahawks fan.)

I wondered about this call as well. All I can think is that the official thought the push unnecessary, since it was clear the catch was not made. But regardless, I wonder why this was called a dead ball PF. The ball was not yet dead at the time of the contact. If I recall correctly, it was popped up and still in flight.

And I too thought the running into the kicker was a bad call. We I saw it full speed, I thought perhaps it was running into the kicker. But when I saw the replay, I shook my head (as a Seahawks fan) thinking "Crap, SF gets to keep the ball." I was shocked that they didn't call roughing.

[APG]

Originally Posted by Suudy

I wondered about this call as well. All I can think is that the official thought the push unnecessary, since it was clear the catch was not made. But regardless, I wonder why this was called a dead ball PF. The ball was not yet dead at the time of the contact. If I recall correctly, it was popped up and still in flight.

This was probably why the discussion during the dead ball was so long after the flag was thrown.