Is it time to can the Instant Replay experiment?

[steveo395]

Wasn't instant replay made permanent last offseason?

[munny]

any fan who has been to a game knows that more time is spent waiting for tv to air beer and dick commercials than anything else. A little time to get the calls right, or at least try to, is worth it.

[wilsowilso]

We need replay. Keep streamlining it, but it is a necessary evil. I mean every game almost the refs absolutely blow a call. Maybe they rely on it too much, but I'm tired of people whining about the three minutes it takes to get it right. Would you rather have the enduring anger and disappointment of knowing how bad the call was instead?

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

I posted this in another thread, but then I figured it deserved its own thread.

I really think they should get rid of instant replay. I don't like having too much communication between the booth and the guys calling the game. People may say, "well, instant replay helps them get it right." To that, I say, "so?" The referee is always right. Whatever he rules is what "occurred" on the play. A lot less funny business would go on if the guys on the field would just use their judgment and there was no time to review plays, we just went with what they saw.

I'm sorry, instant replay totally changes the game of football and I think that's definately a negative. "Getting it right" is usually an excuse for being able to get it wrong initially. I don't want second guessing. I want one call, from the officials, and that becomes history. Too many times, instant replay totally changes a game. Getting it right or not, one team still gets screwed, as well as the fans.

I'm with John Madden on this one. Every play in football is now about "was his knee down before the fumble?", "was his arm moving forward before it was hit?", "did he trap that one?" All thanks to instant replay. Guess what, who cares? If it looks like a fumble and smells like a fumble then it's a fumble. When the ground causes the fumble, the official knows right away and rules it down by contact, that never needs to be reviewed anyway. The location of a guy's knee has no bearing on the likeliness that he will cough up the ball. I hate cop outs.

I couldn't disagree more. Getting it right, meaning actually making the correct call based on what actually happened, is the most important thing. You're implying that what the refs say happened is what did happen. Pragmatically I agree. But just because the call went one way and the game continued from there doesn't mean the call was right.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

I posted this in another thread, but then I figured it deserved its own thread.

I really think they should get rid of instant replay. I don't like having too much communication between the booth and the guys calling the game. People may say, "well, instant replay helps them get it right." To that, I say, "so?" The referee is always right. Whatever he rules is what "occurred" on the play. A lot less funny business would go on if the guys on the field would just use their judgment and there was no time to review plays, we just went with what they saw.

I'm sorry, instant replay totally changes the game of football and I think that's definately a negative. "Getting it right" is usually an excuse for being able to get it wrong initially. I don't want second guessing. I want one call, from the officials, and that becomes history. Too many times, instant replay totally changes a game. Getting it right or not, one team still gets screwed, as well as the fans.

I'm with John Madden on this one. Every play in football is now about "was his knee down before the fumble?", "was his arm moving forward before it was hit?", "did he trap that one?" All thanks to instant replay. Guess what, who cares? If it looks like a fumble and smells like a fumble then it's a fumble. When the ground causes the fumble, the official knows right away and rules it down by contact, that never needs to be reviewed anyway. The location of a guy's knee has no bearing on the likeliness that he will cough up the ball. I hate cop outs.

Replay isn't going anywhere. As much as it slows the game down it helps and that's all that matters. This is not baseball or basketball where you have 3-4 games a week. When it comes to football you have to get it right because of the importance of the games. If the NFL would follow college it would work alot smoother.

Let me give you an example. I remember the 90 season when we were playing Philly in a wild card game. Replay was kind of new back then. Earnest Byner got hit low and his upper body fell forward and his elbow hit first. The ball fell out of his arm. The ground clearly caused a fumble. The ref called it a fumble and The Eagles defender ran it back for a TD. Replay took a look at it and the call was reversed.

My point is if they had not gotten this call right we probably lose the game over a bad call. It's a playoff game and the ref missed the call. Too much is riding on it for the refs not get it right. I'll never ever forget that play and from then on I'm sold on replay.

[HOGTIMUS PRIME]

If we really want to try and improve the calls the NFL should go ahead and hire young referees, I can't understand the need for an old man who's reactionary time and eye site has faded, in other words a day late and a dollar short, get some young guys in there!

[Cowell]

Well this was definitely an unexpected thread, and Gtripp you brought some good points to the table. It's hard to say where I stand on this and personally I can live with or without instant replay. I don't think they will though because it brings a whole new element to the game with the challenges and it really does make sure the game is done right. I've seen some pretty lousy calls that have gotten overturned.

[Skinsfanmania]

I believe Instant replay is needed, but I feel it needs to be revamped again. I believe colleges use a much better version of instant replay. The NFL needs to review interference and change the ruling on not being able to review a force out. An interference call is as bad as a turnover and should be reviewable.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

I love instant replay. Looking at the rule I cannot really understand why you would want to get rid of it. Calls on the field stand unless there is indisputable evidence that the call was wrong. Considering that the margin of victory typically being less than 7 points, that turnovers often decide games, and that instant replays are only used when the coach thinks the blown call will affect the outcome of the game or when time is short (i.e., inside of 2 minutes), I think the costs of instant replay are vastly outweighed by its benefits.

[JWsleep]

Here's my number one problem with the system: Why do they have the ref come off the field and get in a little voting-booth type thing. How about this: have a replay official (or two) in a booth upstairs, in the dark and quiet, with a number of big screen hi-def monitors. They can look at the play much quicker and much more effectively. Then they call down to the ref and tell him what the call is. They do something like this in hockey, if I'm not mistaken. And college, right? It's not like the ref makes every call on the field anyway. I've never understood that.

I think it might make more sense to make PI a 15 (or 20, if you want) yard penalty. The killer is when it's a 60 yard thing. But reviewing it will not help--it's VERY subjective. Not much to do about that--it's kinda like NBA calls. The main issue is the crazy yardage you can get--it can win or lose games. Force outs are similar.

[Hail2theskins]

Originally Posted by JWsleep

Here's my number one problem with the system: Why do they have the ref come off the field and get in a little voting-booth type thing. How about this: have a replay official (or two) in a booth upstairs, in the dark and quiet, with a number of big screen hi-def monitors. They can look at the play much quicker and much more effectively. Then they call down to the ref and tell him what the call is. They do something like this in hockey, if I'm not mistaken. And college, right? It's not like the ref makes every call on the field anyway. I've never understood that.

I was about to say the same thing. Have officials in the booth upstairs make the call on a much bigger hi def tv, and then just radio it down to the man in charge on the field, speeds up the process and IMO it would be more accurate than one guy on the field looking through a tiny TV, take it all to the booth and just relay the message.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by HOGTIMUS PRIME

If we really want to try and improve the calls the NFL should go ahead and hire young referees, I can't understand the need for an old man who's reactionary time and eye site has faded, in other words a day late and a dollar short, get some young guys in there!

It's not like there's a bunch of guys in wheelchairs and walkers out there. What exactly is old to you?

[GhettoDogAllStars]

I support replay, as long as the following things are changed:

1.) Make every play/call reviewable.

2.) No challenge flags. Coaches shouldn't be able to challenge plays -- only the officials. A challenge shouldn't be part of a coach's "strategy".

3.) Remove the on-field officials from the replay equation. Have special officials designated for replay reviews (probably located in a booth with TVs).

4.) Make the calls overturned only by indisputable evidence. I know they say that's what they do, but I don't buy it. Too many times have I seen reversals from questionable footage.

5.) Show the fans the replays that the officials see. If a play is reversed by a replay, the fans have the right to know what footage was evidence for the reversal.

[BleedBurgundy]

Originally Posted by GhettoDogAllStars

I support replay, as long as the following things are changed:

1.) Make every play/call reviewable.

2.) No challenge flags. Coaches shouldn't be able to challenge plays -- only the officials. A challenge shouldn't be part of a coach's "strategy".

3.) Remove the on-field officials from the replay equation. Have special officials designated for replay reviews (probably located in a booth with TVs).

4.) Make the calls overturned only by indisputable evidence. I know they say that's what they do, but I don't buy it. Too many times have I seen reversals from questionable footage.

5.) Show the fans the replays that the officials see. If a play is reversed by a replay, the fans have the right to know what footage was evidence for the reversal.

I agree specifically with #2 but I think you make some good suggestions. I'd like to see #5 as well...

[BleedBurgundy]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

It's not like there's a bunch of guys in wheelchairs and walkers out there. What exactly is old to you?

Be careful insulting the old guys, you don't want Ed Hoculi coming over an ripping your head out through your ass. That dude is 60+ yrs old and looks like he could play middle linebacker.