Easy fixes for NFL officiating

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton reacts to a call during the second half of the NFL football NFC championship game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

This is not about the Rams. All credit to them. They played a great game in Sunday’s NFC Championship and are a terrific team. They’re just not the one that deserves to be in the Super Bowl.

The Saints should be in it. They outplayed the Rams, but one missed call by an official changed the outcome and ruined the game. A few hours later, two missed calls tarnished a fantastic AFC Championship game between the Patriots and the Chiefs.

The league wasn’t up to the occasion either time. It’s a shame.

Now, in the lead-up to the Super Bowl, people will talk more about the team that isn’t there (the Saints) than the teams that are (the Rams and Patriots). And instead of praising two cutting-edge organizations, the Rams and the Patriots, people will question the integrity of the league. As they should.

Click here to read the rest of my column.

This article has 180 Comments

  1. No dog in the fight but come on, Rams fans will point to the no face mask call on the Saints LB against Goff. First and Goal for the Rams at the 1 yard line. That would have also changed the entire game and it happened prior.

    You can pick and choose all you want- just don’t completely ignore other terrible no-calls in the game that affected the other team.

    And don’t forget what Payton easily could have controlled- clock management. He threw on first and third downs late in the game when he could have run the ball and left little time on the clock for LA. Kyle Shanny school of clock/game management right there. Andy Reid pulled the same crap in reverse with his timeout ending the first half against Belichick who was apparently content to run out the clock.

    The two “smarter” coaches won. That’s the only real take here.

      1. 10 ways- How to reform the officiating and restore the integrity of the game.
        .
        1. First of all, admit there is a problem. Denying there is a problem will just let the problems continue. Right now, the integrity of the game is in question, with poor officiating and blatant bias.
        .
        2. Eliminate all part time refs and make it a full time profession.
        .
        3. Establish a certified training program, and accept only top ranked college refs. This will eliminate unqualified wannabes. Create a league officiating academy.
        .
        4. Set up a transparent grading system, and use it to weed out the poor under performing refs. Only let top ranked refs officiate in the playoffs, and stop using seniority. Let teams disallow certain refs from officiating their games due to past conduct.
        .
        5. Put an official in the booth. Have a team representative from each team sit next to him, so they can point out areas of dispute. Allow the booth official to communicate with the officials down on the field, so he can tell them to throw a flag if there is a missed call, or pick up a flag if in error.
        .
        6. Reform the challenge system. Make it more stream lined so there are no long delays, or too many challenges. Set a 20 to 30 second time limit, so a challenge can be made and adjudicated between plays.
        .
        7. In the booth, set up a bank of monitors from every angle, and put them on continuous loop. That way, the booth official can re-watch a play over and over 10 times in 10 seconds. Then make him decide within a set time, and allow input from each team representative.
        .
        8. Do not wait for the league office to decide the call. Let the booth official handle all challenges, and set a time limit, if he cannot make a determination within 30 seconds, the call stands. This will allow for the game to continue, and stop the lengthy delays.
        .
        9. Once the reforms are in place, make every play reviewable and allow the coach to challenge fouls and forward progress. The mantra should be- Get the call right. Maybe start out by allowing the HC to throw a red flag on 2 pass interference calls per game.
        .
        10. Let even missed calls on the challenge be flagged. Do not focus solely on what s being challenged. Again, make sure every play is fairly called, because missed calls and unfair calls, are calling into question the integrity of the game.

      2. Prime, are you back already? I thought you promised to leave until the draft. Oh well, you continue to be a liar and welcher.

  2. I like Joe Theisman’s idea. Give each team one chance each game to challenge any play, with the mandate to get the call right.

    1. They already tried this in the CFL and it’s annoying how coaches take a shot in the dark at the end of each close game. Totally done to disrupt the timing/rhythm of the team going in for the win.

      1. Hmmm. Like a HC calling a time out just before a field goal try?
        .
        BTW, I find your name offensive, and I hope you are banned and deleted.

        1. The drive has essentially ended making forward progress. What more rhythm does an completed drive need? Stop thinking with your head. Try your left labia or something.

  3. Officiating issues need to be addressed during the off season and create better solutions.
    I see officials having to be escorted off the field by Police Security if this continues.

    Last thing we need is an NFL game resembling a heated soccer game.

    1. The game is fundamentally flawed.

      It has little to do with officials, of which even the finest will miss obvious calls.

      The game of football has a bazillion rules because it’s not a pure sport. You can climb over a back on one play but not on a kick. Can’t engage in a low tackle of another teammate is engaged with the opponent. Must arrive at same time of ball on a hit. Forward pass or no forward pass or a fumble??? on a forward underhanded 6” toss to your running back? The detail of each and every rule points to a game that obviously sucks on a fundamental level.

      True sports can be played with minimal rules on a playground. Pick up a ball and go. If a 5 year old can play without having to be taught every aspect of the rules, it’s probably a legitimate sport to start with.

        1. Perhaps you’re getting all defensive for no reason, Prime. Have you taken a look at the complexity of rules across the major sports that have less strife in terms of officiating?

          1. Offside, handball, last man, direct vs indirect free kicks, pass back to keeper (where the keeper is not allowed to pick the ball up), how far the wall needs to be away from the ball, incogruity between fouls that occur inside and outside the penalty area, and so on. You say these sports are simple because you and Roo do not understand these sports. You can easily play american football on the playground. It’s less accessible that football, but more accessible than, say, tennis. Shall I talk you through the rules for that sport, too?

      1. Like soccer? Try explaining the offside rule to a 5 year old.
        .
        Every sport has, and needs, rules.

          1. I knew many grown ups who were caught off side many times, and they claimed to have known the rule.
            .
            Guess you are calling them imbeciles, too.
            .
            When I coached my son’s team at 5 years old, we were more focused on passing, trapping and shooting the ball. I did not explain the nuances of pulling off an offside trap, because that was useless. All I told him was that it was illegal to stand at near the goalie and cherry pick.
            .
            Since you probably never had a 5 year old soccer player, you are clueless about how they tend to swarm around the ball. My main focus was to let them run around and have fun, not drill the rulebook in their heads.

            1. A) You having children is a scary thought.

              2) Children can understand and be taught the rule, but expecting a child to follow such rules is a fools game. Most don’t yet have the attention span and focus to put what is told to them into use. Its why we must tell them not to bite people, to sit still, cover their mouths, repeatedly…and thats all without the chaos of 9 other kids running around trying to attack a ball. However, you do occasionally run across a child who does have that maturity at that age and it is a game changer. Usually these kids have older siblings who play with them so they’ve had a crash course.

              And D) Being caught offsides is not for a lack of understanding the rules, its playing on the razors edge, much like a Von Miller trying to guess the snapcount and jumping offsides. He knows what the rule is, he’s just trying to be the quickest and first to respond. Same in soccer, those attackers are trying to get the jump on a long pass or free ball, and occasionally their timing is off. It has nothing to do with the simplicity of the rule. Compare the offsides rule in soccer with what the catch rules used to be in the NFL.

              1. ‘You having children is a scary thought.’
                .
                Thankfully, my children have grown up. They never had drug problems or have been in jail. One just bought his first home and is a manager. One graduated from Cal and is now working for Google. My daughter graduated from UCD, but is now home and is back at the SRJC, working, and taking different art classes.
                .
                2 of my children do not smoke pot, and my daughter does not drink, so I think I raised them well.

        1. Simple, you can not be past the last defender (besides the goalie) when a ball is passed to you.

          Hence the offside trap.

            1. Can you be more specific…

              If you mean someone kicks the ball, the attacker is onside when it is kicked, and then beats the defender to the ball then thats just called a through pass and is perfectly legal.

              Again, you must be onside when the ball is kicked.

              1. Yes, you did not add that qualifier- From the moment the ball is kicked.
                .
                How about if your goalie kicks the ball and you run past the defenders and touch the ball near the penalty box ahead of any defender?

          1. Except you also cannot be offside from your own half. And if you are in an offside position, it doesn’t count if the ball is played off the defender. And if you are offisde and don’t touch the ball, you can still draw the offside foul if you interfere with the play enough without touching the ball. And you are ruled offside if any scoring position on your body (i.e not your hands) is past the last defender when the ball is played, you don’t have to be a foot away.

            Plenty of extra complexity to the rule due to pro sports, that you are ignoring because it doesn’t suit the comparison. You think football in a playground will have PI, illegal shift, illegal motion, delay of game, etc? Ludicrous.

      2. You can say all you want about this and that, but the bottom line is that the refs are making to many bad
        calls, or no calls at all, it has nothing to do with players knowing how to play the game, but you are right on one thing, and that is players can’t hit another player at most points of the body, and that sucks.

      3. You simply don’t know enough about the sport to comment intelligently-on this subject.

        Either that, or your Sebs trying to have some fun.

  4. I couldn’t agree more.

    This solution allows for human error and strategical thinking from coaches but shouldn’t slow the game down. In fact it might speed the game up as teams might rush to get a play off before the booth official can review the play properly.

    I would add one caveat to this however, coaches don’t lose their challenge from successful ones, only on plays where the call on the field was overturned. This saves them, if the officials are having a particularly poor day.

  5. So far when watching Isabella, I am not a huge fan.
    He has so much wasted motion, that it allows people to stay with him. With his speed and quickness, he should gain separation much more easily.

  6. That pass interference non call on the Rams was the 2nd one the officials missed, just not as egregious. I think some of these officials are like some of these players and coaches in big games. They’re chokers.

    Regarding OT, I miss sudden death.

  7. There were actually 3 egregious non-calls for PI against the Rams during the game. I also question a holding call against the Saints when they had a short field. Rewatch the 1st and 2nd quarter of that game and you’ll see absolute takedowns of blitzing Saint’s LB’s but no call. After the Saints get a short field due to a Rams punt from near their own endzone the officials called a questionable holding call on a 1st down. Total BS call. I don’t think officials can control a game since that would be too obvious. They can greatly influence a game with calls & non-calls at critical times. The non-call on the obvious pi at the end of the game absolutely determined the winner. I used to think there was 0% chance a professional sports league would attempt to influence the outcome of a game through the officials. I now think there’s about a 25% chance the NFL is attempting to build the LA market by having officials do just enough to influence a Rams win to get to the Superbowl. LA is the #2 media market in the country. New Orleans is the #50 media market in the country. Do the math.

    In terms of Grants suggestions, I agree with both. Also curious what the NFL does to monitor refs to determine if they have any Tim Donaghey’s in their ranks. Other thing that I think is killing the NFL are the rules. The rules are way too complicated and the NFL has placed too big a burden on the Refs. Simplify the rules. Games are becoming unwatchable due to all the ticky tack calls. Specifically in the playoffs, the Refs aren’t calling the games like they’ve called every other game during the regular season. It’s that way every year but this year was particularly egregious. We went from ticky tack holding calls every 5 minutes to allowing a db to take a WR’s head off 5 yards before the ball arrived. NFL officiating is awful and it’s getting worse. Absolutely makes me wonder if the NFL is rigged.

    1. Houston,

      Your prediction of one sided officiating in this game didn’t pan out either. The Saints had 3 penalties called on them the entire game and as has been pointed out in multiple places, there were obvious face mask penalties they could have called on the Saints and didn’t. The league has an officiating problem and needs to fix it, but they don’t influence the outcome of games.

      1. You’re right. I thought the officiating would be much more 1 sided. Turns out it was only 1 sided in crucial situations. There’s a few questions you should answer.

        1. Did the Refs blow the pi call at the end of the game?
        2. What are the odds of a Saints win if the refs made that call? 99%? 95%
        3. Does the NFL financially benefit from a Rams appearance in the Superbowl?

        I totally get it. There are a thousand calls and non-calls in a football game. If you relive 1 bad call then you have to relive every bad call and play “what if” all the way up to the game deciding bad call. Absolutely understand. The reality is that given a chance to make a call or not make a call on a game deciding play the Refs gave the game to the Rams and everyone in the universe knows it was one of the worst no calls in NFL playoff history.

        1. 1. Yes
          2. Not sure but very high.
          3. The NFL financially benefits no matter who is in the SB.

          I’m not disputing it was a horrible non call. It obviously was, but it was not a preconceived outcome by the league that caused it. To believe that is to ignore the fact that the officials penalized the Rams more than the Saints by a sizeable margin and didn’t stop the Saints from moving into position to take the lead near the end when they easily could have with phantom holding calls. The only thing that went the Rams way was that missed call and it would have been impossible to plan that in advance.

          This was a moment in which the official choked and didn’t do his job. Unfortunately that happens far too much for a league with the resources this one has. Changes need to be made, but it has nothing to do with the league deciding the outcome.

          1. I get it. It’s Alex Jones level craziness to think the NFL is manipulating football games for marketing purposes. It was unthinkable what Chick Gandil and Joe Sullivan could do to a World Series. It was unthinkable what Tim Donaghey could do to an NBA game. It was unthinkable the NBA Draft Lottery was rigged but somehow the Nicks ended up with Patrick Ewing, Bulls ended up with Derek Rose, and the Cavs ended up with Lebron. I’m not saying it’s likely. I’m saying I would only be mildly surprised if it was revealed the NFL slanted the game to the Rams.

            If you don’t think the NFL benefits financially from a successful NFL team in LA then you really aren’t very educated. The NFL for years was desperate to put a team in LA because the LA Market is gigantic. LA is the #2 media market. New Orleans is #45. LA has over 13M people in the Metro area. New Orleans has about 1.2M in the metro area. The NFL automatically will get more viewers and be able to charge higher ad rates because LA is in the Superbowl. Merchandise sales and everything else that goes into the NFL revenue stream increases if a Superbowl team resides in LA. If you do any comparative analysis for real estate investment look at your market reports. LA’s economy is at about a $1 trillion gdp. New Orleans is about $80bn gdp. The NFL will benefit in the millions and maybe tens of millions of dollars because an LA team is in the Superbowl. And the impact is not just this year. The impact of building a loyal fanbase in LA is a multi year and multi million dollar proposition for the NFL.

            1. Thanks for the info but I live in LA and the Rams being in the SB has excited people, but they were already excited by this team going back to last season. The average attendance at the Coliseum jumped by nearly 10,000 a game from last year to this season. Being in the SB can’t hurt, but the league isn’t going to make anymore money from ad sales and other marketing around the game than they would have with Saints. The SB sells no matter who is in it. They will average the same number of viewers as they’ve had the past couple of years because the SB isn’t about the matchup; it’s about the event.

              1. #31 in Brand Value – Los Angeles Rams

                “Part of the problem for the Rams is that in spite of their market, Los Angeles spent two decades without an NFL team, resulting in a generation of would-be Rams fans cheering and establishing loyalties to other teams. The Rams could still eventually reap the rewards of their market, especially if they take the next step from NFC West Champions to Super Bowl contenders.”

                https://247sports.com/nfl/dallas-cowboys/ContentGallery/The-NFL-Fan-Brand-Report-for-2018-119381933/#119381933_1

                If you can’t see the NFL views the LA market as a potential cash cow as a result of future tv viewership and merchandise sales then I can’t help you. I’ll say it again, the Rams making the Superbowl results in tens of millions of dollars in new revenue the NFL would not have realized had the Saints won that game.

              2. « Rams-Saints had the lowest rating for the early window since 2013 »

                It’s a cash cow for sure

              3. The league would have lost nothing by the Saints making the SB and again, you aren’t telling me anything I don’t know. The Rams making the SB is great for the fans, but as I said they had already begun to support the team at the gate and buy merchandise because the team is good and fun to watch. They were 10th overall in attendance this year in a lousy stadium increasing the per game attendance to almost 73,000. You are behind the times Houston. What you are talking about has already happened without the SB appearance and will only get better when the new Stadium opens in 2020.The subject was you believing the league would slant the game in the Rams favor which didn’t happen and wouldn’t have had any effect on the SB anyway. Of course building the LA market is a focal point for the league, but it’s not about TV ratings; they had better TV ratings when they didn’t have a team. It’s about making LA a place where people go to the games which was going to be the hardest sell and they’ve already achieved that.

              4. Thanks for proving my point Jack. Instead of being the lowest rated early game in 5 years, next year if the Rams make the post season they will play in the primetime spot and they are in the #2 TV market in the country so the NFL expects viewership to rise with a winning team in LA.

                Rocket, I have no other ways I can say it. You want to claim the Rams were already on the way with increased ticket sales and increased merchandise sales so a Superbowl appearance doesn’t help revenue for the Rams or the NFL. This is just patently false. The Eagles have a loyal following and their merchandise sales increased by 60% after their Superbowl win last year. Going to a Superbowl is a financial windfall to NFL teams and to the NFL especially in big markets. Rams are selling PSL and season tickets for the new stadium. They have to pay the $24M settlement on the seat licenses in St Louis. Rams going to the Superbowl is a financial windfall for the NFL. It’s really indisputable.

              5. You want to claim the Rams were already on the way with increased ticket sales and increased merchandise sales so a Superbowl appearance doesn’t help revenue for the Rams or the NFL.

                No. I’m saying your argument that this led the league to fix a game in the Rams favor doesn’t make any sense. As I have pointed out multiple times now, the Rams value has been increasing and when the new stadium opens, they will immediately become one of the most valuable teams in professional sports. That was going to happen with or without a SB appearance this year. That is undisputable and the numbers bear it out. All these things you are talking about are already in the works. A SB appearance is great and will only help their popularity and merchandise sales, but they were already on an upward trajectory. As far as making the league money, the Rams in the SB will make the league no more money than if the Saints had made it. The SB is successful no matter who plays in it. Again not disputable. The league doesn’t fix games Houston. Let it go.

              6. Houston,

                The Rams played in the prime time slot on Saturday night, and the conference championship games rotate every year regardless of who is playing so it will be AFC then NFC next year followed by NFC then AFC the year after.

                While LA is a huge market it’s also a transient area with many people not tied to the Rams.

                Let me ask you this. If the NFL wanted an LA team in the Super Bowl why not take the fix all the way and get the Chargers in too?

                Yeah there was a terrible no call on the PI. It didn’t decide the outcome. The Saints still had the lead with under 2 to play. If they play good D they win.

                Then in overtime the Saints get the ball first. Did the NFL pay off Drew Brees to throw a pick there?

              7. We are past the point of talking about fixing games. We’re now talking about whether or not the NFL makes more money if the Rams make a Super Bowl. I get what you’re saying but you’re refusing to recognize what I’m saying. I understand the rams are on an upward trajectory for ticket sales and merchandise sales. That has nothing to do with the point. Would you rather make an extra $1M next year or an extra $20M next year? That’s the difference for the NFL if the Rams make the Super Bowl. The NFL totally screwed over the city of St Louis to get the Rams to LA for a reason. Bigger markets equals more money. Big Market teams in the Super Bowl = even more money. Answer this question, do you think TV executives root for a Dodgers vs Yankees World Series or a Brewers vs Royals World Series? Do you think viewership and ad revenue has anything to do with which matchup tv execs prefer?

              8. @Jack

                Transient market wth many people not tied to the Rams?

                Every big city is a transient market. Many potential new Rams merchandise purchasers.

                Chargers could have been an option but the Rams were the more viable option with many more young marketable players. Rams are the Lakers. Chargers are the Clippers.

                That non pi call absolutely decided the game. If the correct call is made the Saints have a 99.99% chance of winning. To say the Rams didn’t execute on several minutes of the game that should have never been played is absurd. Surely you’ve seen or been part of games where it’s incredibly difficult to get over the “Holy F this game should be over” feeling. Many times that’s an insurmountable momentum change. Did you see the College baseball World Series this year? If the kid from Arkansas catches that foul ball pop up the game is over. That play cost the Hogs a baseball championship.

              9. Houston,

                I understand exactly what you are saying. I just don’t agree with your numbers or your reasoning.

                Would you rather make an extra $1M next year or an extra $20M next year? That’s the difference for the NFL if the Rams make the Super Bowl.

                Explain how you come to that number.

                The NFL totally screwed over the city of St Louis to get the Rams to LA for a reason.

                Stan Kroenke moved the Rams to LA because he couldn’t get a new stadium in St. Louis. He didn’t own the Edward Jones dome and asked the city for upgrades or a new stadium for years. Once it became obvious it wasn’t going to work out, he bought land in Inglewood and focused on building a stadium there. The league wasn’t in LA for two decades and there was no big push within the league to move back there until Kroenke showed them what his plan was.

                Bigger markets equals more money. Big Market teams in the Super Bowl = even more money. Answer this question, do you think TV executives root for a Dodgers vs Yankees World Series or a Brewers vs Royals World Series? Do you think viewership and ad revenue has anything to do with which matchup tv execs prefer?

                This is where you are going wrong. The NFL shares most of the revenue it takes in including merchandise sales. Baseball does not share revenue and are dependent on their most popular teams making the playoffs to get as many viewers as they can. The NFL setup allows small markets to be as competitive or more than big markets. I keep telling you that the NFL is not concerned with who makes the SB because they will get over a billion viewers no matter who plays in it. No matter who wins the SB, the merchandise sales for that team will blow up right after. Doesn’t matter if it is the Rams, Pats, Saints or anybody else. The one team you might get the league to admit to wanting in the SB would be the Cowboys because they would bring in even more viewers due to their popularity on TV, but as I said the league is going to sell ads and merchandise at the same level no matter who is in the game.

                The Rams are currently the 6th most valuable NFL franchise. As soon as they get the new stadium finished, they’ll be #2 at worst. As I said the SB appearance is nice and will help the Rams as a brand, but it won’t have much of an affect on their overall value and won’t make the league much if any more money than having the Saints in there would have.

                https://247sports.com/nfl/dallas-cowboys/ContentGallery/10-nfl-most-valuable-teams-forbes-list-119900030/#119900030_1

              10. @Rocket

                The $1m vs $20M was just an example. The Increased amount in revenue the Rams and NFL will recognize as a result of the Rams making the Superbowl is likely far greater than that.

                You are 100% wrong on the Rams stadium plans in St Louis. The city and state passed something like $500M in funding for a stadium but the NFL owners refused. I suggest you go to any bar in St. Louis and tell someone there Kroenke left because the city wouldn’t support him financially. You’ll be lucky to leave with 3 teeth. Kroenke and the NFL were desperate to move the Rams to LA. The NFL sabotaged the funding from the city at every possible turn. You should read up on it so you can be more educated before you try to make this argument again. I can post some links to articles if you’d like to be better educated.

                Revenue sharing has nothing to do with my point in terms of the NFL. Let me ask you: if a team from a city with a metro area of 1.2M people wins the Superbowl will the total revenue from increased merchandise sales be greater or less than if a team from a city with a metro population of 13.2M people wins the Superbowl? Same question for viewership. Pretty obvious answer.

                You obviously don’t know the difference between Present Value of a Franchise and Revenue so I’m not going to even try to explain to you. Look up the terms “Liquidity”, “Cash Flow”, and “Working Capital”. That’s the best I can help you on your last point.

              11. Houston,

                You haven’t provided evidence for anything thing you’ve said, so save the condescending attitude. I know exactly what I’m talking about and don’t give opinions based on what somebody says in a bar. The SB ratings have been relatively close from year to year no matter who is in the SB.

                You are 100% wrong on the Rams stadium plans in St Louis. The city and state passed something like $500M in funding for a stadium but the NFL owners refused.
                I suggest you go to any bar in St. Louis and tell someone there Kroenke left because the city wouldn’t support him financially. You’ll be lucky to leave with 3 teeth. Kroenke and the NFL were desperate to move the Rams to LA. The NFL sabotaged the funding from the city at every possible turn. You should read up on it so you can be more educated before you try to make this argument again.I can post some links to articles if you’d like to be better educated.

                Please do and I’ll included one to get you started:

                https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/st-louis-approves-150m-for-new-stadium-goodell-not-happy-with-plan/

                Revenue sharing has nothing to do with my point in terms of the NFL. Let me ask you: if a team from a city with a metro area of 1.2M people wins the Superbowl will the total revenue from increased merchandise sales be greater or less than if a team from a city with a metro population of 13.2M people wins the Superbowl? Same question for viewership. Pretty obvious answer.

                You seriously believe a big market team will earn more revenue than a small market team because there are more people in the city it resides in? That is so simplistic and misguided while not being backed up in any measurement you want to bring to the table. People buy their favorite teams merchandise from different parts of the country not just the city they reside in. The merchandise sales have been in favor of the same teams for a number of years most of which are not in the biggest NFL markets.

                Look at the graphic for highest revenue generators in the NFL in 2017:

                https://www.statista.com/statistics/193553/revenue-of-national-football-league-teams-in-2010/

                You obviously don’t know the difference between Present Value of a Franchise and Revenue so I’m not going to even try to explain to you. Look up the terms “Liquidity”, “Cash Flow”, and “Working Capital”. That’s the best I can help you on your last point.

                Lol, I know the difference and you don’t seem to have any idea what this discussion has been about or have just pulled so many unsubstantiated claims out of your butt you’ve lost track. I have never said being in the SB would not help the Rams value or brand in fact I said it would in a post above. What this disagreement has been about is your belief that the Rams being in the SB would make the NFL more money than another team would which is what you have been trying to say from the top of this discussion as a means to make a case for why the NFL would slant the officiating their way in a playoff game. I have provided you with more than enough evidence to the contrary.

              12. I’ll send you the info on the Rams situation in St Louis tomorrow. The $150M from the article you posted was from the city of St Louis. Right before that vote the NFL tried to sabotage the entire process so the city aldermans would vote no so it would be easier for the Rams to leave. Several of the alderman went public with the dishonest & underhanded dealings with the NFL. The state of MO pledged the rest of the money to bring the Rams package to $500M. Kroenke had plenty of money to stay in St Louis. He wanted LA and who can blame him. Bigger market = more money.

              13. https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/01/06/is-kroenke-trying-to-make-it-impossible-to-stay-it-in-st-louis/

                http://www.fieldofschemes.com/2017/12/29/13296/st-louis-lawsuit-over-rams-move-heads-for-discovery-nfl-is-screwed-now/

                “To recap, in brief: Rams owner Stan Kroenke decided to move his team to L.A. in 2016, despite having a $477 million offer on the table for a new stadium in St. Louis; the NFL’s relocation rules say that “clubs are obligated to work diligently and in good faith to obtain and to maintain suitable stadium facilities in their home territories”

                https://money.cnn.com/2017/09/19/news/companies/nfl-los-angeles-chargers-rams/index.html
                “There are more than 20 million people that live within an easy drive of the new Inglewood stadium,” a league source told CNNMoney. “With three seasons to build up the fan base, both teams should do at least OK in Inglewood. And if one of the teams is good and exciting and in the playoff hunt, that team will do very well.”

                “These teams need to win, and win in an exciting fashion,” the source said. “If you don’t put a compelling product forth for L.A. fans, you’re going to lag badly.”

              14. Not sure what you think you’ve posted here but it doesn’t support your argument. From a link within one of the articles you posted:

                Grubman’s reasoning for that was based on the fact that the St. Louis proposal contained about $400 million of public money but $100 million of that was to come in the form of an amusement tax that other St. Louis professional sports teams don’t currently pay.

                Before Tuesday’s aldermanic session, the task force led by Peacock and Blitz made some last-minute changes to the proposal. Included in those changes was the addition of an extra $100 million from the NFL, which would bring the league’s commitment to $300 million to make the project work.

                Two major problems within the framework of the St. Louis proposal totalling 200 million. The league told them the max loan amount was 200 million but the proposal from the City called for 300 anyway which is what pissed the league off. This was a flimsy proposal in a lot of ways but it ignored a direct edict from the league on what was available. Also within that supposed 400 million were tax credits that were unspecified and an additional 77 million in future maintenance costs which don’t help the up front construction costs.

                Here’s the bottom line: Kroenke and the NFL were trying to get a new stadium built in St. Louis for years before this deadline happened. The city had ample opportunity to do something and didn’t until there was a clear threat for the team to move. The proposal they made included a tax that hadn’t been applied to any other professional team in city along with a request for 100 million more than the league said they were willing to give. It was not a good proposal and certainly nowhere near as attractive as the Inglewood option to Kroenke and the NFL. The lawsuit is frivolous much along the lines of what Oakland is going after the Raiders for. It’s an attempt by city councils to try and save face after they blew the negotiations.

              15. As to the second part of your post, what was the point? They have to build the fan base in LA and there are a lot of people to draw from. That is understood, what isn’t is how this backs up your theory that the Rams will make the league a lot more money being in the SB than the Saints or any other team. There is a paragraph within this story that says exactly what I told you in regards to shared income being the biggest source for the league:

                For all the concern over empty seats, ticket sales aren’t a major source of revenue for the league. The real money lies in broadcast and streaming rights, and those deals — billions of dollars in all — are locked in for the immediate future.

                Ticket sales aren’t a major source of revenue for the league. The Rams aren’t in the top half of merchandise sales. So how do you come to the conclusion that the Rams being in the SB will make the league millions more than the Saints?

          1. Rocket-

            Just how did you become an all knowing god in your own eyes? Arguing with people who have a viewpoint, splitting hairs~then splitting them again, talking in absolutes.

            Your one of those guys who likes to glorify themselves at others expense-aren’t you.

            If not, your the arguing-est dude on this site. More so than Seb.
            And as anyone will tell you, that takes some doing.

      2. Your wrong you say that the officiating does not influence the out come of the game, well in most cases
        if there is a bad or no call, that could very well change the out come of the game, and if you watch enough football you should notice that.

  8. I’m good with expanded/better use of technology and committing the necessary eyeballs to observing and triggering reviews. Coaches should have the ‘right’ to challenge any play–up to an established limit (as limited today or adding one more).

    Consider eliminating overtime during the regular season, but keep it during playoffs and the Super Bowl. Perhaps no regular season overtime might motivate teams to exert greater effort to get the go ahead score as time winds down–not just play conservatively to preserve a shot at overtime..

    For those interested in learning more–whether you think the NFL is honestly trying to do its best, or the NFL is inherently an instrument of evil and deceit…
    https://operations.nfl.com/the-officials/officiating-development/

    People behaving as people do.

    Or simply hold officials personally accountable for financial damages suffered by wronged fans–from reimbursement of apparel bought for a particular game, to game tickets, stadium food and drink, parking, TVs for the home viewing experience, content streaming services, gambling losses, etc., etc. And that’s just for angry fans. Must also be accountable to local government and commercial interests which also suffer due to bad officiating. Ya wanna be an official? Then ya gotta carry a $750 million bond. Lawyers and the insurance injury would have a field day.

    Bring on the combine!

  9. Andy Reid has publicly questioned why the official stood watching Dee Ford line up in the neutral zone without warning him. The refs commonly warn players when lining up. In fact the rule provides specifically for a penalty after a player has been warned if the player again enters the neutral zone. Maybe we’ll get a public response to Reid’s question. Maybe not. But beyond that, I’ve noted many times during the year that the refs apparently have great discretion to decide if the play continues or if a neutral zone infraction stops play immediately. This should be fixed. By not stopping play, the officials gave Brady a free play which is like a wild card in poker. In this case Brady blew it but the play was reversed so no big deal. But he just as easily could have used the free play to throw a bomb for a touchdown knowing that there was no downside. The refs should not be given discretion to give out wild cards like that. Either play stops always or it continues always. If not, it has the potential to show favortism. Like I said, maybe we’ll see a response on the warning issue but who knows with the NFL.

    1. I think the way neutral zone infractions are managed probably depends on when the referee notices the infraction and if there is sufficient time to warn the player. Like if the ref only sees it as the offense has already lined up and is set to snap the ball it’s probably too late. So hurry up offenses make warning defensive players difficult.

      And simply stopping the play ahead of time doesn’t make sense because a defensive player has the ability to move back out of the neutral zone before the ball is snapped to avoid a penalty.

      1. I didn’t mean for them to stop the play before it is snapped. I meant that the play should be stopped as soon as the foul is committed (which means after the snap) just like an illegal motion penalty. Your comment about not having enough time to warn is valid but on that play it seemed like the ref had plenty of time to say something.

  10. There is a rule infraction of some sort on just about every single play in every single game…they go uncalled.

    1. UC,

      I agree, the could call something on almost every play but don’t for obvious reasons. I’ve always believed that the only penalties that should be called are the obvious ones that affect the outcome of a play. In other words if the LT pulls down the DE who is about to make the tackle which results in a big gain, throw the flag. If a DB on the opposite side of the field grabs a receiver for a split second and it has nothing to do with the play, keep it in your pocket. If they just called the obvious penalties there would be no issue but each crew seems to have their own way of calling a game which just promotes frustration for the players and the fans.

      There were a few obvious penalties in the Saints/Rams game including the PI that wasn’t called on the Rams, but for the most part they let them play which is what I want to see instead of flags on questionable infractions. Had they called the PI we wouldn’t be having this discussion because the rest of the game wasn’t over officiated.

      1. If a DB on the opposite side of the field grabs a receiver for a split second and it has nothing to do with the play, keep it in your pocket. If they just called the obvious penalties there would be no issue

        How do you make that determination on the fly; in the middle of the action? If a receiver gets grabbed while the ball goes the other way to another receiver, how does the ref know if the interfered with receiver wasn’t a first read by the QB who had to move to his second progression? Does the ref have to track the QB’s eyes? Know the play and pass concept progressions?

        Holding calls away from the playside. Most of the time they do not impact the play. But at the time of the infraction you don’t know how the play will progress. What if that backside defender crashes down and makes a play from behind in the backfield. Or what if they’re the one that makes the tackle in pursuit 20 yards down the field? Or what if they’re the ones to make a fumble recovery?

      2. AFFP,

        I’m not talking about a passing play. The example was a running play to the opposite side of where the penalty is called on a DB not involved in the play at all. It was just an example I came up with to point out the absurdity of calling penalties on minor infractions that have nothing to do with the outcome. The goal for officiating in the NFL should be to penalize egregious fouls that affect the outcome of the play. Far too often we get calls that are questionable at best and phantom at worst. That needs to be taken out of the game and would help alleviate the concern about games running on too long.

        1. @rocket

          But you get my point about the impossibility of the task of trying to figure what is “egregious” in the middle of a play.

        2. A foul is a foul no matter how you put it, even if the player that got flagged wasn’t going to be the target,
          it’s still a foul, it’s always been that way.

    2. UC,
      There are missed calls. And then there are MISSED CALLS!
      The missed call in the rams, saints game measured at 7.0 on the NFL richter scale.
      The fall-out of this missed call will reverberate for much longer than the inconsequential ones and force the NFL to make changes.

  11. The NFL should get rid of “breaking the plain” rule for first downs and the end zone. It seems like that has to be reviewed on every drive at some point.

    In the old days the ball carrier had to go into the endzone (or cross the first down marker) and actually touch the ball down on the ground. Hence the name “TOUCHdown”. In fact because ball carriers had to control the ball all the way into the endzone; big wrestling scrums would develop because the defense tried to rip the ball out of the ball carriers hands before he touched the ball down. That sounds like a lot of fun to watch. It kind of goes back to the old Rugby roots.

    I’m also tired of weather a ball carrier was down before a fumble happened or if the ground caused the fumble. Just hold on to the darn ball. If you lose it for whatever reason; you’ve lost it.

    1. No.

      The player should either be down by contact in the endzone (like in goal line situations) or have two feet in the endzone (if running in) with possession.

      The ball shouldn’t have to be put on the ground by the offensive player, thats just pointless and excessive.

      But Tom Brady shouldn’t get a TD because he extends the tip of the ball over the line while doing a bunny hop, all the while his entire body is outside of the endzone, thats pretty lame as well.

      Run it in free with two feet in the endzone and possession, or be down by contact IN the endzone with the ball & possession of it. No credit for extension of ones arms.

      1. The ball shouldn’t have to be put on the ground by the offensive player, thats just pointless and excessive.

        well you’re no fun.

        I mean if we’re talking excessive….let’s just get rid of tackling and just go with two had touch….or one hand touch…….”excessive”….it’s all relative.

        1. Theres a difference between a core mechanic of the game (tackling) and placing a live ball down in the endzone to complete the score.

          Placing the ball down is an unnecessary action. If you are in the endzone with possession of the ball, you’ve scored and the play is dead. By adding in that extra action you increase the chances of unnecessary injury.

          1. I’m not sure if you’re self aware enough to realize you’re making definitions to the game as we’re trying to make changes to those definitions. I think my point about relativity was lost. Admittedly it was made by reductio ad absurdum for entertainment value but the point is still valid. To further the absurdity and to go with your logic. By continuing to allow tackling as opposed to two hand touch….you’re increasing the chances of unnecessary injury. And think of all the unnecessary hand injuries you could avoid by going with one hand touch football! So I stand by my point: let em wrestle in the endzone!

            1. Your hyperbole is redundant and proves nothing.

              Your claim for “in the old days” refers to a time circa Knute Rockne and Red Grange.

              1. Good god…I’m not out to prove anything….other than the relative absurdity of it all. You seem to have a relatively static idea of what should be in NFL football….I’m poking some fun at ya.

                The touchdown as we know it today PREDATES Rockne and Grange.

                Ya know…now that I think about it, the XFL should have had wrestling ring posts at the corners of the endzone so that defenders could climb to the top of them and do flying body slams on ball carriers trying to make a touchdown.

      2. You must not watch a lot of football, for the fact is, it’s all about the football and not the body, it’s always been
        as long as the tip of the ball touches the goal line it’s a TD, where have you been lately.

  12. The simple fix is allow a replay ref in the booth the ability to stop any play to review something the on field refs missed, directly impacting the play, as well as the ability to overturn a call…the offensive PI on KJ vs KC that negated a TD, for example.

    There is 30 seconds between each play regardless and most plays occur without issue.

    To follow up, each team is granted 1 challenge per half. Most won’t have to use it since the booth will be reviewing these plays.

    Simple and will force refs to be better and players to be less likely to commit a blatant penalty.

  13. Just for fun, I’d like to see a game with golf rules enforcement. Let players call penalties on themselves. That would be entertaining.

  14. Good suggestions Grant and I’ve seen similar ones suggested elsewhere that make a lot of sense. The problem is the owners and competition committee always focus on the fact too many changes will make games longer which they feel will turn the fans off. Personally, I’d rather see plays called correctly even if it takes a little more time to get there.

    If you keep the challenges the same but open it up to include some or all penalties I don’t think you’d see that much of an increase in the length of games. You can easily speed up the whole process by having an official in the booth that makes the decision rather than having the head official walk over to the sideline and look at a tablet while he talks to somebody in New York. The Booth official would essentially take the role that Al Riveron and co. have now and the process should be faster.

    1. why not resolve replay penalties during commercials? Since penalties seem to happen fairly often, just go to a commercial. and reduce or eliminate regularly scheduled commercials that interrupt the game. if few replay penalties are called in the game by the middle of the 3rd quarter, start scheduling commercials again.

      1. That already happens for some of them but you make a good argument for how they could do more. Not sure how feasible it would be but I like it better than saying “what the hell sh*t happens” as they are prone to do.

  15. Grant,

    It’s been a long, long time since I agree 100% with you on one of your columns. I do so now on both counts. I am not sure if you are aware that Mike Pereira has advocated having the eight referee in the booth for a long time.

    Additionally, I was wondering whether you would consider writing a column on what attributes of the Pats organization (and Bellichick’s MO) that has enabled them to win in the NFL so consistently for so long, apart from the consistent excellence of QB play.

    1. After watching both Pats wins, I’m going to side with Razor and suggest that their OL coach is the best in the game and it seemed like a huge factor this year for sure.

  16. I hope they can utilize technology to stream line the challenge process.
    ,
    Reduce the time and quickly make a determination.
    .

  17. Prior to every game, have the fan base (however that’s defined) select a ‘champion’ to represent fan interests. So, present at each game would be a fan champion for each team. If the game’s outcome is decided by horrible officiating (as determined by a real-time media poll), the team champions must battle in a cage match at the 50 yard line–no weapons, just bare hands. Battle ends only when one fan is out cold or worse. The winning fan’s team is then declared winner of the game.

    1. the problem is that most fans are stupid and often times can not make an objective (they are FANatics after all) and rational decisions.

        1. doesn’t this already happen in the stands?

          I think this was a South Park Episode about Little League dads.

    2. This reminds of that old George Carlin routine when talks about televising executions and sacrifices.

      1. the restaurant/bar in China Basin? I miss going there for drinks in the mid morning after a night of drinking.

          1. The Ramp and Zeitgeist made for great outdoor day after late morning mid day drinking after a night of drinking.

  18. KS still has to fill out his coaching staff.
    .
    I hope he promotes Mike LaFleur to QB coach.
    .
    I hope he promotes Bobby Turner to OC/ Assistant HC, even though KS will still call the plays.
    .
    I hope he then promotes Mike Daniels to RB coach, or hires back Tom Rathman.

  19. Agree with the first suggestion with challenges coming from the coach and limited to 3 per game.

    The auto-review is a good system that should be in place for the helmet to helmet, personal foul type calls only otherwise why have the challenge system.

    Either way, the officiating has been so bad this year that viewership on Sunday afternoon was up to over 53 million. A yuge increase over the year before.

  20. @sebnynah

    I do not believe that specific position coaches are promotions over Passing and Run Game Coordinators. If anything they have greater and broader responsibilities over the position coaches. In Kyle’s words they are his lieutenants. They stitch the game plan together (out of Kyle’s playbook) with Kyle’s oversight and Kyle calls the plays.

    1. Then why not just name one of them the OC? KS can still call the plays, but as HC, maybe he has other duties to perform, and an OC would help.
      .
      Belichick has an OC, Reid has an OC. Do not see why KS does not have one, especially with a 4-12 record.
      .
      Both the run and pass game coordinators get paid a lot less than an OC, and they have less responsibilities, because they do not call plays, and there is a RB coach, QB coach, TE coach, WR coach and Offensive line coach.

      1. C’mon Sebbie…

        We all know what you want, and when you want it. Hammering us time and time again won’t make your dream come any quicker. Those decisions are made at 9er HQ…not through anyone on this blog. Opinion sharing is fine, but to repeatedly lecture us about it is folly.

        WE GET IT.

        1. No, you do not get it, and neither does KS. The lack of organizational skills resulted in a lack of preparation, and the hierarchical approach needs upgrading. Too many times did we see a lack of focus, hesitancy, unforced errors and poor game management. There is a good reason why BB has an OC. He has determined that having an OC will help him win games. He is poised to win a SB. KS has determined he does not need an OC, and even he admits he should have won more games.
          .
          It also may be a tool to help retain coaches, and reward them so they want to stay.

          1. Well, Belichick is primarily a defensive coach…..so it makes sense he’d have an OC. He has at times been his own DC. I’m assuming he turns the reigns over to someone when he feels comfortable with that person’s capabilities. But you know Belichick keeps a close eye and has direct input on the defensive game plan (he has direct input on the offensive game plan too….he meets directly every week with Brady about the offense….without the OC). So what’s the big difference between a defensive HC directly overseeing a DC and an Offensive HC overseeing his passing and run game coordinator’s game plan?

            1. Or a HC overseeing his OC, and drop the division of passing game and running game coordinator? BB is a defensive coach, but still had Flores, a DC, just like Patricia before him.
              .
              It is just a title- Run game coordinator or Pass game coordinator, but with less power and less pay.
              .
              Also, what about RPO and read option? What about play action pass plays? It is better to have an Offensive Coordinator so he can cover both aspects.
              .
              Thankfully, KS has seen the inefficiency, poor red zone scoring, lack of finishing off games, poor preparations, undisciplined play, and maybe will promote one of the Mikes to retain and reward him.

              1. I think it’s bizarre how you’re waaaaaaay too hung up on the TITLE of Offensive or Defensive Coordinator.

                Did you deliberately not read the part where I said Belichick has been his own DC at times and likely has a DC in place only when he thinks the guy is capable. And BELICHICK STILL RUNS THE DEFENSE….regardless of their being a Patriots DC. Again, what’s the difference if there’s a NOMINAL OC if Kyle STILL RUNS THE OFFENSE? You don’t think McDaniels and LeFleur can figure out something so simplistic as an RPO???? Why elevate one guy over the other if Shanahan is still going to run the offense?

              2. Thanks for proving my point. KS is the one hung up about being both the HC and OC. Maybe he thinks he can do that because Bill Walsh did that. However, Bill Walsh was a certified genius, because his coaching tree encompasses the league and he changed the game.
                .
                KS is known for his meltdown in the SB, and with the ‘best QBs in the building,’ he went 1-15, so his assessment skills need improving, too. People who declare KS is a genius, are obtuse. Sure, he is very clever, and has a sharp offensive mind, but he is offensive fixated and cannot master the other facets of the game.
                .
                Some may point out Sean McVay. He has only a Senior Offensive Assistant, and calls his own plays. However, Sean McVay is 15-3, and poised to win a SB. KS is 4-12, and struggling.
                .
                KS needs to wake up and smell the coffee. He needs all the help he can get. I think having Booby Turner at OC. Mike Daniels as RB coach and Mike LaFleur as QB coach, is the right thing to do. It would give them all promotions, and KS will delegate authority, so they may help him win games. It would also be a good way not to look churlish, holding back his coaches from career advancements.KS would reward and retain his coaches, something I will praise him for.
                .
                To respond to your post, exactly. Once the Run Game Coordinator has the play switched to a pass play, he is useless. It would be much better to have McDaniels think of the play in its totality. Seamlessly blend both the running AND passing. Basically, the job description of a Run Game Coordinator, is to concentrate on running the ball, not passing the ball.
                .
                If KS is going to run the offense, he should be an OC. If he wants to be a Head Coach, he needs to delegate authority, so he can also concentrate on the defense and Special Teams.
                .
                So far, no one on this blog has ever convinced me that having an OC will hurt the team. I am saying it might help the team. I even think it might help them win games.

              3. Seb,

                You’re showing your limited understanding of game planning. Both the coordinators have to work together to make sure the run game and pass game motions and formations look similar. Even the blocking often times has to look similar. Then there’s when to call what play and under what conditions/situations. All that is based off of film study of the opponent and then stitching together and INTEGRATED game plan.

                You’re still failing to acknowledge that no matter if one of the coordinators gets the OC title…THEY’RE STILL GOING TO BE DOING THE SAME THING UNDER KYLE WHO WILL STILL CONTROL THE OFFENSE. What’s the point then in elevating one guy or the other? Your simplistic interpretation that…oh…my gosh….the play has been switched from a run play to a pass play???? uh…so what? it’s all part of the plan that’s why the three of them get together and create a game plan.

                Other than maybe Tomlin (who was a special teams coordinator but has a defensive background)…name a Head Coach that doesn’t run the side of the ball that he has experience coaching? Who do you think will run the defense in Denver? Joe Woods? Or Fangio? Who’s running Tampa’s offense: Arians or Bryron Leftwhich? Who do you think really runs Seattle’s defense? Ken Norton Jr. or Pete Carroll?

              4. All, of course an OC that become HC will concentrate on the offense. The trick is who does he find to help with the defense.
                .
                Sean McVay was an OC, but he hired Wade Phillips who won a SB as the Denver DC.
                .
                KS hired Saleh, a LB coach with zero coordinator experience.
                .
                Vic Fangio is long time DC, so he went with a young innovative mind in Scangarello. Still, Fangio is smart enough to hire a DC, so now he has Ed Donatell to help him. Fangio may make the calls, but he still has a DC. KS thinks an OC is not needed.
                .
                Yes, Mike McDaniels is the Run Game Coordinator, and he has Mike LaFleur as the Pass game Coordinator, and they might work well together with KS, but he still concentrates on the run game. I thought the RB coach would have that responsibility.
                .
                It would be better if both Mikes have a firmer grasp of ALL aspects of the offense, not just the run or pass. A more well rounded coach is more valuable, and will have no weaknesses. To me, a Run Game Coordinator is weaker in the passing game.
                .
                Yes, they are going to be doing the same thing with KS, but that may mean going 4-12 again. I want the offense to improve, and having an OC may help in the preparations, red zone, reducing errors, and have better game and clock management.

              5. Seb,

                I don’t understand your fixation on the Offensive Coordinator Role. If anything having an additional level of focus and administration should further help a Head Coach that is still involved in one side of the ball.

                Usually an OC is the one that does the film research and comes up with the game plan which includes the passing game and the running game. He meets with the position coaches, gets their input and tells them what plays they will be running so that the position coaches can prepare their players. Position coaches contribute to the game plan. But a position coaches primary role isn’t WHAT part of the offense. That’s the OC or Run and Pass game coordinators job. Most of the position coaches’ job is the HOW of the offense with their players. How to deliver the information (how much classroom. how much walk throughs, what kind of drills….how best to communicate, teach and drill the info into their players).

                Instead of one guy doing all the game planning for both the run game and passing game and communicating what is needed at the different positions with the position coaches. The 49ers have split and focused those duties. Now would that work well if there wasn’t an overseer of the process? Probably not. But Shanahan is going to oversee the offensive game planning process anyway so he may as well have the optimal coaching/management structure under him.

                Put simply, two guys are better than one for a Head Coach that runs the offense…right now. If at some point one of the lieutenant coordinators moves on then maybe Kyle will trust the remaining one to take over more of the OC duties. But right now it makes sense to have 2 sets of eyes working together under Shanahan than just one.

              6. All,if a Run Game Coordinator may help, and a Pass Game Coordinator may help, maybe an Offensive Coordinator may help, too. Tell me how having an OC would hurt the team. NOT having an OC has led to a 4-12 season.

            2. afp,

              Stop arguing with this guy. He can’t get past a title, even if its not worth the paper it’s printed on… The coordinator’s primary job is to create a game plan and call the plays. In the niners case Shanahan creates the game plan with the help of a run and pass game coordinator, essentially he split the OC’s non play calling duties between two coaches. This also means, SF carries more coaches most teams.

              As to his Walsh and Belichick arguments… Walsh went his entire career without an OC. Belichick went 3 years without an OC (yes an OC, even though he’s a defensive coach), and this year is serving as his own DC ( No Seb, Flores is not his DC he’s his linebackers coach). Yeah that’s right BOTH superbowl teams are there without a coordinator on one side of the ball.

              1. Shoup, if you researched a little, you would find out that Brian Flores took over the defensive playcalling duties after the departure of Mike Patricia, who held the DC title for 6 years previous. So, Flores is essentially the DC, without the title.
                .
                I will reiterate, both Walsh and BB are geniuses, who have won 8 super bowls. KS, imploded in his only SB appearance as OC, so he is no genius. KS is a 4-12 HC who needs all the help he can get.
                .
                Yes, Mike Holmgren, Andy Reid and Mike Shanahan were only QB coaches, but they did all the duties of an OC, except the title. They also had gone on to become HCs and coached in SBs.
                .
                Yes, the Mikes have divided up the coordinator duties, but now, with the departure of Scangarello, and the demand for the Mike’s services elsewhere, KS has an opportunity to reward, promote and retain them, instead of being churlish and holding them back from career advancements. Bill Walsh NEVER held back a coach, because he was stymied for so many years, himself.

              2. If you did your research you would know that Flores is not in fact the DC as you claimed. It’s not like it’s hidden, its on the freaking teams website.

                I will reiterate, both Walsh and BB are geniuses…
                So you are saying he should imitate less successful coaches like say Ditka? Hmmm That might explain a lot.

                Yes, Mike Holmgren, Andy Reid and Mike Shanahan were only QB coaches, but they did all the duties of an OC,

                Huh? What does this have to do with Walsh, Belichick or Shanahan?
                Once again a quick google search is needed.
                – Holmgren began calling the the plays under Seifert as the… wait for it… OC
                – Reid never served under Walsh so I’m not certain what he has to do with this.
                – Mike Shanahan, also never served under Walsh and was the OC for SF under Seifert

                Bill Walsh NEVER held back a coach…
                Well he kinda did because he didn’t give his assistants the title of OC… isn’t that what you have been arguing all along?

                Next time do a bit of research before posting such crap…

              3. Yes, Mike Holmgren, Andy Reid and Mike Shanahan were only QB coaches, but they did all the duties of an OC, except the title. They also had gone on to become HCs and coached in SBs.

                Seb you just blew up your own argument with this statement. The two Mikes also do the duties of an OC without the title. Everything you’ve said is based on one of them having a title and you just provided your own evidence of why that isn’t necessary. Congratulations on providing the common sense to your own nonsense.

              4. Shoup, my bad. I should have researched the lineage better, but all of those coaches are from the Walsh coaching tree. I should have mentioned Sam Wyche, who went from QB coach to HC of the Bengals. Holmgren was listed as the OC/QB coach in 1988 under Walsh, when he won his last SB then retired, Holmgren then continued in 1989 as OC under Seiffert. Yes, Mike Shanahan was the OC for Seiffert, so having him as OC helped win a SB.
                .
                No. Walsh never held back a coach, and some went from QB coach to HC. Reid did go from QB coach under Holmgren to HC of the Eagles. Wyche went from QB coach to HC, too, so Walsh did not block his career advancement.
                .
                Rocket, having the title may mean little to you, but for the Mikes, it could mean a sizable increase in salary, and help in the progression of their career advancements. With the lesser designation, KS would not be blocking a lateral move, but a promotion for a career advancement.
                .
                If KS does not want an OC because he wants to save money, he deserves to lose. I will keep repeating my assertion, which no one can give me an adequate answer to. I do not see how having an OC would hurt the team. An OC may help the team. In fact, an OC could help win games. KS, as a 4-12 HC, needs all the help he can get.

          2. Does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours…

  21. I think we can all agree this episode is not a feather in the league’s cap as some were arguing on game day.

  22. No surprise here. On Rotoworld:

    49ers declined NT Earl Mitchell’s 2019 option, making him a free agent.

    Mitchell was due non-guaranteed $2.85 million salaries in 2019 and 2020 but will not be getting them. The 31-year-old will be a free agent after the Super Bowl, giving him a chance to latch on with another team before the rest of the free-agent group is available to sign in mid-March. Mitchell played 363 largely-ineffective snaps this past season. It’s unclear if he’ll continue to play.
    Related: 49ers

          1. According to Biderman, the 49ers haven’t decided whether or not to bring Armstead back on his 5th year option….

  23. I swab my finger and recklessly point it to the sky. One sniff and depending on which way the wind is blowing I get my answers. Smells good, that’s bad. Smells bad? Eureka!

    1. Then what’s the point of being a football fan if the fix is in…? Really. Why be a 9er fan? If they ever get back to the playoffs, the quality of 9er play will have nothing to do with the outcomes–because the fix is in, right? Sounds like the only way the 9ers win a Super Bowl is to have the games fixed in favor of SF. Period.

      1. First off. Cool your jets. Is football the only thing in your life worth any meaning?
        You’re coming on here in flames defending a sport you don’t play.
        And if you think or one minute this corporation doesn’t help outcomes for ratings and money. You’re one simple minded dude.

        Baseball has been caught
        Boxing is well known for it
        Basketball has been caught.
        And you’re seriously going to think the NFL is the only sport that doesn’t cheat from time to time?
        Get real.
        And why are you worried about what I like to do with my spare time?
        I can tolerate the WWE at times. I know it’s scripted but it’s entertaining.

        Take a pill and relax. The NFL isn’t life Homie.

        1. Let me tell you something.(Holds up football)
          This ain’t just a football.
          This is your hopes, your dreams,
          your ambitions, your soul in a roll.
          It’s your life.
          Next year on that field,
          it’s do or die. Win or cry!
          Go, baby! Go!(Shout from Brotha Tuna)
          Ninermd, tonight when you go home,
          I want you to brush your little teeth.
          I want you to wash your little face.
          And I want you to dream
          of football glory…
          …because next year, we’re gonna crush
          the Little Rams into smithereens.
          – What do you say, Ninermd?

        2. MD/CFB
          After New Orleans (and surrounding areas) was devasteded by Katrina in 2005, the Saints had to play elsewhere. The NFL may have been in serious danger of losing a large football fanbase. The league needed to ensure that football in Louisiana did not suffer in the aftermath.
          Guess who won the Superbowl.?

            1. After the devastating hurricane in NC, the Panthers didn’t qualify for post season play…

  24. Questions for those who are certain the NFL fixes games…

    If all games are fixed (*are they not?), what’s the point of accumulating the best talent (players and coaches) on a team–in our case the 9ers? Instead, what can the 9ers do to ensure the games they play in are fixed in their favor? If the 9ers simply cannot get enough games fixed to their benefit, then the 9ers are doomed, no?

    *If all games are not fixed, please explain the criteria which the NFL uses to: 1) initiate a fix, and 2) not initiate a fix. I’m hearing it’s money driven. Is that it? Nothing else?

    1. This should be a mandatory read for those who think he quit on his teammates and are holding it against him.

    2. Razor, did you see Steve Keim has said the Cards will be switching to a 3-4? If that’s the case, Q Williams would make more sense for them at #1 than Bosa, as Bosa isn’t an OLB or a 3-4 DE. Bosa could very well land in the 49ers laps.

  25. Grant…

    Could you offer a plan for how the 9ers could gain sufficient favor from the NFL so that games can be fixed for their benefit? Perhaps the Yorks could pump $100,000,000 to the NFL annually to ‘guarantee’ five 12+ win seasons and two Super Bowl victories over the next five years. I don’t think extortion would be a good idea–the Yorks obtaining incriminating material on Goodell and other key people and threatening disclosure.

    Anyway, discussing a plan on this blog could lead to more 9ers wins. Gotta get our games fixed or we’re toast–no matter how well the 9ers draft and coach.

  26. Shanny and Gruden will temporarily exchange rosters Friday. If these two can come to an agreement that benefits both parties, surely Trump and Pelosi can as well…?

    1. Flipping squads is a great idea. Sure hope the outcome of the Senior Bowl isn’t cooked.

    2. “He can take his’n and beat your’n, and then he can turn around and take your’n and beat his’n.”

              1. He supposedly said it about both. I read the quote about Shula in the newspaper when he said it.
                The thread was about the NFL therefore my reference to Shula.

    1. “The Moving Finger mistypes; and, having been screwed by slow-loading webpage, Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit. Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.”

  27. Listened to Cosell, Tom and John, and they were saying BB ran the ball, then passed in the end when the Defenders were tired. They said that on defense, they put their weakest CB on Hill, but also gave him help, so Hill was double covered. Rams will learn from this, but then again, BB will probably do something entirely different.
    .
    Hmmm, sure sounded like BB went back to the WCO. and shaped their opponent.
    .
    Glad Tom brought up the idea of an official in the booth, or maybe that was Rod.

    1. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm

      Hmmmmmmmm

      Hmmmmmm

      Seb, you didn’t develop the WCO, so what are you tootin your horn for? Everyone on the planet knows that it works………….

      1. Tooting my horn? No, just making an observation. BB used the FB for a devastating effect. Masterful short passing game to convert third downs. Ran plays to set up other plays.
        .
        Tolbert mentioned that the Pats may not have dominant personnel, but the coaching is superb, and the culture is strong. Everyone is expected to study hard, and know the plays backwards and forwards. The crisp, efficient,effective, error free execution is a result of BB and his organizational skills.

      1. UC …
        remember back when .. “re-selling” .. venue tickets … could
        get you arrested … ? … (I think they called it .. “scalping”) …
        I mention this only to preface this question …

        Do ya think there’s any chance someone … (besides StubHub and the like)
        would be “scalping” … Stones tickets in .. “The Mausoleum” ?
        (fitting .. I suppose )

        I mean … Hey … Love the Stones … (grew up on them) .. but ..
        Mick and the boys shoulda hung up the tights ..
        soon after their Super Bowl appearance !!

        1. Remember when a lot of concerts were spontaneous and free. Santana, Cold Blood, and Cactus played at my high school I think in 69.

  28. Day 2 of the Senior Bowl practices, and one guy posted something on Youtube that showed John Lynch smiling. He was watching OT Chris Lindstrom and DE CJ Collier match up. G Eric McCoy had some good reps.
    .
    Pass rushers who excelled were CJ Collier, Carl Granderson, and Montez Sweat for the second day.
    Ore will be happy Jalen Jelks shined, too.
    .
    LBs who were mentioned were Terril Hanks and Dre Greenlaw.
    .
    DTs included Khalen Saunders, the back flipper, whose wife just had a baby. Daylon Mack, Renell Wren, Oli Udoh and Jonathan Ledbetter also did well.
    .
    WRs Penny Hart, Terry McLauren and Keelan Doss all stood out.
    .
    The QBs sounded like they did well, until Daniel Jones threw 2 picks.

  29. Reading these articles is a lot like waiting for a movie to come out on DVD.
    The Morgan article was a week behind the news breaking. This article is nearly 5 whole days after the missed call and every oinion has been shared and dissected.

  30. Raise your hands class if you believe the Sport of boxing is fair and square and some fights are not rigged.
    And please raise your hands if you belive Donaghy lies about being told to rig NBA games.

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