Yesterday while watching the Jets-NE game, I witnessed what might have been the WORST CALL I can ever remember seeing in more than 50 years of watching NFL games, either "in person" or on TV, in the form of a call reversal by the replay booth officials. For those few who did not see or hear about what happened, the Jets, trailing 14-24 late in the 4th quarter, scored an apparent TD on a pass-run (after catch) play, where their receiver carried two NE defenders with him into the "pylon" at the left end of the goal line, while trying to maintain control of the ball (which he DID) despite those two defenders trying their best to jostle it from him. The play was correctly ruled a TD by the official on the field, who was right "on top of" the play. As required by NFL replay rules every time there is a score, the play was reviewed by the replay booth, which I (and thousands of other fans watching the game) assumed would quickly validate the call, and the game would suddenly become an even more interesting, 3 point game. But after a long delay, the call was not only reversed, but turned into a "worst possible nightmare scenario" for the Jets and their fans, when the replay officials determined that just prior crashing into the pylon, the Jets receiver had juggled the ball (enough to briefly lose possession of it), with the result that (according to the replay officials) what actually occurred was NOT a TD, and not even Jets ball first and goal at the 6 inch line, but rather a fumble into and out of the end zone (with the Jets receiver gaining re-possession of the ball after his brief juggle of it not counting as a "recovery," because he was out of bounds when he re-gained control), and thus was a touch-back, with ZERO points for the Jets, and the ball being awarded to NE on their 20 yard line. And for those of us watching the game on CBS, the whole fiasco was made worse by the idiots on the CBS film crew muting the official's announcement of the replay reversal, so they could finish airing one of the many commercials (cha-ching for CBS) that were foisted upon us while this seemingly endless replay review was taking place. And before the Jets knew it, the NE offense was out on the field, up to the line and ready to run their first play, on which they gained about 15 yards against the understandably confused and disorganized Jets defense..
But while whether or not the Jets receiver sufficiently maintained possession and control of the ball while crashing into the pylon is one of those things that can (and already has been) debated endlessly by fans, radio talk show hosts and callers, and the "talking heads" on the various sports networks (starting yesterday afternoon and continuing long into the nite, and even into this morning), the point I'm trying to make here is that the manner in which this call was "blown" by the replay booth has very little to do with people's subjective opinions (including those of the replay officials) about what was the correct call on a VERY CLOSE, "bang-bang" kind of play. Rather, it has EVERYTHING to do with the main PROBLEM about instant replay in FB (and in MLB as well, for that matter), which is that the Replay Officials have been allowed to substitute their own judgment for that of the field official(s) who made the original call on the field (a “power grab” by the Replay Officials, that the Commissioners of NFL and MLB have allowed to go on ever since the instant replay feature was introduced earlier in this decade). And as we all know, and the Replay Officials and Commissioners of NFL and MLB also well know, the rule on instant replay is very simple – “there must be IRREFUTABLE EVIDENCE that the call on the field was wrong in order to overturn it.” Therefore, according to the Replay Rules, the fact that the Replay Official(s) think(s) that the call on the field on a very close play perhaps was the incorrect call, in his opinion, is IRRELEVANT. But while at least 80% of challenged calls should NOT be reversed, using the standard mandated by NFL replay rules, instead it seems that about one out of every 3 calls is reversed on replay. Why is it so hard for these supposedly intelligent and well-qualified Commissioners of NFL and MLB to understand that SIMPLE concept? And why can't they instruct their officials to announce that "the call on the field stands because there is not sufficient irrefutable video evidence to overturn it" (when that is the case)? It’s not that difficult, guys! Or is it that they do understand, but they (especially Goodell, who has already shown his abysmally poor leadership skills in the national anthem standing vs kneeling controversy) are too GUTLESS to issue a CLEAR AND SIMPLE directive/reminder to the field and replay officials about what the REPLAY RULE actually says as far as the standard to be used in deciding whether or not to reverse a call that either requires replay review by rule or has been timely challenged by the coach of one of the teams? Someone has to speak out to a WIDE AUDIENCE about the incompetence and gutlessness of GROSSLY OVERPAID “wimps” like Goodell, before pro sports in the USA (especially NFL) lose even more fans and credibility than they already have.
One final note - If the Replay Official(s) who reversed that call had “money” on NE at -9 or 9.5, it’s gratifying to know that he/they lost his/their bet(s) anyway.
I look forward to hearing the opinions of other members of this forum on this important topic.
Great Owl