Subscribe
Follow Us
Fans of the most powerful sports league of all-time were always taught that instant replay would only be used to correct the obviously wrong. They were always taught above all else, the call on the field shall stand unless there is “indisputable evidence” proving otherwise.
Then Al Riveron and the season of 2017 came down the pike and suddenly, indisputable evidence didn't matter anymore. Horrendous overturns were popping up everywhere, overturning catches on the field—only until the postseason and, specifically, Super Bowl 52, came our way. Former head of officiating Mike Pereria—now of FOX Sports—believes there's good reason for that as he stated on the Talk of Fame podcast.
“I talk to enough coaches and enough members of the competition committee that they weren’t happy, and so I think the word trickled to Goodell and Goodell probably sat down with Alberto, who he has a great amount of respect for, and just said, ‘Hey, you’ve got to realize you need to make an adjustment. You’re being too technical,'” Pereira said.
Remember, the Philadelphia Eagles were prime beneficiaries of two controversial yet correctly called plays in the Super Bowl.
First, the Zach Ertz game-winner went to replay and based on technicalities could have warranted controversy based on the “runner” or “no-runner” question. It appropriately stood after replay.
The more debated call was the Corey Clement touchdown reception in which it looked like Clement may haven't gained full control of the ball prior to both feet touching down. In that case, based on indisputable evidence, whatever was called on the field should stand after replay. Since it was called a score on the field, it stood after instant replay in Super Bowl 52. During the regular season, that one could have easily been overturned.
If Roger Goodell made Al Riveron correctly change his overall philosophy, he did one splendid job. While hotly-debated, the NFL doesn't have a “catch rule” problem. What they've had is an “instant replay” problem. Simply stick to that one golden rule of “indisputable evidence” and all will be well—as proven by the accepted result of Super Bowl 52.
