NFL Games to be Longer this Year.............

Shutdown Corner

Mon Jul 18 04:57pm EDT
NFL games are about to get longer and more replay-filled

By MJD

http://l.yimg.com/a/p/sp/editorial_i...playfilled.jpgHey, here's something I hate. An increased number of booth reviews in the 2011 season is going to lead to longer games, says the NFL's former vice president of officiating.

A new rule goes into effect this year stating that every scoring play that happens in the course of an NFL game will be automatically reviewed by the replay official. Here's an explanation of that process from Mike Pereira at FOXSports.com:

If an official rules a score (touchdown, field goal, safety or extra point) during a game, the replay official will automatically review the play. If there is any question as to whether the ruling is correct, they will buzz down to the referee and ask him to come to the monitor to review the play. If the replay official confirms the ruling is correct, they will buzz the referee indicating he is clear to let the scoring team attempt the extra point, or kick off if the scoring play was a field goal, safety or extra-point attempt. A coach will not be allowed to challenge the ruling of a score. The intent is to save the coach from having to challenge the ruling of a score and, thus, increase his chances of not running out of challenges or timeouts.

Overkill.

It's not necessarily that I'm anti-replay; if the right call can be made, then it should be. But in the quest to "get it right," it seems like the flow of the game is often completely discarded, and I'd argue that that's way more important to the NFL's viewing experience. And now we're building more stoppages into the game, right after its most exciting plays?
Unnecessary stoppages brutalize a game's watchability. It's like these "reality" shows, where they pound in unending pauses in an effort to manufacture artificial drama, but end up just being irritating as all hell. I don't know how anyone can stand that.

We should be looking at ways to shorten games, not make them longer. If a 1 p.m. game isn't going to end until 5, I want it to be because it went into overtime and gave us free football. It seems like we're getting to the point now that a game won't end on time (before the 4/4:15 games start) unless it happens to be contested by two teams that favor a ball-control offense.

And think about this, too: You know that super-annoying thing that networks do when, after a score, there's a commercial break, they come back for the kickoff, and then have another commercial break, and it seems like there's about a half hour between plays from scrimmage?

Throw a replay break into that, too. You'll see the same Coors Light commercial six times before anyone takes another snap

Another way to allow more commercial time for the networks. They're already beginning to conceive of ways to up the price they can get for the broadcast rights. When are they gonna start selling sponsors names on the uniforms like NASCAR racers do?

Keep fucking-up the game.

You wonder if the Las Vegas Sportsbook doesn't have a seat on the rules committee too. The NFL is doing everything they can to take the key judgement calls away from the officials and automated the process as much as they can. If they're gonna review more plays then they need to find a way to speed up the process. It's already to much and this decision only adds to it.

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Originally Posted by soulman

You wonder if the Las Vegas Sportsbook doesn't have a seat on the rules committee too. The NFL is doing everything they can to take the key judgement calls away from the officials and automated the process as much as they can. If they're gonna review more plays then they need to find a way to speed up the process. It's already to much and this decision only adds to it.

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I don't mind the extended game, but not when it's involving referees making decisions.

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Originally Posted by Dagan81

I don't mind the extended game, but not when it's involving referees making decisions.

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But that's exactly why they're doing it Dags. Every refs ruling regarding a scoring play will now trigger a booth review. Pfffttttt!

It will really depend on just how long those booth reviews take. When a TD is scored in an obvious manner I.E. the ball carrier gets into the end zone without a defender even touching him, the review shouldn't take all that long. (I've got a voice in my head saying "Gee willikers.. yep, thats' uh tuchdaown allraight") I doubt that review will take more than 3 to 5 seconds. It's the questionable calls that will take time.

If however, the NFL uses that review time as an additional, unnecessary, commercial break, (a legitimate concern BTW) then there is an issue. One which should get looked at (and hopefully corrected) by the NFL after next season. I remember when the NFL cracked down on the excessive use of instant replay back in the day when the games started getting too (like 4 1/2 hours) long.

Of course, the NFL might get addicted to that extra money from those commercials.... Only time will tell...

It says that the booth will buzz the ref as to whether they need to hold for a review or if it's ok to proceed with the extra point or the kick off following a FG or XP. You're right the obvious should just get an immediate buzz but there'll be enough plays in doubt to slow things up and that's what will create the opportunities for more commercials or an extended commercial break.

I'll predict a deal by Friday and back to work by Monday.... Right?

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Originally Posted by short faced bear

I'll predict a deal by Friday and back to work by Monday.... Right?

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That seems likely shorty. The Packers have even told their guys to get in by Saturday so unless there are some last minute snags it should become a done deal after the owners and players give it their blessings on Thursday.