don't know if it is just me, but it seems like the broadcasts are not showing footage of penalties as much as they have in the past? Before it seemed like every penalty they had a replay of, if not many. but so far this year, it seems like there have been a much greater instance of a penalty being called, and the broadcasters talking without ever showing the penalty on replay. I don't think there are fewer cameras covering the game.

I am not one who typically thinks conspiracy. But I do wonder if this could be intentional to limit the cases of, this or that was a bad call going on.

---

I think this is true. It just seems when you couldn't believe a flag was thrown that they show no replay. It is almost like the tv crew determines it was a shitty call and they want to make sure the refs are not questioned. Maybe it was something in the collective bargaining.

Then again for some teams it seems every play is shown to give their whiny fan-base something to bitch about when they lose.

The CFL allows you to challenge certain penalties. While that may be problematic and add more subjectivity to the game, but sometimes you wish weak the odd Illegal Man Downfield or Pass Interference could be challenged.

I honestly haven't noticed that. It seems like they do still show most of them. My take on this is that the reason there are so many more penalties this year is that the refs are in CYA mode - knowing if they miss something it just might be seen nationwide. As many calls as there are, they still miss a helluva lot. One I notice was on Hyde's interception against the Rams - no run back in large part because the receiver had a firm grasp on Hyde's face mask - no call, not even a mention.

Sometimes, with all the overturns, I wonder how bad it must have been before replays of TDs, turnovers, etc. - plays like the James Jones TD for example. It seems, though, that it generally evens out - as many for us as against us. I almost wish they wouldn't even have the review system - so no, I would not be in favor of adding penalties to it.

---

It's a bit of Pandora's box to allow for challenges. With all the camera angles and the speed of the guys you just know the refs can't see it all. How many challenges have we won for 12 guys on the field that the refs botched? I do believe you should be able to challenge offside calls as well. Not too much subjectivity and should be easy to spot same as is an illegal formation or illegal man downfield.

It's a baseball example, not football, but one thing I really don't care for is the large number I've seen of runners sliding into a base, the tag is applied and kept on the runner, he comes off the base for a split second, and replay shows what the umps have missed for over 100 years, and the guy is ruled out. I suppose there is some football equivalent of that too - stuff that should just be left alone - balls coming out on pass receptions or close calls on fumbles or down by contact, etc.

---

I agree with that where some of the ticky-tack plays look a lot different in slow motion. Catches is the big disagreement I have. I still think it was a Dez catch even though as a Packer fan it benefited us. Of course the rules added to the confusion as well. No doubt we discussed that issue to death last January. What a "football move" is to me is still a bit too subjective for the replay?

I like challenges more for items that are less subjective. I find it funny you can challenge catches and forward progress spots, but not offsides, illegal formations and illegal men downfield penalties.

I feel like for the most part they've been showing just as much replay of the yellow flags as ever with a few random exceptions... where they have gone to a live shots of either the players or announcers for what ever reason and not shown the replay but mostly has been normal.


As for challenges, I feel like they need to make sure to be careful that the rules are fair. Such as if you allow all challenges when they throw the yellow flag, that's unfair for the times they didn't throw the flag such as the Cowboys beating the Lions last year... the Refs should of thrown the flag (and I think they did, but picked it up with no call) when their should of been a call.

I don't like saying this, but I'm thinking I'm with Bill Belichick... at least when he says that anything and everything should be allowed to challengeable.... problem with that is the NFL couldn't handle the backlash that would cause, like a WR causes offensive pass interference and then makes a huge play but isn't called on the PI... the refs still might now call it.


Think of this... all scores are now reviewed... if another "fail mary" play happened and they scored on it... and it got reviewed would the refs call it back on the CLEAR offensive PI call they missed Tate pushing Shields to the ground? I don't know... I'm not sure if the NFL is ready for that.


But I feel like the challenges rules should be different... and either be like
You have unlimited amount of challenges as long as you don't get any wrong. (and you have only 3 if you get one wrong). Or every team has 3 and if you're correct you get it back, so that you have three misses (and your then your out).

And maybe you could turn that 3 to 2... but I'd like that if you keep winning them that you get to keep them.

---