After one of the most pivotal games in their season was dramatically changed by one of the most bizarre replay reviews ever, it is no surprise that the Los Angeles Rams
are proposing multiple rule changes for the replay process.
On Sunday, we learned some more details about one of their proposals. It would put a limit on how much time the replay booth would have to initiate a replay review.
Rams propose 40-second time limit to initiate booth replay review
The play in question that angered the Rams so much was a game-tying two-point conversion in their late-season game against the Seattle Seahawks.
The Rams appeared to have stopped the Seahawks on a two-point conversion attempt, with both teams having already lined up for the kickoff, when a replay review was initiated. After review, it was determined that quarterback Sam Darnold’s pass, which was originally ruled incomplete, was actually a backwards pass that made it a live ball.
Because running back Zach Charbonnett innocently picked up the ball in the end zone to hand it to the referee, it was considered a clear recovery of a live ball, resulting in a game-tying two-point conversion.
The Seahawks went on to win the game in overtime, helping them earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs. That meant they not only received the NFC’s bye week, but also had home-field advantage through the playoffs, including the NFC Championship Game, where they would beat the Rams again.
In the aftermath of that, the Rams are working on proposing two rule changes that would have negated the overturn.
In one of those proposals, the Rams are proposing that the replay booth would have a hard time limit on when reviews would be initiated.
Pro Football Talk has the text of the proposal:
“To amend Rule 15, Section 1, Article 2, to require a replay official to initiate a review of a play with booth review jurisdiction within 40 seconds after the play is ruled dead or before the next legal snap or kick, whichever occurs first. However, if a game administration matter reasonably delays the replay official’s ability to evaluate the play, then he/she may initiate the review after 40 seconds but before the next legal snap or kick.”
It makes a lot of sense, but the end section about a “game administration matter” reasonably delaying the process potentially opens a pandora’s box of unintended possibilities that could cheat that.
The time limit idea, however, is a good one, and should be applied to every aspect of replay review.
While there is a desire to get the call right, too much of replay view has resulted in dissecting plays down to a fraction of an inch or a blade of grass. The purpose of replay review is to correct the obviously blown calls that are easily identifiable right away.
You know a bad call immediately when you see it. If it takes more than 30 or 40 seconds to even start the replay review process, even before you get into determining the result, then it is probably not that egregious of a missed call.