The NFL reported that last
night at the annual ownership meeting a new rule was approved that allows for
offensive and defensive pass interference (including non-calls) to be subject to review. According to the NFL,
coaches can challenge those calls in the first 28 minutes of each half. In the
final two minutes of each half, those calls will be subject to a booth review. This
rule change is made on a trial basis only for the 2019 season.
The one play that was the
most egregious non-call last year took place in the NFC Championship game. The
Saints and Rams were tied late in the game (1:49 remaining), the Saints had the
ball on third and 10. Drew Brees from just beyond the 20 yard line threw to his
receiver Tommylee Lewis who was down field at about the 5 yard line. Clearly Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman tackled
Lewis and made helmet-to-helmet contact before the football
arrived. Two penalties could have been called. If pass interference was called, the Saints would have had the ball roughly a yard away from the end zone. Brees could have used up more clock and scored late in the game leaving the Rams with no time or very little time. The Rams went on to win the game in overtime.
Based on that game, Saints
owner Gayle Benson wrote a letter expressing her dissapointment: “No team should ever be denied the opportunity to
reach the title game (or simply win a game) based on the actions, or inactions,
of those charged with creating a fair and equitable playing field. As is clear
to all who watched the game, it is undeniable that our team and fans were
unfairly deprived of that opportunity yesterday."
