Jon Gruden, Oakland Raiders Head Coach talked more than Khalil Mack at the 2019 NFL Annual Meeting, and said that it was impossible to get pass interference calls “right” because of human error. Coach Gruden made the statement during a lively conversation about the pass interference rules proposals that were being considered by NFL Coaches and NFL Owners at the 2019 NFL Annual Meeting – Zennie62Media was there.
All of this was in the wake of the controversial no-call pass interference play during the 2019 NFC Championship Game pitting the L.A. Rams versus the home host New Orleans Saints. The non-call happened with 1:49 left to play in the game, that was tied 20-20 and with the Saints facing a third-and-10 from the Rams’ 13-yard line. Saints QB Drew Brees threw a pass to TommyLee Lewis, and that’s was completely clobbered by Nickell Robey-Coleman before he could catch what would have been a completed pass for a first down and a possibly a touchdown.
The Rams eventually won the 2019 NFC Championship Game 26 to 23 and earned the trip to Super Bowl 53 in Atlanta. But the outcome tarnished the NFL, so it was a forgone conclusion that the problem of not having the ability to reverse a pass interference call would be taken up at the 2019 NFL Annual Meeting.
At the 2019 NFL Annual Meeting, NFL Coaches and Owners decided on this: “6c. Attached – For one year only, expands the reviewable plays in Instant Replay to include pass interference, called or not called on the field. Also expands automatic replay reviews to include scoring plays and turnovers negated by a foul, and any Try attempt (extra point or two-point conversion).”
Stay tuned.