Gerald Herbert/Associated Press

NFL Updates Possible PI Review Rule, Includes Hail Mary, Replay-Initiated Review

Adam Wells

The NFL continues to make changes to its new rule that makes pass interference calls reviewable in an attempt to get uniformity between head coaches and officials. 

Per NFL Football Operations, new changes being considered include having replay officials initiate reviews in the final two minutes of each half and during overtime and making Hail Mary passes subject to review:

By a 31-1 vote in March, NFL owners approved a rule proposal for the 2019 season that makes offensive and defensive pass interference calls and non-calls subject to review. 

Per ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert, there have been growing concerns about the potential number of stoppages to play replay officials "might feel compelled to make," and some head coaches didn't want the responsibility of challenging pass interference in the final two minutes of both halves and overtime:

"During conference calls last week, according to multiple sources, some of them pushed back, in part because of the impact on timeout and challenge strategy. (A coach can't challenge if he's out of timeouts.) This response mirrors the proposal most coaches advocated in March—to convert the replay official into a 'sky judge' who would alert the on-field referee whenever an egregious mistake was made."

Based on the response to the updated plan, the NFL could be in for a messy situation if the rule stays like this when the season starts:

The decision to make pass interference a reviewable play came after the controversial non-call involving Los Angeles Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman late in the fourth quarter of the NFC Championship Game against the New Orleans Saints. 

Robey-Coleman knocked Saints receiver Tommylee Lewis out of the way when a pass was thrown in his direction. A penalty would have given New Orleans a 1st-and-goal on the Rams' 6-yard line with under two minutes remaining. 

Instead of being able to run out the clock before attempting a game-winning field goal, the Saints went ahead 23-20 with 1:41 remaining. The Rams drove down the field to force overtime and eventually won to reach Super Bowl LIII. 

   

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