One of the most hotly debated NFL rule changes this offseason was an alteration that allows pass interference calls to be challenged. Many inside the league are concerned about how drastically the change may affect games, but don't count Saints head coach Sean Payton among those.
Of course, the Saints were are the crux of this change, having been denied a Super Bowl berth after a blown interference call against the Rams in the NFC Championship game. Now, just like other challenges, the coaches will be able to call for review outside of the two minute warning, while the replay official and NFL central command in New York will have the ability to trigger replay inside of two minutes remaining in each half.
Payton led the charge for the rule change, and was able to leverage his place on the NFL’s competition committee to help make it happen. Payton seemed unconcerned when asked about how challenging interference calls would impact the game.
“I think we’ve worked through that with the clubs, league office, and (competition) committee,” Payton explained. “Look, you want to make sure to explain it to the fans like every other replay.”
There’s little doubt that NFL officiating will be even more under the microscope than ever before. Pass interference is a judgement call where nearly every call, or non-call, will now be nitpicked by millions of fans each week. Some think this may lead to an explosion of replay challenges, but Payton belives the opposite may be true.
“I don’t think you’ll see more challenges, in fact I think you’ll see maybe less just because you’re going to want to hold on for a bigger call now than just an eight yard gain.”
It’s unlikely the NFL will experience another catastrophe like the one we saw in the Superdome on January 20. However, only time will tell if the opening of Pandora’s Replay Box will be a good thing for the league.
RELATED: 3 things to know from Day 1 of Saints training camp