Rule change!

I believe the pass interference rule MUST be changed IMMEDIATLEY to a 15 yd call,
The way the refs are calling this infraction the defensive backs have no CHANCE.
It has ruined the game, this is not football when you heave the ball down field
and expect a penalty to be called, when the majority of the time the offensive player does not
even have a chance to catch the ball yet is rewarded with a pass interference call and
a 40 yard gain. How is this fair?

 

I even felt the second call against Lewis was tough.
He looks around to see where the ball is, Cruz stops and Lewis only just runs into him.
80 plus yards in 2 average calls.
But why change a rule because the Refs can't call it right.

 

I wouldn't mind a penalty challenge or two. I think that the directive to protect defenseless receivers and to upgrade player safety has led to officials with itchy trigger fingers. If a hit even SEEMS like it may have been illegal, the flag comes out. Let's have the penalty challenge flag be a BROWN flag for, "That was a bullsh*t call!".

I don't think you're going to see a change on PI calls though.

The problem with the 15-yard PI call is that you'll start having defensive backs just take the penalty when they're beat for a long one, rather than allow a guy to score. I think it would burn the Steelers more than it would help them. Imagine if the Steelers are on their own 20 and call a bomb to Wallace. Ben puts the ball on a rope over his inside shoulder on the fly. The defender has two choices. Try to outrun Wallace or shove him and take the penalty. Who wouldn't take the shove and live to play a down at your opponent's 35?

 

Knee jerk reaction!

 

I dont think it hevever changed just due tonthe fact that the nflndoesnt care much about defense...they prefer the high scoring offenses.....when was the kast time they had a rule chamge to help the D

 

Not hardly, it is ruining the game. Go to the college rule.
It will make for a more level playing field for DB's Its really that simple!!

 

You are 1,000% right I've been harping on this for years. How can the most egregious penalty on the field result in only a 15yd penalty,yet a P.I. which most times are questionable at best and inconsistently called have such a game changing influence. It's just stupid. The DBs are at a big enough disadvantage.

 

Did you see on EVERY single pass that Eli made down the field that was 50 yards or more and it was a no-catch AND a no-flag, he looked totally bummed out. It's because he throws those JUST to get a 50 yard penalty flag. His face was not the face of "Darn, I wanted him to catch it." His face was looking at the refs and going "Meh dammit"

 

This is a valid point.

 

I don't see it hurting us any more than any other team especially since our DBs ball skills are terrible to begin with. It also seems to be working ok in college you don't see them intentionally taking PI penalties. There shouldn't be 40 and 50 yd penalties on a 100 yd field. They need to either change the rule or make the calls reviewable,which they never will because it would just highlight how bad the refs really are.

 

Agreed 15 yard max.

The current rule just incents teams to lob it 60 yards and hope for an interference call.

 

Especially against our secondary!

 

This is 100% accurate. He went into this game trying to draw a long PI call and he did- TWICE.

 

yes, someone, somewhere, commits intentional penalties to save touchdowns every week. you even see it in the NFL sometimes despite the harsher penalty.

 

I've seen plenty of games influenced by bogus PI penalties. I have yet to recall a game altered by someone taking a PI penalty to prevent a TD. The 15yd penalty is severe enough especially when most calls are inconsistent and judgemental.

 

I have this question about the 2nd PI on Lewis...

If the DB is supposed to turn to look at the ball to prove he is making a play on it, then how is it the DB's fault if the WR stops short and the DB runs into the WR (since the DB has to take his eyes off the WR to make a play on the ball)? I think that should be either a no-call, on average, or, swinging all the way, in the other direction, a call of offensive PI.

I say this because it's okay for opposing DBs to keep tripping A.B. and the announcers just say "...incidental contact." :roll:

 

I would rather keep the two challenges. Make it where you don't lose them unless you are wrong.

 

I agree,this rule needs to be changed. Have thought so for a long time but who would initiate it? The owners?

 

I agree with this too...if they're both playing the ball they both have a right to it/etc...while it may be technically interference running into the guy....but like you how can you always prevent it looking back for the ball.

Anyways like the OP...I agree it should be 15 yards and thats it. These change the outcome of games waaaay too much. And as someone said...a QB can easily just lob a ball 40-50 yards down field and hope for PI/etc. Its terrible.

 

I was just saying this to the old man again yesterday. Too many cases where QBs go long and draw a PI call, and I've thought for some time that they increasingly do it on purpose. I'm not convinced they are interested in getting the catch. I think they just want the easy yardage. Hence, my cringing and looking between my fingers every time the ball goes up long and high...