Replay This

Michael David Smith of FootballOutsiders.com has some interesting opinions about instant replay and offers some suggestions for improving it.

I agree that instant replay isn’t perfect and probably needs some tweaking, but I disagree with Smith's suggestion that referees challenge anything they want to or have unlimited time to challenge a play call. The games are already too long as it is, and Smith's proposed changes would only extend the games further. Besides, what would stop coaches from challenging every call they disagree with?

The problem I have with instant replay is the process to review a challenge takes too long. There are too many people involved and too many rules that coaches must follow to challenge a play. It also depends on the referee’s review of the play, which is based on his personal judgment, knowledge and interpretation of the rules. Let’s face it – instant replay in the NFL isn’t very instant.

Perhaps the NFL can learn a thing or two from the 2006 U.S. Open tennis championships completed last month, which used instant replay for the first time with positive results and few problems. If a player wanted to challenge a call, he or she would notify the official who would signal to the replay booth. Almost instantaneously, (yes, there’s that word again), the play appears on a video screen in the stadium so everyone – players, fans and officials – all see a video simulation of the play in question at the same time. The quickness and immediacy of instant replay during the tournament kept the games moving along the way they’re supposed to.

Can such a system work in the NFL? I think a lot has to do with the technology involved. It could be that the technology used for reviewing replays is outdated and not as effective as it once was when instant replay was first implemented. Perhaps it’s time for the NFL to evaluate newer technologies, including the one used during the U.S. Open, to determine if they would work more efficiently.

Imagine if a similar system were implemented in the NFL. The referee would receive the challenge request from the head coach and signal to the official in the replay booth to start the replay process. With a press of a button, a simulation of the play is shown on the stadium screen. Officials, coaches, players and fans all see the play at the same time. It also removes the subjectivity that comes with the referee’s review. The process would take seconds, not the five minutes or longer that we’re used to today. Imagine how quickly the games would proceed on Sunday afternoon.

No review process will be perfect. But if instant replay is to continue in the NFL, then the league must re-evaluate the process and the technology to make sure that plays are reviewed more efficiently. Make instant replay live up to its name.