The officiating debacle acknowledged by the NFL at the end of Sunday’s NFC title game in New Orleans, which prompted widespread criticism from fans, players and coaches over what many deemed an outcome-changing call, could lead to a significant rule change. The league and its rule-making competition committee plan to give consideration this offseason to making pass interference calls subject to instant replay review.
“It will be discussed at length along with additional fouls that coaches feel should be subject to review,” one person familiar with the league’s inner workings said Monday, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the ongoing public furor over the botched call in New Orleans.
The story said any change would have to be approved by at least three-quarters of the 32 teams. The competition committee always has been staunchly opposed in the past to making judgement calls such as pass interference reviewable by replay, the story added. Obviously Sunday's game between the Saints and Rams, and the missed call, could be enough to get the change through.