Two rules changes for the NFL...

[GratefulDawg.sixpack]

1. Division winners should not automatically get to host a playoff game. I'm a happy Broncos fan right now, but my guys had no business as an 8-8 team being able to host a 12-4 Pittsburgh team. They should reseed according to records for the playoffs. Playing in Colorado affected this game tremendously. See the 2010 Seahawks as well.<div>
</div><div>2. An inadvertent whistle should be a reviewable call. The Steelers got a BIG break when the refs' screw-up disallowed the lateral fumble by the Rebel Wallace. It should have been 1st and 10 for the Broncos with the chance to extend the lead. Instead, the Steelers went on to score a TD to make it a game. I believe this happened in the Lions - Saints game as well.</div><div>
</div><div>Someone enlighten me please, didn't the Hochuli Rule allow for a play to continue even after a whistle is blown, or is that strictly for quarterback actions only?</div>

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

An inadvertent whistle should be a reviewable call.
Just wondering then, when should a player stop? The whistle stops all action, or it is supposed to.
Refs do make mistakes, but dang, under this deal it just goes until...when??

 

[Incognegro]

As much as I hate the inadvertent whistle, having a rule like that reinforces players playing beyond the whistle which is a good way for someone to be injured. Just imagine that half the players will continue to play and the other half will be tentative and or loafing because they feel the play should be dead. Someone isn't careful and they could be taken out. It's just not worth it.

 

[benatmsu]

... but in the Saints game, the issue wasn't that it was an inadvertent whistle, it was that the whistle was blown by one official that was making an incorrect call in contradiction with another official's call. They will allow you to review that play, but only to see if it was a fumble or incomplete pass and they will only overturn it if there is an obvious recovery. The officials got together, made the right call without the need of a replay. HOWEVER, since the whistle had blown they wouldn't allow the return to stand. I don't see anyway they could change that rule. Players typically stop when the whistle blows. I keep hearing how the Lions should have had a TD on that play, but the fact is the Saints stopped when the whistle blew so nobody tried to tackle the guy. You can't have a rule that would invite players to keep going after it after the whistle blows... that's a slippery slope.

 

[GratefulDawg.sixpack]

The play should continue until possession is gained by either team. This normally occurs within 2-5 seconds of the fumble, so I don't see there being many opportunities for injuries.

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

plays ruled as anincomplete pass should continue, until someone gets possession of the ball?

The refs made a mistake, but this type situation would lead to total kayos. Nothing is going to be perfect.

They blow the whistle, you must stop, or be penalized...period.

 

[jakldawg]

by putting refs in the playoffs that knew the difference between forwards and backwards. Just glad that didn't end up being the deciding factor in the game.<div>And I fully expect the playoffs to be re-seeded for home field eventually (doesn't hockey do this?). Last year it ended up getting the defending Super Bowl champs, and this year it got the defending Conference champs (and one of the league's big-money franchises).</div><div>
</div><div>Here's more about the call in the Broncos game. It apparently has something to do with the Jay Cutler "Hochuli Rule" and of course the college rule is different</div><div>and more on the blown call in the Saints game</div>

 

[GratefulDawg.sixpack]

If you look at the replay, the Rebel fumbled the lateral and a Broncos player immediately fell on it. A whistle didn't stop him from reacting and another Steeler from touching him down after the fumble. A review simply would have allowed for the Broncos to challenge that the play should have been extended for the additional two seconds that it took for that action to occur.<div>
</div><div>I'll agree that it's probably a slippery slope and this kind of change will never occur, but damn, I'd like to eliminate referee error as much as possible.</div>

 

[jakldawg]

you notice the mock salute at the fans and clear as day "17 YOU" following his touchdown?

 

[GratefulDawg.sixpack]

He is #17, after all...

 

[Sutterkane]

I get so sick of seeing people who have never even been north of Kentucky wearing a Rapelisberger jersey and waving a terrible towel.

 

[Hump4Hoops]

Add in rebel on top of that? Fahgettabahtet.

 

[jakldawg]

no crew of fans out there is as willing to rock the quadruple logo look (hat, t-shirt, hoodie/jacket, sweats/zubaz if it's casual) on a random Tuesday. In April. At the DMV.