Red flag on NFL challenges
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Red alert! Red alert! The NFL replay rule has officially crossed the line!
Well, in this case, during Sunday night’s Philadelphia Eagles-New York Giants contest, the official said Eli Manning DIDN’T cross the line.
For those who missed it, the Giants quarterback threw a pass on third down that would have given the Giants a first-and-goal at the Eagles’ three. However, the quarterback was penalized for passing after he had crossed the line of scrimmage -- a five-yard penalty and a loss of down.
The rule state that every part of the thrower must be across the line of scrimmage for a penalty to be called. So the Giants took a chance and challenged. After an instant replay review the official said Manning’s back foot was still on the line of scrimmage. The official could see this because NBC drew a red line vertically on the TV screen and, if you froze the picture, Manning’s foot was still touching the line. You know, the line announcers keep reminding viewers ‘is not official.’
Plus the picture was so blurry that you couldn’t tell if the ball actually had left Manning’s hand. NBC analyst John Madden was emphatic that he couldn’t tell. Later in the broadcast, NBC again showed this play, saying they had adjusted the red line and now it clearly showed Manning was behind the unofficial line. If you say so, Madden repeated, but it doesn’t look like it to me.
What happened to the rule that there must be indisputable evidence to overturn a call on the field? So an unofficial line -- the thickness of a hash mark -- with a blurry frozen picture on a cock-eyed angle where the quarterback’s heel might be touching the line of scrimmage is indisputable evidence?
So instead of having to kick a field goal and trailing 24-23, the Giants score a touchdown and never trail again in the 36-31 decision.
Shouldn’t that raise a red flag in the league office?
-- Athan Atsales
