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Related: About this forumWild NFL rule allows Roger Goodell to reverse Rams-Saints outcome, but would he actually use it?
The NFL commissioner has the power to reverse the outcome of a football game
Will Brinson @WillBrinson 2h ago 3 min read
After all the insanity of Championship Sunday wrapped, it was almost hard to comprehend all the crazy things that happened throughout the day. One thing stood above all else though: the Rams pass interference penalty against the Saints that went uncalled by the referees and ultimately allowed the Rams to advance to their first Super Bowl since 2001.
Lingering with that game and the outcome is the NFL's lack of a statement about the lack of a penalty. And lingering over that is a pretty insane and broad rule in the NFL rulebook that would allow NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, should he so choose, to reverse or reschedule the outcome of the game between the Saints and Rams.
No, really. Goodell could either tell the Rams "sorry" and send the Saints to the Super Bowl or he could make them play the NFC Championship Game again. Either situation falls deep in the realm of the unlikely, but Rule 17, Section 2, Article 1, as noted by Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, does exist.
And it reads like this:
"The Commissioner has the sole authority to investigate and take appropriate disciplinary and/or corrective measures if any club action, non-participant interference, or calamity occurs in an NFL game which the Commissioner deems so extraordinarily unfair or outside the accepted tactics encountered in professional football that such action has a major effect on the result of the game."
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duforsure
(11,885 posts)But New Orleans was hurt by the calls made, and New Orleans fate was possibly determined by their mistake.
SCantiGOP
(13,873 posts)They said this rule was not for disputed referee calls, but was meant to cover something completely out of the ordinary, like if evidence were found after the game that someone was attempting to shave points or throw the game, or an obviously non-eligible player was used in a game, etc etc
Ponietz
(3,004 posts)The phantom roughing the passer penalty ultimately gave NE the game. Goodall can just announce a Saints-Chiefs Super Bowl.
The NFL was already a clusterfuck of ads peppered with a little football before this fiasco.
hughee99
(16,113 posts)Minutes to go, happened on an incomplete pass on 2nd down, and after it happened, the chiefs actually had a lead that they couldnt hold. Yes, no doubt it was a terrible call, but if you think its the same thing as what happened to the Saints, you dont really understand what the issue is.
JonLP24
(29,322 posts)Would have made it 1st & goal at the 1. Rams also probably should have went for it on 4th and goal idled they scored a touchdown New Orleans would be playing for more than 3 points.
I think the fact Congress is taking the issue up and they are even considering replaying the game is a little ridiculous.
hughee99
(16,113 posts)In the end, though, if you're comparing the bad roughing the passer call to the non-call of pass interference about it's clear impact on the outcome of the game, it's ridiculous.
There is no way, ZERO chance, that they will replay the game. It would open Pandora's box.
The ONLY way I could ever see a game being replayed is if there is proof that the refs intentionally fixed the game, and even then, it would have to be determined almost immediately after the game was played, or there wouldn't be time to do it anyway. That information would also have to go public. I think even if the NFL league officials knew a game was fixed by the refs after the fact, and only they knew, they'd keep it quiet as long as they possibly could, hope it would never go public, and play dumb.
JonLP24
(29,322 posts)I do think it was a bad roughing call that may have improved the odds in the Patriots favor like the extra 15 yards and a first down rather than 2nd or 3rd & 10.
I think the neutral zone infraction on the interception cost them the game plus 3 3rd & 7s in overtime all they had to do was hold them to a field goal attempt.
I think they should probably fix replay rules in the off-season but that would impact all plays not just the memorable late game missed calls.
I think there was (by the rule book) defensive holding or pass interference late in the Baltimore & San Francisco Super Bowl but don't remember Auggie (this is a joke) or 49ers fans filing lawsuits.
hughee99
(16,113 posts)That the chiefs were equally justified as the saints in wanting a redo because of the refs. When you pointed out other missed calls in the rams game, I added this missed call in the pats game (again, one of many) to say that even though both games had bad or missed calls, the impact of the refs on the Rams outcome is much easier to show than the impact on the pats game.
I agree on the offsides killing the chiefs. At the very least, that one isnt on the refs, though.
This isnt the first time Ive heard fans wanting a replay, but this is the first Ive heard of that rule to suggest that its a possibility.
Theres no way they dont do something about replay in the offseason, even if its a cosmetic or ineffective fix. They will at least try to appear like theyre doing something.
global1
(25,270 posts)and helmet to helmet contact. Both clearly should have been called.
My questions is - why wasn't this play reviewed by the officials? And why didn't the Saints challenge the call?
LisaM
(27,830 posts)That may change after this season (though it would slow down the game immeasurably).
global1
(25,270 posts)LisaM
(27,830 posts)So there was nothing the Saints could have done.
I don't think the call should have been missed. In real time, you can see the receiver go flying in the air! That doesn't happen with incidental contact, or when the defender is going for the ball.
beachbum bob
(10,437 posts)Different Drummer
(7,642 posts)to replay the NFC Championship game this coming Sunday. Currently, the petition has over 500K signatures on it. The organizer apparently will submit the petition to the Commissioner's office if they get 1 million or more signatures. But if they, by some chance, *do* replay the game, who's to say the Rams wouldn't win the replay?
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)sad trend. After watching this NFL season,it seems every game had a missed call or really bad call,that has been a game changer.
As someone who did High School Officiating,have to say,you just hope you did not make a call or miss a call that causes the out come of any game.
trotsky
(49,533 posts)Sometimes you get the benefit of a bad (non-)call. Sometimes you're on the wrong end. Tough.