Competition Committee -- Down by contact:

I'll tell ya if there are any rules that need to be changed, it's the rules on kick off and punt returns. Almost everytime you see a good kick or punt return, there is an illegal block in the back call or a holding call. I think the rules need to loosen up a bit on the kick returns.

keep in mind that teams only have two challenges, 3 at most, so they can't challenge every call if they want to.

Yes but if I challenge pass interference twice and win I get a third "free" challenge. That's three timeouts plus three "challenge timeouts."

pi is a judgement call, if you make that challengable where does it end?you would have to make all penalties challengable. holding, facemask,false stars and delay of games just to name a few

how many times do you lose 50 yards in one penalty on one ref's whim? it wouldn't matter if you could challenge ANYTHING, as long as you only have 2 challenges per game. I'd want PI challengeable because its SUCH a hefty penalty and I've seen it miscalled a LOT. slippery slop arguements don't really work in this instance though.

Yes but if I challenge pass interference twice and win I get a third "free" challenge. That's three timeouts plus three "challenge timeouts."

so its better for the refs to make bad calls instead? that doesn't make much sense, and in all likelyhood if you can win 3 PI calls in one game, the refs should be fired.

The Down By Contact has been used though as Down By Copout so the call can't be challenged.

You took the words right out of my mouth.

I heard Mike Pereira, the NFL's head of officials, say that the down by contact rule would be given serious reconsideration in the offseason. I like the rule as it is because:

Down by contact would be much less of an issue if the officials would simply learn not to blow the whistle unless they are ABSOLUTELY sure they saw the ball-carrier down. I would say they should treat every situation like a fumble, but then the fumbling team is forced to use unnecessary challenges.

Regarding PI, I believe that it should be, like college, a 15 yard penalty. If they don't make that change they should make two other changes. First, they need to be more willing to call offensive pass interference. Second, they should award the ball to the defense on those plays. If they award the receiver the catch on defensive PI, they should award the defender the ball on offensive PI.

Finally, I hate the way the illegal contact rule has been enforced over the last two seasons. It's almost become like a "get out of jail free" card that teams are awarded once or twice a game on third and long. And when they call it one team, you know the other team is going to get one at some point. A sure sign of a rule the officials think is horsesh#*.

The Down By Contact has been used though as Down By Copout so the call can't be challenged.


You got that right!

I hate the down by contact rule and it really needs to be looked at by the officials this offseason.