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The real ambiguity problems with Pass Interference originated, in my mind, from the redefinition of PI, and the reduction of the bump rule from five yards to one yard that happened, I think, seven seasons ago. This never should have occurred to begin with because, strictly speaking, it eliminates a defender from bumping a receiver at all, essentially. Until you fix that rule, and restore it to where it was originally, you can't even begin to accurately define what is and isn't PI according to the letter of the rulebook.If it passes, the CFL could become the first football league to subject pass interference to video review.
“This is more than innovative. In the world of officiating, for all sports, it’s revolutionary,” said Glen Johnson, the CFL’s Vice-President of Officiating.
The Great Debate
Should pass interference be subject to video review? Click here to have your say.
“Leagues have been reluctant to subject ‘judgment calls’ to video review, and pass interference in football is the ultimate ‘judgment call”, because it involves so many subjective elements. It will be interesting to see if the Committee approves it, and whether our Board of Governors, which is our ultimate authority on rules, also ratifies it.”
Under the proposal, a team would be able use any and all of its Coaches’ Challenges to challenge a called or potential pass interference foul up to the final three minutes of a game. In the final three minutes of a game, and overtime, a team could only challenge such a call or non-call one time, and only if it still has an unused challenge and a timeout remaining.
And this is assuming you're reviewing a called PI penalty. The way this rule is defined, non called PIs can also be challenged. Will this be limited to the intended receiver? Can non calls be challenged away from the play as well (I mean, I would have thrown the ball to player X, but he was being interfered with, so I had to throw it to player Y instead)?
And this is just calls involving Defensive PI. What about Offensive PI, called and uncalled? If the letter of the rule isn't clear (and it may be), you face the same problems.
I don't see how a replay/challenge system is going to improve PI inconsistencies. I do see how it will make people shut up about the inconsistencies, however. "Well, whether or not it was PI, it doesn't matter, because they didn't/couldn't challenge it."
What are the end results of successful and/or failed challenges?
Does the consequence of a successful challenge of a non called Defensive PI on the last play of a game cheapen the Hail Mary strategy somehow? Do we want that impacting the game that way as fans? Again, it's easy to say yes when you're losing, so think before you answer that.
Let me pose this question to you in support or opposition of this rule.
How would the last play of the 2005 Western Final have been changed if:
BC challenged a non-PI call?
Defensive PI had been called on the play, and EDM challenged it?
Is a successful BC challenge, followed by a one yard TD plunge on an untimed down, really the way that game should have ended?