NFL Competition Committee to Propose Instant-Replay Modifications to Owners

The NFL Competition Committee is reportedly prepared to make a proposal to the league's owners next week concerning the scope of instant replay.  

Mark Maske of the Washington Post reported Tuesday any alterations to the current rules are expected to surround which plays are reviewable. Most of the details of the proposal aren't available yet, with the owners set to meet next week in Charlotte, North Carolina.

However, Maske did report one proposal, which would "allow on-field officials to be in contact with league office on administrative issues during reviews."

The report noted the competition committee's suggestions are "much more limited" than those the Baltimore Ravens put forward ahead of the March meetings.

Garrett Downing of the Ravens' official site reported Baltimore's proposal would have allowed coaches to ask for a review on any call that wasn't based on the officials' judgment. Only things such as pass interference, holding and illegal contact would have been off-limits.

"Our rule is just a simplification," Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said at the time. "It makes it easier for the fans. It makes it easier for the officials, for the coaches."

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has long argued that all plays, even those based on judgment, should be available to review. In 2014, he explained that any call could have an impact on the outcome and coaches should be able to challenge, per Christopher Price of WEEI:

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Even though they're judgment calls, but if you're willing to use a timeout on that, I think you should be able to do that. It's not going to slow the game down. It's no different than if you challenged another play. So, I'm not looking for more challenges or anything else, just if you think it was a call that was missed, that you should have the opportunity to have the officials review it. That's all. I don't know if anybody agrees with that or not, but that's the proposal.

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Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported last year Belichick's idea was starting to gain the support of more general managers and coaches, but the owners weren't as interested. He also noted some people around the league were confused why the NFL was opposed to the more widespread review.

While it's unknown how far the competition committee's proposal will go, there will always be people looking to expand replay challenges until all plays are reviewable. The judgment calls are likely going to remain a point of contention, though.

That said, if the main focus is getting the call right, it's hard to argue against letting every call be available for replay. A holding or pass-interference penalty can have just as big of an impact on a game as a catch, fumble or any other play currently open to review.