NFL Considering Changes to Officiating Protocol for Playoffs

With the NFL officials under the microscope more than ever, the league is contemplating making changes to officiating protocol for the postseason. 

Per Kevin Seifert of ESPN, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell "hinted at the possibility" of changes during an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio on Friday:

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[T]he technology is so extraordinary, and we're seeing things we never saw before. And we have to understand that and recognize that whether you all as broadcasters or the fans in general get to see things, and we have to make sure our officials have access to that kind of technology in a way that's not overly disruptive to our game, so that they can get the same type of input when they are making decisions and avoid those critical errors.

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Goodell also stated that officiating is "never going to be perfect" when it comes to getting every single call right and the league must have "technology there and access to that to help them avoid those critical errors that can be decisive in a game," though he did go on to praise the overall job done by the officials.

Seifert also talked to an NFL spokesman who said the league does have "some items under consideration" without offering additional details about what that may include.

Public outcry against officials has reached an all-time high because of television replays, which provide looks at certain plays that aren't necessarily reviewable. 

For instance, in Week 13, the Green Bay Packers beat the Detroit Lions on a Hail Mary pass on an untimed down after the Lions were given a 15-yard penalty when officials ruled Devin Taylor pulled Aaron Rodgers by the facemask. 

The television replay clearly showed Taylor's thumb did tap Rodgers' facemask, but his hand was able to pull Rodgers down by the shoulder. 

Per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the NFL's official rulebook does include a caveat to the facemask penalty that would seem to apply to the play involving Taylor and Rodgers.  

“If a player grasps an opponent’s facemask, he must immediately release it. If he does not immediately release it and controls his opponent, it is a foul,” Florio quoted from the NFL rulebook. 

NFL Vice President of Officiating Dean Blandino defended the penalty called on the play on his official Twitter account:

It was a play that could have huge ramifications for the NFC North race, as the Packers were able to keep pace with the Minnesota Vikings in the division. 

There is also the never-ending question of what exactly constitutes a catch in the NFL. Even though there is no official word on what the NFL and Goodell might be looking to do with officiating protocol, at least the league is looking at ways to improve officiating before it winds up costing a team a Super Bowl.