Interference review to get a hard look
Amid the concern and controversy over coaches challenges and video reviews of pass interference, the NFL plans a hard look at the rules adjustment instituted this season.
The change was for the 2019 season only and the 32 team owners would have to ratify it again — on a temporary or permanent basis — for it to be continued. Thus far, inconsistencies in how the penalties are being called and with decisions made after video reviews have plagued the system.
“There’s no question there’s been angst,” Rich McKay, president of the Falcons and head of the NFL’s powerful competition committee said Wednesday at the league meetings in Irving, Texas. “I’ve felt the angst. I felt the angst with our team, feel the angst of others. But it’s a new rule. It’s a big change. It’s something we haven’t done before. So I don’t want to prejudge what the outcome could be.”
McKay and league football operations chief Troy Vincent said the subject will be “a point of discussion” in the offseason.
“I think from the committee’s standpoint, what we typically do is we’ll go back and we’ll look at every single review and we will look at it from the standpoint as a committee, ‘Would we have reversed that? Would we not have reversed that?’ McKay explained. “After you do that, which is what we did last year with use of helmet — I think we looked at 120 use of helmet plays. You get a good sense of, ‘Can we do this better? Does this have a path to get better and more efficient and more effective and more predictable? And what are the challenges?’ ”
Commissioner Roger Goodell said “consistency is the number one thing we’re always trying to achieve.”
“And we every year have engaged in changes that have been designed to make us more consistent and better,” Goodell said. “Obviously, the standard keeps getting higher as we add new elements. But I think what people see nowadays with technology is much greater than it was even five years ago.
“I think our officials do an outstanding job, but we always seek to improve and we will engage in that.”
In other topics:
— Goodell said the league wouldn’t make any judgments until the investigation is complete into the Patriots inappropriately filming the Bengals sideline during Sunday’s game in Cleveland.
The club has acknowledged that a three-person crew producing a web series titled “Do Your Job” didn’t properly inform the Browns. The Patriots said they turned over all the footage to the league after being confronted. The Patriots play the Bengals on Sunday.
In 2007, the Patriots were fined $250,000 and lost a first-round draft pick for violating NFL rules against using video to steal signals in a scandal dubbed “Spygate.” Coach Bill Belichick was also fined $500,000.
Asked if the Patriots’ side of the latest story was believable, Goodell said, “One of the things I’ve learned is you don’t draw conclusions until you have all the information. Once we have all the information, then we draw conclusions.”
Goodell said the previous incident did affect the current situation, “But I think the key things are the new information that we have.”
— Goodell said owners discussed the ongoing negotiations for a new labor agreement for about an hour but didn’t have much else to report. The collective bargaining agreement expires in March 2021. “I know that we’ve committed to work hard and to try to keep the issues at the table and try to see if we can reach an agreement,” Goodell said.
Thielen set for return: Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen is expected to return to the lineup Sunday against the Chargers, barring a setback in practice, ESPN reported.
Thielen has missed the Vikings’ last four games due to a hamstring injury but still is tied for the team lead with six touchdown receptions. He has 27 receptions for 391 yards in his eight games.
Last season, he led the Vikings with 113 receptions and 1,373 receiving yards and tied for the team lead with nine touchdown receptions.
The Vikings are currently in place in the NFC North at 9-4. second
Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson (11) splits the defense between Dolphins defensive back Nik Needham (40) and free safety Adrian Colbert (36) to score a touchdown last Sunday.
in the secondary. “We all have to go out there and create that chemistry with new dudes.
“But it’s been year, for sure.”
The Dolphins will likely play plenty of nickel defense to get all five of those defensive backs on the field, or alternate into some traditional defensive sets with two safeties, two cornerbacks and three linebackers during other looks from the New York Giants offense.
Backup safety Walt Aikens and punt returner Marcus Sherels are both defensive backs relegated to special teams roles who could provide depth in the secondary.
The Dolphins also signed first-year cornerback Linden Stephens off the Seattle Seahawks practice squad, and rookie defensive back Nate Brooks off the New England Patriots practice squad.
Both players could see significant playing time at the cornerback position opposite Needham.
“Yeah, we’ll have enough,” Dolphins coach Brian Flores said of his depleted secondary, which will face either quarterback Eli Manning or Daniel Jones for the Giants
alearning experience
Dolphins defensive end Taco Charlton, right, leads the Dolphins with five sacks. this
this week.
Behind Rowe, Needham, Wiltz, Parker, Ryan Lewis and Ken Webster, the Dolphins secondary began to find its groove after losing Bobby McCain, Reshad Jones, Xavien Howard and Aqib Talib to injured reserve earlier this season.
Lewis (hamstring) and Webster (ankle) joined injured reserve this week, effectively being shut down for the rest of the season.
The Dolphins could make other moves to shore up their secondary like adding rookie Montre Hartage back to the active roster after he re-signed to their practice squad. Hartage was called up for the Philadelphia Eagles game and released last week.
And Flores and the Dolphins will surely continue to scour the waiver wire to find players with potential to bring into the fold during the final three weeks of the season.
Parker hopes he and his secondary teammates can make the most out of their opportunities to make an impact.
“You have to gear up and make sure you’re ready to go,” Parker said. “That opportunity is not going to wait on anybody else. Once your opportunity presents itself, you have to make the best of it.”