Every fan of any sport that requires the human eye to enforce rules and regulations of the game knows they aren’t perfect. Calls will be missed and mistakes will happen. That said, the National Football League must improve in this area.
In 2016, a glaring issue of officials missing calls has begun to bear on the outcome of games. And once again, the NFL is faced with another conundrum.
In Week 4 at FedEx Field as the Cleveland Browns trailed the Washington Redskins early in the fourth quarter with the ball at midfield, Browns QB Cody Kessler handed the ball off to running back Duke Johnson.
Johnson rushed for a first down but Redskins linebacker Mason Foster knocked the ball loose forcing a scrap for the ball. Johnson emerged with the football in his hands moments later but the officials signaled possession in favor of Washington anyway.
In order for a team to be given possession they first must possess the ball. How is it then, that with Johnson’s standing with the ball in-hand, could the officials award it to Washington?
“The on-field ruling was a fumble, recovered by Washington,” NFL spokesman Michael Signora said about the call. “It was confirmed as a fumble in instant replay without the need to stop the game. As to the recovery, several different angles were looked at, but with nothing definitive shown, there was no need to stop the game because the on-field ruling that awarded possession to Washington would have stood.”
With all of the technological advancements that have been made to enhance the ability to make correct calls on the field, Signora’s statement is unacceptable.
Clearly, continuous education by the NFL’s officials is required for a full understanding of the rules. The league and its officiating committee must stop the lip service and remove the elephant in the room.