Instant Replay is an element that makes the NFL the most popular sport in America. The NFL has been incorporating instant replay into the game since 1986. However, replay really took hold in the league after the 1998 season when the coaches challenge option was created as a reaction to a phantom touchdown call in a Jets vs. Seahawks game.
I am in favor of using technology to your advantage. Obviously I am a fan of football. Therefore, I like instant replay and a proponent of its usage.
But I can make the case that instant replay ruins the purity of the game. Part of the reason why I am a fan of the NFL is because of it's purity. There is nothing better then watching an offense try to methodically march down the field in the fourth quarter with 2:53 left on the clock and one timeout down by four points against a hungry defense looking to put the game on ice. To this scenario I say game on!
As a fan I can't wait to see how this drama plays out. I'm sitting at the edge of my seat with anticipation of something big happening. My voice is getting louder when I yell at the TV because the pressure is greater. I eat and drink more, which is probably bad for my health but good for the moment.
Readers who don't follow the game probably think that 2:53 is not that much time. You're right, it's not in real time. But in NFL time 2:53 is an eternity. Part of the reason is due to the commercials. The other reason is due to instant replay. Every time there is a controversial call on the field play has to be stopped so that the officials can walk off the field, go to the replay booth, view the play, determine if there is conclusive evidence to overturn their call on the field, find out where the ball should be spotted, what the correct time on the clock should be, etc, etc. It gets worse after the 2:00 warning where all close plays are automatically reviewed upstairs.
During this time I could probably do a lap around my block and be back in time to hear the decision. Meanwhile only ten seconds have come off the clock. That ten seconds took five minutes in real time. My girlfriend is now mad because I told her there was only three minutes left in the game and that I would be going to her parents house for dinner. Now i'm going to be late because of instant replay.
In the past year the league has gotten worse with the instant replay rules. It used to be that coaches had two challenges they could make a game on plays pertaining to a turn over, field position, or touchdown. If you challenged and you were wrong you lost a timeout. If you use both challenges in the first half you are out of challenges for the game. If a coach challenged and won correctly on both he was rewarded with a third challenge...are you still following me?
Now the league has mandated that every turnover and touchdown be reviewed by the booth. This takes up time during the game and also takes away the fun of the challenge system. There is nothing left for coaches to challenge because it is being done for them. Where is the strategy in that? At least it was fun to debate whether a coach should challenge a fumble or touchdown call. It takes the fun away from the game.
This is a case where technology is a detriment to the sport. For years, baseball has refused to incorporate instant replay into their game because they think it will effect the purity of the sport. Questions about balls and strikes makes the game no fun (plus baseball games are already too long, now we're going to review every close pitch?). I don't want a game that is so reliant on technology; if I did I would just play video games.
The NFL should take a page out of MLB's book and rely less on the replay. They should let the game play out on the field rather than manipulate it up in the replay booth. Train referees to make better calls on the field so that we don't have to review every call!
With replay referees still make bad calls. Who could forget the monday night football disaster from last year between the packers and seahawks (granted it was replacement officials). They still got the call wrong and it took 20 minutes to make a decision.
Keep wasting fans time with replay and soon the NFL wont be the most popular sport in America.
[Paul James' blog post was written for "The Kick is Good", a blog written about the upcoming NFL 2013 season. Find more posts at http://thekickisgoodblog.blogspot.com #506iv #instantreplay and follow him on twitter @PJ_thekicksgood ]
I really enjoyed reading this argument! I actually agree with what you're arguing, even if you may not. I feel that instant replay should be used more sparingly. In the NHL, they only use it for some controversial goals and that's about it. I even like the real-life examples you used in the post. It's a very well-written argument. My only critique at the moment is that it may be a tiny bit on the long side.
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