NFL owners voted on Tuesday to allow a centralized replay center that will assist referees with their replay reviews.
The centralized replay center will be the Officiating Command Center in New York, where there are feeds of every game being played. Those in the replay center will be able to communicate with referees on reviews through headsets and will be able to begin reviewing plays before the officials do.
Though the ultimate calls will be made by the referees, the NFL is adding the reviews to ensure mistakes are not made.
“It’s still a referee review; he has the ultimate authority. We’ll come to a consensus. We’re certainly not going to let him make a mistake, but the referee has the final authority on the call,” said NFL VP of officiating, Dean Blandino.
The NFL joins MLB and the NHL when it comes to using a centralized replay system.
I’m sure all the conspiracy theorists out there probably just think this another way for the league to Buffalo Wild Wings the game, but it probably will help to have the ability to hear from someone else about replays. That should help refs make the right calls.
