Richard Sherman had some thoughts on how to improve NFL officiating, and also admonished fans who are overly critical of bad calls.
Sherman wrote in a guest column for SI’s Monday Morning Quarterback that there are four simple measures that could improve the standard of NFL officiating. First, he argued that the rulebook needs to be simplified, especially on the defensive side. Sherman accepted human error, but believes that simplifying the rulebook would minimize those instances. Sherman also advocated for an eighth official and making it a full-time position. Sherman then said the positioning of officials should be reconfigured with that eighth official, particularly to make it easier to properly call pass interference. Sherman cited an incident earlier in the season in which he was called for pass interference and official Terry Brown told him that while he wasn’t close to the play, the movement of the receiver’s body made it look like a foul. Sherman wrote that an eighth official with improved positioning would cut down on those sorts of explanations.
Lastly, Sherman argued that improvement between officials and players needs to be improved. Sherman understood why some officials choose not to explain their calls, but not doing so means that players can’t address what it is they’re doing wrong. Sherman noted that most officials will explain their calls as long as they’re respectfully asked, but “for some reason, those aren’t the guys you see in the playoffs.”
Sherman’s ultimate point, however, is that NFL referees do an outstanding job and that fans should relax, because it’s just a game. He cited the case of Lance Easley, the replacement official who signaled touchdown in the infamous Monday Night Football game. Easley later told Sherman that he received death threats over the fiasco.
“To those who blasted Easley, and to the fans who are still losing their minds over bad calls, I have one thing to say: relax,” wrote Sherman.
All of Sherman’s ideas seem to be pretty much common sense. Perhaps someone at the league will take notice.
