NFL commissioner Roger Goodell spoke with reporters from the site of the Super Bowl on Wednesday, and he finally admitted publicly that the officiating crew from the NFC Championship Game cost the New Orleans Saints a trip to the Super Bowl.
When asked about the infamous pass interference non-call, Goodell stressed that officials are “human” but said the league needs to look at ways to examine instant replay.
Roger Goodell, on the #Saints missed call: “We understand the frustration they feel. Whenever the officiating is part of a discussion, it’s not a good thing. But we also know our officials are human. … We will look again at instant replay, should replay be expanded?”
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 30, 2019
1:24 pm EST. Goodell: "It's a play that should be called." I believe that's the first official, on-the-record admission from the NFL that it was a blown call.
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) January 30, 2019
While Goodell confirmed the NFL is exploring ways to better the use of replay, he also stressed that the human element of officiating is not going to be removed.
Commissioner Roger Goodell, addressing Saints/Rams officiating controversy, says expansion of replay will be discussed. “Technology is not going to solve all these issues. The game is not officiated by robots, it’s not going to be. But we have to continue to go down that path.”
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) January 30, 2019
The call that was missed on Los Angeles Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman was one of the most egregious non-calls in NFL history, and some fans have petitioned for the game to be replayed because of it. That was never going to happen, but the NFL is reportedly looking at some unique ways to avoid similar things from happening in the future.
