The recent controversy surrounding roughing the passer calls in the NFL has sparked calls for a rules change, and NFL team owners are wasting no time tackling the subject.
According to ESPN, the Los Angeles Rams will resubmit a rule change that would make roughing the passer, as well as all personal fouls, subject to official review. The owners will meet in New York City Tuesday, and it had already been reported that roughing the passer penalties will be discussed.
Given the recent controversies involving hits on first Tom Brady and then Derek Carr in Week 5, the Rams’ proposal will likely get a better reception than it did last year. The Rams proposed making roughing the passer calls reviewable, but the NFL’s competition committee struck down the proposal 9-0.
Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, who got flagged for the hit on Brady, said earlier this week he’d like to see roughing the passer calls made reviewable.
“Hopefully something can come from this and a change can happen,” Jarrett said on his weekly radio show on Atlanta’s 680 The Fan. “But, at the end of the day, I would hope that some conversation would be had.”
However, a recent AP report noted that while the topic will be up for discussion, immediate changes are unlikely.
NFL fans debating the issue on Twitter disagree on whether any change is needed.
One thing every American can agree on:
The “roughing the passer” rule in the NFL has to change.
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) October 11, 2022
The problem are not the calls, it’s the rule itself. The refs are making the correct call based on the rule it’s just the fact that the actually roughing rule makes no sense and is anti-football
— Jacoby (@JacobyFC) October 16, 2022
Nothing about the two calls we saw last week violated the letter of the rule.
— Christopher Mills (@cjmills82) October 16, 2022
If they do, it will have the same issue the PI reviews did, and refs won’t overturn it to show they are in control and they don’t make mistakes.
— Eddie Godat (@Biged682012) October 16, 2022
"I don't know what to do, I don't know what to do." – @michaelstrahan @MikePereira joins the Sunday crew to discuss the recent controversy around the roughing the passer calls. pic.twitter.com/oI4CXYO77J
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 16, 2022
[ESPN]