NFL Week 15: Saturday night's all right for ...

Only if they are attached to sharks.

 

The chains actually ARE precise --- if you accept the premise that the ball spot is precise. System actually works well as far as identifying where the first down is. But each of the ball spots is a guessing game, so in any given series a team may need to go 10.02 yards or 9.98 yards to be awarded a first down. Laser first-down sightings won't change that.

 

The biggest problem with the card (aside from being folded over) is that there was no real way to make sure it was perfectly perpendicular to the flag. If Steratore angles it at all, it changes whether it's a first down or not. I was surprised he didn't drop to his hands and knees, get the football to eye level and look straight across to see if there was any daylight between the ball and the stick. That seems like it would have been the best way to determine it. Regardless, if it was short by .0001 of an inch, I'm fine with calling it a first down and getting the game moving again.

 

Using a piece of paper to determine a first down ion the NFL happened probably 25-30 years ago, I saw it on a telecast. I recall the league at that time advised its officials not to do it again, just make a call.

 

I never understand why a ball isn't spotted for first down purposes as the nearest yard (rounding up or down). Would save all of these issues.

 

Because it's a game of inches, of course.

 

Don't you encounter the same issues determining if it's 51% there or 49%?

 

You can always make it the yard marker farther from the end zone. It just seems that it is a guessing game which wastes time.

 

Those of you who have complained in the past about SteelersSJ.com really should see the message boards for Steelers fans today. The rants and conspiracy theories are pure unintentional comedy.

 

Yes, I'm sure teams would be ecstatic to move past the chains only to have the ball moved back a foot to the "nearest yard."

 

Refs make calls all the time on calls like the one last night. Why Steratore decided to whip out a piece of paper is beyond me. Just set himself and the league up for this criticism.

 

oop?