Bring Back The Human Element To Football And All Sports.

[cereal killer 415]

Today some guys and I from work were talking about the good ole days of the NFL. One the subjects brought up was the days when instant replay didn't exists. I love the thought process on it. The NFL is and I quote "Perfectly imperfect without instant replay". I gave it some thought and tend to agree. I love the fact that the game is played with a certain level of human error. Players on the field make errors all the time, coaches as we know make blunders, why not leave the game in it's natural state and allow officials to make mistakes?

The human element makes the game so much more exciting and unpredictable. Yes I know technology exists but sometimes it's best to go back to old classic. If an official makes a bad call, well it's a bad call. Sometimes that bad call works out for you and sometimes it works against you. I don't like this instant replay stuff.

If anything, why not get rid of instant replay and add a second back judge behind the offense to help regulate the game and make sound calls. Officials still would have to be audited after every game to keep things on the up and up but I really do like the human element of mistakes and blunders during the course of a game. I want it all bad calls and all.

[Guest facelessman07]

I tend to think instant replay gets fans more involved and therefore I like it

I want to limit the bad calls as much as possible

[k-train 8,959]

I think the idea of replay isn't trying to take away the "human element" so much as it is trying to make sure that the game is decided by the actions of the ones playing the game, and not the refs. Replay & the idea of being able to challenge a call means the refs are held to a somewhat higher level of scrutiny & thus hopefully will be forced to call a game more fairly than they might without replay.

[cereal killer 415]

I think the idea of replay isn't trying to take away the "human element" so much as it is trying to make sure that the game is decided by the actions of the ones playing the game, and not the refs. Replay & the idea of being able to challenge a call means the refs are held to a somewhat higher level of scrutiny & thus hopefully will be forced to call a game more fairly than they might without replay.

I'm not fairness of the game should be in question when dealing with NFL refs. The audit process and the possibility of job loss is there to keep refs in line. However I do believe NFL officials are the best in sports. I get what you are saying regarding replay and the game being decided by players. The fact that Refs are actually part of the game gets lost. If a bad call his made or a fumble is given to the wrong team, those are all elements of the human unpredictability during the course of a game. Will it suck if your team gets robbed on bad call, oh heck yeah it will. I can't see how that element does not get fans more involved than that of instant replay.

[dirtybird2k5 3,176]

Why oh why did you come out of the woodwork and start posting dumb threads again?

[cereal killer 415]

Why oh why did you come out of the woodwork and start posting dumb threads again?

I promise I won't beat you up if you decide not to read my post. I won't threaten to take your 1st born. Infact, I would encourage you not to read my post. The goal is to not aggravate you in anyway. So I kindly ask you avoid my comments, post or otherwise any act of any kind from me on these boards. I hope that clears things up.

Ok back to the subject at hand. I love when a baseball official blows a call at the plate and fans, the team and the manager explode. That's exciting and fun to me. Forget replay. Lets bring that certain level of fun back.

The past weekend Julio had a sideline catch that was ruled inbounds when he clearly was out of bounds. The fun of that catch was taking away with the notion the team could challenge. Forget that, the call was made, and we should have moved on. Actually no challenge was made and the Falcons did move on. The onus was taken off the official and moved onto the coach for not challenging. Where's the fun in that?

[Lornoth 12,254]

I don't consider the Refs part of the game, they're just there to make sure the correct call is made and the game stays fair, and the replay system is a part of that. 'Threat of job loss' doesn't help them see things any better either. I'd rather the game is called correctly.

[cereal killer 415]

I don't consider the Refs part of the game, they're just there to make sure the correct call is made and the game stays fair, and the replay system is a part of that. 'Threat of job loss' doesn't help them see things any better either. I'd rather the game is called correctly.

Thanks for your opinion. It's the sole reason for the thread. Getting different perspective from a much broader audience. These boards of purpose.

I do believe the refs are part the game. In fact the rule book states officials are part of the field. You can't play the game without officials. They are in my opinion part of the game

[ya_boi_j 67,826]

I don't consider the Refs part of the game, they're just there to make sure the correct call is made and the game stays fair, and the replay system is a part of that. 'Threat of job loss' doesn't help them see things any better either. I'd rather the game is called correctly.

boy are they doing a horrible job across the board and considering that some of their crap screws with the outcome of a game, I'd like to think they are apart of the game in a way

[Lornoth 12,254]

boy are they doing a horrible job across the board and considering that some of their crap screws with the outcome of a game, I'd like to think they are apart of the game in a way

Well, when i say they aren't a part of the game, i mean to say they shouldn't change the outcome of a game in any way. If we didn't have replays that crap they screw up would be 1000 times worse and more often than it is now.

[ya_boi_j 67,826]

Well, when i say they aren't a part of the game, i mean to say they shouldn't change the outcome of a game in any way. If we didn't have replays that crap they screw up would be 1000 times worse and more often than it is now.

unfortunately replay can't undo all terrible calls and no calls.

[A Pimp Named Slickback™ 3,409]

Mistakes or the human element as you're calling it hasn't gone anywhere. Even with challenges and instant replay, these guys are still making a ton of bad calls. Just had a noticeable one on the thursday night game when the Cowboys WR knee was down a yard out but ruled a TD.

[ATLFalcons11 4,675]

It may be fun for you as a fan but as a player or coach these people it's not fun when the incorrect call is made. You can't get rid of it altogether but it is important to make the game as honest as possible.

As a fan I'm going to love the game that is true to the actual winner of the play or the game regardless if it's against the team I root for or for them because simply right should prevail over wrong.

[Dominique is Manufique 638]

If the bs downfield PI and holding would lighten up the refs wouldn't have to be front and center of every game. I'm pretty much over the nfl. Between fines for legal hits, replays taking over the game, and every breath on a wr deemed a penalty oh and don't forget the ruining of the kickoff it pretty much is a weak a$$sport now.

No instant replay is better than this. I'm 36 so old enough to recall the 80s and 90s form of the nfl and it will always be far far superior.

Refs never decide the outcome. Players do. Players never blame a ref for a loss. Deal with it.

[etherdome 6,540]

I am an old-timer and I like instant replay. I'd like for it to be a little more "instant" but I like it. Another poster mentioned that fans get a chance to be more involved in disputable calls. I tend to agree.

[Karst41 5,761]

The OP is not old enough to remember the horrible call's that have

been made over the decades.

Lemme tell you this.

When a bad call has just cost a team a legitimate win to an

unworthy opponent,, the Chit hits the fan!

Refs have to be escorted out by State Patrol and it gets really ugly.

In the meantime your hated division rival just laid claim to

the division title.

Oh well, a bad call was a bad call, and aint a damm thing can be done!

Carefull what you wish for sunshine

[JayOzOne 20,247]

I've seen too many bad calls in the past to want to eliminate replay. Some teams tend to get the calls they need (remember the tuck rule?) and others seem to lose the benefit of the doubt. The Falcons are one of the teams that seems to get jobbed more often than marquee teams like New England and Dallas when it comes to a touch pass interference on one team but incidental contact on the other.

As for the 'human element'? I'll be glad the day they have robots out there that are better at making calls than the sub-humans that make the calls right now.

[vel 32,297]

I think the idea of replay isn't trying to take away the "human element" so much as it is trying to make sure that the game is decided by the actions of the ones playing the game, and not the refs. Replay & the idea of being able to challenge a call means the refs are held to a somewhat higher level of scrutiny & thus hopefully will be forced to call a game more fairly than they might without replay.

This is how I feel too.

Having played the game and been screwed a number of times by terrible calls that replay would correct, I'm an advocate of it. But not the "Let's review every time a player breathes" replay system. Like how Marvin Lewis challenged nothing, but got the 12 man on the field call from the play prior that the refs missed. That's wack. The play happened, the refs missed it. Human error.

If nothing occurred in the play that is challenge-worthy, then penalize the coach for throwing a flag and move on.

[bweb blapho 139]

Today some guys and I from work were talking about the good ole days of the NFL. One the subjects brought up was the days when instant replay didn't exists. I love the thought process on it. The NFL is and I quote "Perfectly imperfect without instant replay". I gave it some thought and tend to agree. I love the fact that the game is played with a certain level of human error. Players on the field make errors all the time, coaches as we know make blunders, why not leave the game in it's natural state and allow officials to make mistakes?

The human element makes the game so much more exciting and unpredictable. Yes I know technology exists but sometimes it's best to go back to old classic. If an official makes a bad call, well it's a bad call. Sometimes that bad call works out for you and sometimes it works against you. I don't like this instant replay stuff.

If anything, why not get rid of instant replay and add a second back judge behind the offense to help regulate the game and make sound calls. Officials still would have to be audited after every game to keep things on the up and up but I really do like the human element of mistakes and blunders during the course of a game. I want it all bad calls and all.

BS! Game calling errors is NOT part of the game. The game itself is the game. Get it right. Instant replay is absolutely necessary.

If you want humans to dictate the game, then play Madden NFL and set it the way you want.

[since68andcounting 3,645]

Instant replay gives lots of time for commercials. It ain't going anywhere.

Edited December 6, 2014 by since68andcounting

[JayOzOne 20,247]

This is how I feel too.

Having played the game and been screwed a number of times by terrible calls that replay would correct, I'm an advocate of it. But not the "Let's review every time a player breathes" replay system. Like how Marvin Lewis challenged nothing, but got the 12 man on the field call from the play prior that the refs missed. That's wack. The play happened, the refs missed it. Human error.

If nothing occurred in the play that is challenge-worthy, then penalize the coach for throwing a flag and move on.

I couldn't disagree more. This call was the difference between his team having a 1 1/2 game lead in his division vs. a half-game lead. This was the perfect example of why replay is needed, especially in the last two minutes of a game.

[ya_boi_j 67,826]

If replays overturned bad holding calls and other terrible calls that are non reviewable, it would mean a lot more to a fan like myself

[vel 32,297]

I couldn't disagree more. This call was the difference between his team having a 1 1/2 game lead in his division vs. a half-game lead. This was the perfect example of why replay is needed, especially in the last two minutes of a game.

He wasn't challenging anything. His challenge gave him time to point it out to the refs that it happened on the prior play, not the play about to be run. If they penalized the Bucs for the current play, I wouldn't have disagreed.

[Herr Doktor 8,714]

The whole concept for replay was money. No billionaire owner wants to lose based on a botched call. So the game slows down even more giving TV more opportunities to see ads. This is the base reason.

I am in CKs corner. I hate it. It slows an already slow game down. If it keeps up, the sport will become unwatchable.

[JayOzOne 20,247]

He wasn't challenging anything. His challenge gave him time to point it out to the refs that it happened on the prior play, not the play about to be run. If they penalized the Bucs for the current play, I wouldn't have disagreed.

Can you imagine Smitty not doing anything in a case like that and being given a pass by TATF? Nope. You do anything and everything to give your team a fair (or unfair) shot to win the game. Especially if it means buying time for the replay officials to do their jobs when they didn't observe 12 men on the field.