The NFL and its teams voted on an extension of instant replay during their annual meetings in Arizona on Tuesday.
Said vote was 31-1 and included the ability of officials to initiate instant replay in the final two minutes of games involving pass interference penalties and non-calls.
It’s a dramatic turnabout for the NFL, especially given that teams had in the past pushed back against the idea of judgement calls being included on replay.
It also comes mere months after the New Orleans Saints lost in controversial fashion to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game. Said loss included a blatant missed call on a pass interference committed by Los Angeels. The rest is history.
Following the report of expanded replay, the Saints themselves took to social media to troll the NFL.
The Saints might be feeling a bit vindicated here. But it doesn’t change what happened in New Orleans back in January. Los Angeles still earned a trip to Super Bowl LIII before ultimately losing to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
For his part, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made a public statement after Tuesday’s vote was finalized.
The league is now admitting beyond a reasonable doubt that the outcome of the NFC Championship Game was impacted by the non-call.
Getting it right has to be the most important thing here. For now, it appears that the league realizes that.