When it comes to NFL officiating, the league doesn’t even approach a process that could be considered transparent. The NFL is content with letting consequential missed calls go nearly two weeks without public comment, and we still don’t know what a catch is.
So, with that in mind, the up-start Alliance of American Football was onto something in giving viewers a live listen to the replay official’s review process.
And, of course, we got to hear as replay official Terri Valenti changed course on a clear incompletion to reward Orlando with a touchdown.
Don’t get me wrong — I love the transparency. Viewers have the right to know why a call gets overturned or not. But in this particular case, Valenti had the call correct at first and then changed her mind based off a bad angle.
The ball so clearly hit the ground that the football picked up actual paint from the end zone.
But the idea was excellent, and it should be a part of every football broadcast. These review conversations go through the production truck, so the communication can easily be broadcasted.
The NFL just chooses not to because it prefers suspense over transparency.
