The owners of all 32 NFL teams met concluded their annual meetings in Phoenix on Tuesday, and ended the session with a big decision. Per multiple reports, league ownership approved a resolution to make pass interference penalties (both offensive and defensive) reviewable with assistance from the instant replay booth. Coaches can challenge a called or uncalled foul until the final two minutes. Inside those two minutes, the replay booth takes over, as with all calls.
This is an unprecedented victory for New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton and team owner Gayle Benson, who were seen exiting the meeting with suppressed grins. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that Payton personally “was for it. Championed it.” Payton told Mike Garafolo of NFL Network that the vote passed 31-1:
This amendment to the instant replay process is huge, and corrects an embarrassing gaffe from the 2018 NFC championship game in which the Saints missed out on a trip to Super Bowl LIII due to the exact situation this rule change seeks to prevent. Benson explained to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network after the vote, “This is what I wanted to happen. That’s why I made my statement. (The non-call in the title game) will never happen again.”
It doesn’t change the past. The Saints won’t get a do-over. But it does correct a serious issue surrounding the league’s credibility moving forward. This is a win for Payton, Benson, and the Saints organization.
