"Eye in the Sky" that suddenly is influencing NFL games (1 Viewer)

[Ministry of Pain]

Last night at least once there was a flag either thrown or not thrown but should have been thrown and suddenly the referee hears from somebody above that they need to get that call right
When did this start and what exactly is it? How is the NFL defining when it's time to intervene and point some things out to the Refs?
I am not here to bash the Refs for that yellow flag affair last night, I saw penalties they let go because their arms were so tired from the previous 25 flags.

And BTW "Inappropriate conversation with the Refs" was called on Jevon Kinlaw last night. I would like some clarity on exactly what was said.
This feels like a flag that could be used at a very crucial moment of a football game
I'd like to see something like this called in the 1st Q to lay down the law and not used in the late 4th Q because a Referee has finally had enough back talk from a player

-Here's another angle to this...Coaches don't have to really throw challenge flags as often.
Before they could even throw a red flag last night the booth was signaling down to the field they were overturning it
I'm all for getting the call right but I didn't see an NFL game called like I did last night on MNF

-And they didn't overturn obvious blunders on Roughing the QB, even Rodgers spoke out afterwards and threw the Refs under the bus for flagging the Bills on roughing the QB
You have that right, Rodgers was lambasting the Refs for actually helping the Jets out on that drive, his own team.

We want the outcome to be decided on the field and we want the right calls to be made even if they have to overturn them quickly while the game unfolds.
Does this new Eye in the Sky approach make you feel better or worse when you are watching the games?

 

[zamboni]

They are the maker of rules, dealing with fools...

 

[Ministry of Pain]

They are the maker of rules, dealing with fools...

And we are the dreamers of dreams...

 

[Gally]

Does this new Eye in the Sky approach make you feel better or worse when you are watching the games?

I wish they would use the "Eye in the Sky" as a regular official and have them be able to call penalties, overturn bad calls, etc as a typical official would do. Use them to see things from a perspective that on field officials don't have. It should streamline things and help get obvious things called correctly.

I don't think it should be used for holding calls and the more mundane things other than to overturn an obviously bad call of one of those things. I also believe there should be a time limit as to when these can be made. Meaning they can't take time to watch 27 replays and then make a call. They have access to video for watching "live" to get angles that on field officials don't have and limited replay (like they utilize it now for "booth assist").

 

[efactor]

Last night at least once there was a flag either thrown or not thrown but should have been thrown and suddenly the referee hears from somebody above that they need to get that call right
When did this start and what exactly is it? How is the NFL defining when it's time to intervene and point some things out to the Refs?
I am not here to bash the Refs for that yellow flag affair last night, I saw penalties they let go because their arms were so tired from the previous 25 flags.

And BTW "Inappropriate conversation with the Refs" was called on Jevon Kinlaw last night. I would like some clarity on exactly what was said.
This feels like a flag that could be used at a very crucial moment of a football game
I'd like to see something like this called in the 1st Q to lay down the law and not used in the late 4th Q because a Referee has finally had enough back talk from a player

-Here's another angle to this...Coaches don't have to really throw challenge flags as often.
Before they could even throw a red flag last night the booth was signaling down to the field they were overturning it
I'm all for getting the call right but I didn't see an NFL game called like I did last night on MNF

-And they didn't overturn obvious blunders on Roughing the QB, even Rodgers spoke out afterwards and threw the Refs under the bus for flagging the Bills on roughing the QB
You have that right, Rodgers was lambasting the Refs for actually helping the Jets out on that drive, his own team.

We want the outcome to be decided on the field and we want the right calls to be made even if they have to overturn them quickly while the game unfolds.
Does this new Eye in the Sky approach make you feel better or worse when you are watching the games?

Hate to think it, but it's almost like they want to keep games close, especially the prime time games. Blowouts not good for ratings.

On Thursday night, when SF was rolling Seattle early, there was a PI call against the Seahawks. Officials picked the flag up, so I was thinking it must have been a bad call. They showed the replay and the DB absolutely mugged the WR. How the F is that picked up? So bad, even Al Michaels called it out.

Very strange officiating in last nights game. Two PI calls that didn't have a lot of contact and in both cases the ball was clearly uncatchable, especially the one on the Jets where Allen threw the ball about 10 yards out of bounds. Really takes away from the flow of the game.

 

[SoBeDad]

We can make self-driving cars. The technology to eliminate human refereeing is there. It would speed up games and eliminate the random "Eye in the Sky" call, and bias, such as good players or teams getting the LeBron calls. I envision referees running around with a 360 degree array of ssensors.

 

[need2know]

that was a rough watch last night

 

[titusbramble]

We can make self-driving cars. The technology to eliminate human refereeing is there. It would speed up games and eliminate the random "Eye in the Sky" call, and bias, such as good players or teams getting the LeBron calls. I envision referees running around with a 360 degree array of ssensors.

It is only as good as the people watching the cameras, who if other sports are anything to go by are worse than the on field refs

 

[Rubi]

Last night at least once there was a flag either thrown or not thrown but should have been thrown and suddenly the referee hears from somebody above that they need to get that call right
When did this start and what exactly is it? How is the NFL defining when it's time to intervene and point some things out to the Refs?
I am not here to bash the Refs for that yellow flag affair last night, I saw penalties they let go because their arms were so tired from the previous 25 flags.

And BTW "Inappropriate conversation with the Refs" was called on Jevon Kinlaw last night. I would like some clarity on exactly what was said.
This feels like a flag that could be used at a very crucial moment of a football game
I'd like to see something like this called in the 1st Q to lay down the law and not used in the late 4th Q because a Referee has finally had enough back talk from a player

-Here's another angle to this...Coaches don't have to really throw challenge flags as often.
Before they could even throw a red flag last night the booth was signaling down to the field they were overturning it
I'm all for getting the call right but I didn't see an NFL game called like I did last night on MNF

-And they didn't overturn obvious blunders on Roughing the QB, even Rodgers spoke out afterwards and threw the Refs under the bus for flagging the Bills on roughing the QB
You have that right, Rodgers was lambasting the Refs for actually helping the Jets out on that drive, his own team.

We want the outcome to be decided on the field and we want the right calls to be made even if they have to overturn them quickly while the game unfolds.
Does this new Eye in the Sky approach make you feel better or worse when you are watching the games?

Hate to think it, but it's almost like they want to keep games close, especially the prime time games. Blowouts not good for ratings.

On Thursday night, when SF was rolling Seattle early, there was a PI call against the Seahawks. Officials picked the flag up, so I was thinking it must have been a bad call. They showed the replay and the DB absolutely mugged the WR. How the F is that picked up? So bad, even Al Michaels called it out.

Very strange officiating in last nights game. Two PI calls that didn't have a lot of contact and in both cases the ball was clearly uncatchable, especially the one on the Jets where Allen threw the ball about 10 yards out of bounds. Really takes away from the flow of the game.

Part time officials

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

It was kinda sketchy last night, especially in what was clearly a sack/FF of A-A-Ron.

That said, that play was almost textbook “ruck rule”, so they do have plausible deniability on that one.

It still seemed sketchy.

 

[Runkle]

What's wrong with having an actual official in the booth watching the video and helping them out in real time? Just another member of the crew watching the feed. It's not slowing down the game, and they're getting the calls right.

 

[ghostguy123]

It SEEMS like it could be easier to fix games that way.
I could be wrong

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

It SEEMS like it could be easier to fix games that way.
I could be wrong

Which is ironic because I’m sure all of this is in response to the explosion of legalized gambling, to make sure they “get it right” in the face of millions of degenerates screaming “rigged” for every real or perceived miscarriage of justice.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

I’m pretty sure lasts nights head official got an NIL deal. Man there were a zillion penalties called

 

[Runkle]

It SEEMS like it could be easier to fix games that way.
I could be wrong

Eye in the sky isn't going to suddenly discover evidence of something that didn't happen. It's not going to just make up a WR's second foot landing in bounds or a ball's spot a yard ahead of where it really was.

As Donaghy pointed out, the ref's power to swing a fix is in the judgement calls. Choosing to enforce the rules down to the letter in some games against some teams and giving others a pass on ticky-tack calls. The eye in the sky isn't doing that... it's not, at least that I've seen, calling phantom holding calls that an on-field official didn't flag or anything like that.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

It SEEMS like it could be easier to fix games that way.
I could be wrong

Which is ironic because I’m sure all of this is in response to the explosion of legalized gambling, to make sure they “get it right” in the face of millions of degenerates screaming “rigged” for every real or perceived miscarriage of justice.

It just couldn't be that they just suck at gambling. If they lost it was certainly a fix.

 

[GroveDiesel]

My biggest issue is that there don’t seem to be any rules/guidelines for how it’s used. Some teams just randomly have the sky judge intervene and save them a challenge. Sometimes they’re overturning calls that seem pretty questionable to overturn which is in contradiction to the standard of clear and convincing evidence to overturn.

I think that last point may be my biggest issue. If it was just getting calls that are CLEARLY wrong corrected, it would be one thing. But last night was a great example of that not always being the case. And with no requirement for them to use the clear and convincing evidence standard and their decision also making the play not challengeable is really not ok.

 

[ghostguy123]

It SEEMS like it could be easier to fix games that way.
I could be wrong

Eye in the sky isn't going to suddenly discover evidence of something that didn't happen. It's not going to just make up a WR's second foot landing in bounds or a ball's spot a yard ahead of where it really was.

As Donaghy pointed out, the ref's power to swing a fix is in the judgement calls. Choosing to enforce the rules down to the letter in some games against some teams and giving others a pass on ticky-tack calls. The eye in the sky isn't doing that... it's not, at least that I've seen, calling phantom holding calls that an on-field official didn't flag or anything like that.

It would be by calling things on one team and omitting a call or two on the other.

 

[TheAristocrat]

The third planet is sure that they're being watched
By an Eye in the Sky that can't be stopped
When you get to the promise land
You're going to shake that eye's hand

 

[IHEARTFF]

This is where I come for APP and MM lyrics

 

[IHEARTFF]

Also pretty sure I noticed a few of these random overturns but doesn’t seem clear why/when it is to be used. Seems sketch. Can’t wait until one of these goes in KCs favor on a national broadcast.

 

[BobbyLayne]

When did this start and what exactly is it? How is the NFL defining when it's time to intervene and point some things out to the Refs?

they don't acknowledge it AFAIK, but it happens every week, has for years

PFF always discusses it on their NFL podcast - not sure how far back it's been going on, but it was brought up this week on Check The Mic YT podcast (Steve and Sam, who recently left PFF)

 

[GreenNGold]

When did this start and what exactly is it? How is the NFL defining when it's time to intervene and point some things out to the Refs?

they don't acknowledge it AFAIK, but it happens every week, has for years

PFF always discusses it on their NFL podcast - not sure how far back it's been going on, but it was brought up this week on Check The Mic YT podcast (Steve and Sam, who recently left PFF)

I think it's a good thing overall, but I'm also confused. It seems to be pretty random/sporadic when it is used, and other times coaches still need to use a challenge.

EDIT: found some info that it has been use in some format since 2022 but has been expanded in 2024 to cover more scenarios.

 

[BobbyLayne]

When did this start and what exactly is it? How is the NFL defining when it's time to intervene and point some things out to the Refs?

they don't acknowledge it AFAIK, but it happens every week, has for years

PFF always discusses it on their NFL podcast - not sure how far back it's been going on, but it was brought up this week on Check The Mic YT podcast (Steve and Sam, who recently left PFF)

the replay assist randomly changing plays that were already called on the field well after the fact has not been happening for years, I have seen several this year that would have required coach challenges to get overturned in the past.

I think it's a good thing overall, but I'm also confused. It seems to be pretty random/sporadic when it is used, and other times coaches still need to use a challenge.

I could be wrong in wondering if it extends beyond 2023....but it technically is years, last season and this season....

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Also pretty sure I noticed a few of these random overturns but doesn’t seem clear why/when it is to be used. Seems sketch. Can’t wait until one of these goes in KCs favor on a national broadcast.

Sketchy, undefined, the opposite of clarity
-I agree 100%, it's the most troubling part is you don't know when or why exactly it happens
Causes feelings that are unsettling

 

[Stinkin Ref]

one of the biggest issue with any type of "eye in the sky" and it being part of a game.....is "timing" and stopping a running clock....

 

[Ministry of Pain]

one of the biggest issue with any type of "eye in the sky" and it being part of a game.....is "timing" and stopping a running clock....

I'm happy you bumped this thread
It continues to pop up in primetime games
People are just discovering that the rules can change at any given moment depending on the infraction and the time left in the football game
They do seem to be deciding factors or part of the equation

 

[wgoldsph]

I was completely lost over the "you can't challenge that" line the announcers keep dropping. Why not? It's clearly a wrong call, what's the point of having an "eye in the sky" if they can't overturn calls that are blatant?

 

[Deamon]

i'm all for this.

 

[GreenNGold]

I was completely lost over the "you can't challenge that" line the announcers keep dropping. Why not? It's clearly a wrong call, what's the point of having an "eye in the sky" if they can't overturn calls that are blatant?

I agree, everything is a judgement call that's how the refs make mistakes. If it is 100% clear and indisputable on a replay it should be reviewable.

 

[need2know]

Almost never helps my team. Drives me crazy

 

[WhoCares]

The injuries, officiating, commercials, 100 reporters every game asking the same stupid questions / making the same worn out comments, and the NFL’s burning need to play games abroad is making the league close to unwatchable.

 

[wgoldsph]

The injuries, officiating, commercials, 100 reporters every game asking the same stupid questions / making the same worn out comments, and the NFL’s burning need to play games abroad is making the league close to unwatchable.

Yet the viewership numbers keep rising.

NFL isn't for football fans. Hasn't been since owning a team became a way to make money and not a way to show off already having money. Thank Jerry Jones.

 

[Ruffrodys05]

I've noticed the seemingly arbitrary times the refs hear from the sky-eye during games. Was a little curious as I had not read anything. I don't recall noticing it last year. It makes me feel a bit uneasy but nothing untoward has happened yet. This is a trial run, no? Let's see how it plays out over the year. There are other types of calls the refs seem to be cracking down on, often to the point of being ticky-tacky calls that needn't be made at all. Those bother me more. Oh, and you'll never convince me that having part-time refs is better for the league than full-time refs. You just won't.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

I understand the argument that they're just trying to get the call right, and that's great. In principle, I support having a sky judge to help with officiating. But the problem is that the league already has a serious problem with officiating and has for a long time. Now it also has a problem with gambling, and it's making up new officiating protocols on the fly with little transparency. That's not good for the shield, assuming that they're actually trying to put a legitimate product on the field. If they're trying to put a thumb on the scale without too many people noticing, then I guess this works.

 

[Alex P Keaton]

I understand the argument that they're just trying to get the call right, and that's great. In principle, I support having a sky judge to help with officiating. But the problem is that the league already has a serious problem with officiating and has for a long time. Now it also has a problem with gambling, and it's making up new officiating protocols on the fly with little transparency. That's not good for the shield, assuming that they're actually trying to put a legitimate product on the field. If they're trying to put a thumb on the scale without too many people noticing, then I guess this works.

What’s weird about it is that you wouldn’t expect knee-jerk decisions from Goodell’s NFL. He doesn’t have any history of lack of forethought, followed by obvious outcomes that could have been planned for earlier. Thankfully.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Brian Branch getting tossed by New York in Week 9 was a garbage move. Took away Detroit’s best defensive player (top 8 DPotY candidate) for 2/3rds of a divisional game.

He’s the tone setter, putting up safety production we haven’t seen since Ed Reed. Been Top 2 in PFF grade all year and by far the most versatile weapon on Detroit’s defense. Best coverage DB, never misses a tackle, tremendous run support. No one has more combined PBUs & TFLs the last two years.

Penalty? Yes, of course. Definitely a fine. But don’t try to influence the outcome. The announcers were really surprised. There was helmet contact but it was mostly a shoulder blow.

Richard Sherman knows

 

[Jacob's Ladder]

Brian Branch getting tossed by New York in Week 9 was a garbage move. Took away Detroit’s best defensive player (top 8 DPotY candidate) for 2/3rds of a divisional game.

He’s the tone setter, putting up safety production we haven’t seen since Ed Reed. Been Top 2 in PFF grade all year and by far the most versatile weapon on Detroit’s defense. Best coverage DB, never misses a tackle, tremendous run support. No one has more combined PBUs & TFLs the last two years.

Penalty? Yes, of course. Definitely a fine. But don’t try to influence the outcome. The announcers were really surprised. There was helmet contact but it was mostly a shoulder blow.

Richard Sherman knows

That was pretty ridiculous. If something happens the refs miss like a punch being thrown, something violent on the bottom of the pile, etc, by all means jump and and fix the situation. If it's a judgement call as was the case with Branch, then you're just opening up a can of worms. Why not start reversing or fixing or changing all of the other judgement calls we were told couldn't be changed by replay?

I don't remember which game or which play it was, but my favorite situation over the weekend when the refs dropped a flag about 30 seconds after the play was over. I believe it was a blatant facemask that wound up causing offsetting fouls. One of the refs had to have seen it on the big screen or someone from the league office sent word to the head official.

 

[Runkle]

So is the problem that teams are getting calls fixed by an official without risking a timeout by throwing the red flag? If so... what's the big deal? It's one more official in the conversation, it's just that he's watching TV. Big whoop.

 

[5Rings]

heavens to mercotroids, we might actually get a holding call on the Chiefs OL......

nahhhhh.....

 

[-jb-]

So is the problem that teams are getting calls fixed by an official without risking a timeout by throwing the red flag? If so... what's the big deal? It's one more official in the conversation, it's just that he's watching TV. Big whoop.

For me, it’s the inconsistency. Remember when Darnold was blatantly face masked in national tv? Then, they said they couldn’t/wouldn’t use the tool to identify penalties. Welp, just a few weeks later they did exactly that. So what gives?

 

[need2know]

heavens to mercotroids, we might actually get a holding call on the Chiefs OL......

nahhhhh.....

They are so shaky may not need them

 

[IHEARTFF]

Challenge of Addison being in bounds. ‘Can’t use the boundary camera because not every stadium has one’ lmao that is the most nfl thing ever

 

[Max Power]

Challenge of Addison being in bounds. ‘Can’t use the boundary camera because not every stadium has one’ lmao that is the most nfl thing ever

I couldn't believe that was a real thing when the announcers said it.

We have indisputable proof, but it's on a camera we're not allowed to use...

 

[Snoopy]

Challenge of Addison being in bounds. ‘Can’t use the boundary camera because not every stadium has one’ lmao that is the most nfl thing ever

I couldn't believe that was a real thing when the announcers said it.

We have indisputable proof, but it's on a camera we're allowed to use...

^not

 

[GreenNGold]

Challenge of Addison being in bounds. ‘Can’t use the boundary camera because not every stadium has one’ lmao that is the most nfl thing ever

I couldn't believe that was a real thing when the announcers said it.

We have indisputable proof, but it's on a camera we're not allowed to use...

And on top of that, they have an exception that they are allowed to use those cameras on scoring plays. Why not jus use them and mandate every team needs to have them installed?

 

[IHEARTFF]

Challenge of Addison being in bounds. ‘Can’t use the boundary camera because not every stadium has one’ lmao that is the most nfl thing ever

I couldn't believe that was a real thing when the announcers said it.

We have indisputable proof, but it's on a camera we're not allowed to use...

And on top of that, they have an exception that they are allowed to use those cameras on scoring plays. Why not jus use them and mandate every team needs to have them installed?

Wow easy there deep pockets. You think these teams just have thousands of $ to drop on cameras?