After last year's controversial NFL season, this season has seemed to go smoothly with little to no controversies. That is, until the NFC and AFC championship games. It all started when the Ram's defensive back clearly targeted the receiver instead of the ball and interfered. No penalty was called and the fans were outraged. Even the cornerback himself admitted that he should have been penalized saying, "I felt more than lucky; I felt blessed." This call changed the outcome of the game and will be talked about for years. Following this incident, during the AFC championship game, a controversial roughing the passer penalty was called on the Chiefs that changed the course of the game. In the end, it is too late to reverse either call, and this will leave many fans furious for years to come.
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Do you think that the NFL should change the rules on roughing the passer?
I personally think that the NFL should change the rules on roughing the passer so that the defense does not always have to be scared that a penalty will be called if they even breath on the quarterback.
Do you think Saints fans will ever forget about this call?
I don't think New Orleans Saints fans will ever forget about this call. They will be talking about it for years, and it will be looked down upon in history.
Replies
Good summary Michael but you didn't reply to any student comments which is worth 20 points.
I think that if one is trying to swat the ball and in the process the qb throws the ball right before the defense swats it and it's called for roughing the passer than ye, the rules on roughing the passer should be changed.
I don't necessarily believe that the rules should be changed entirley, but the call that was made during that specific game was very extreme. The player barely touch Brady and he was penalized. I just think the refs themselves should do a better job of keeping their calls consistant through the whole season.
I think that the rule on roughing the quartback should be chnged, the quarterback was barely tocuhed, he only had a hand in his face. This wasn't the first time during this NFL season there was a controversial call involving roughing the quartback, they need to make it clear what is roughing the passer and what a tackle is.
I think that sometimes the refs take calling this to seriously. I mean there should have been a call during the saints game because that was obvious. I don't think the saints will ever forget about this. I think that it is funny how they didn't call this but they call a penalty even if a linemen touches the QB
I understand that keeping the players safe is a big priority in the NFL, but I think it is unfare to players to have to be penalized for making a good tackle on the quarterback. Although I am not a Saints fan but I watched the game and there were a lot of oppurtunites for the Saints to not be in that situation, but I do have to say that it was a blown call and it should have been called to potentially get the Saints the win.
I don't think they should change any rules. But sometimes I feel like come on let them play football. More than anything get some REFS that know what they're doing. Incredible how many bad calls to end someones season. No, they won't they should be in the Super Bowl it's ridiclous.
Yes I think the rule is too strict or unclear because from watching the game, the defender barely hit the quarterback. They are football players they should be able to handle a little nudge. No, I don't think they will every forget about that call especially since they lost.
The NFL made the roughing the passer rule to protect quarterbacks. They should keep it in place otherwise players like Ndamukong Suh and other dirty players would take advantage of it. The Saints game could possibly be replayed if the commisioner chooses to replay the game. The Saints will never forget this game if it does not get replayed.
1. To answer your question, I think they need to change the rules of the game, but in a different way. The way I see it, they need to change them to become more like the previous years, the years where football was good. Those years, nobody was scared of getting a penalty, back when football was made of men. I think if they change them like they have been, its just going to turn into flag football .
2. I dont think they will forget, nor do I think they will make a big fuss about it years down the road. Hopefully its cause enough to get some change in the game.