In May, NFL owners granted the Competition Committee the power to adjust the new pass interference replay review. The Competition Committee might not use the breadth of that power.
NFL Network's Judy Battista reported Wednesday that the Competition Committee is working on additional language now, but the expectation is that reviews in the last two minutes of a half will be initiated by the replay booth, not by coaches.
Essentially, the expectation is that the rule that passed in March would largely stay intact without an alteration that would necessitate a coach's challenge to trigger a pass interference replay.
One reason owners gave the Competition Committee power to adjust the rule was concerns that without putting it in the coaches' hands, there might be too many stoppages in the final minutes of a half or game -- as every pass would be subject to potential review for interference. However, Battista notes that coaches made it clear in March that they preferred not having the responsibility to challenge in the final two minutes. Coaches also likely wouldn't appreciate having to hold on to those challenges for a "just in case" situation or risk being out of red flag opportunities in a big spot either.
The pace of play concerns if the Competition Committee decides not to force coaches to instigate PI challenge replays are a very real issue that the league will have to figure out over the final few months before the start of the season.
This will not be our last update on the matter.
