NFL News & Notes

[Old Guy]

2 minutes ago, Mazrimiv said:

It's like déjà vu all over again...

Davante wants to control every aspect of things. It doesn't work out that way. BTW, if he goes to NOLA and things fall apart there this year, something I expect, the coach and the quarterback might both be gone. 

[Leader]

Just now, Old Guy said:

Davante wants to control every aspect of things. It doesn't work out that way. BTW, if he goes to NOLA and things fall apart there this year, something I expect, the coach and the quarterback might both be gone. 

Clearly....the only stable option is to return to Green Bay LOL

[Tperk]

Reuniting with Rodgers may not be an option after that last play...

[Old Guy]

1 hour ago, Tperk said:

Reuniting with Rodgers may not be an option after that last play...

Saleh was pissed off at that throw too. You could see it. Where is Statboy? I'm sure he's curled up in the corner cuddling his Aaron Rodgers doll, crying. 

[thrILL!]

From the NYT’s The Morning newsletter (not sure if there’s a corresponding separate article but it would likely be behind a paywall if it is):
 

The future of sports

By Ken Belson

Isaiah Likely of the Baltimore Ravens with his toe out of bounds.  Ed Zurga/Associated Press

For most of sports history, there was no recourse when a referee made a bad call. Fans could boo and players could complain, but the game went on. Instant replay changed that a few decades ago, allowing coaches to challenge a call and ask the referees to review it. That made games fairer, but it also made them slower.

Now, many professional sports are on the verge of a new technological breakthrough: automated referee systems, which get the call right every time and significantly reduce delays from reviews.

Leagues insist that these systems, which they are testing in the minors or in preseason games, are not meant to eliminate officials. Umpires and referees are still necessary to make nuanced calls — checked swings in baseball, charging in basketball, pass interference in football. But the leagues believe automated systems could make games both fairer and faster.

In today’s newsletter, I’ll explain what this technology can do as well as the concerns that some league officials have about it.

Referees check an instant replay during an N.F.L. game.  Adam Hunger/Associated Press

State of the tools

Technology is built into the rules of professional sports. The N.F.L. requires instant-replay reviews of all scoring plays and turnovers to ensure that the calls are right.

That was on display on the final play of the season-opening game in Kansas City. The Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely caught a potential game-tying pass in the back of the end zone. But after a 90-second video review, officials determined that Likely’s toe was out of bounds, negating the pass and handing Kansas City the win.

It was an example of what technology does best in sports: help referees make a decision about an easily defined play. But it also highlighted one pitfall of the current system: For fans, that 90-second wait can feel a lot longer.

Automating those decisions would allow games to move more quickly. And for one sport, that has already happened at the highest level. Sony’s Hawk-Eye Live system, which for years allowed tennis players to challenge calls and see exactly where a shot had landed, has gotten so good that it now handles all the line calls at the U.S. Open and the Australian Open.

Holding the first down chain.  Mike Comer/Getty Images

On the horizon

America’s big professional sports leagues have not moved to automated refereeing yet, but most of them are testing their own systems.

Baseball appears to be nearing a major change. It has used a system that automatically determines whether a pitch is a ball or a strike in its minor leagues, across more than 8,000 games. The system could make its first appearance in the majors next year, when the league may test it during spring training.

The N.F.L. is also testing computerized officiating. This preseason, the league introduced cameras that help spot the ball after plays. The technology could mean the end of the chain gangs who run onto the field with two poles connected by a 10-yard chain to measure first downs.

And the N.B.A. is testing technology to automatically detect goaltending calls, which involves determining whether the ball was moving upward or downward when it was blocked.
 

The human element

When baseball began testing its automatic umpire system in the minor leagues, it introduced two variations. One determines balls and strikes on every pitch and notifies the umpire, who signals the result. The second variation, which uses the same technology, is called upon only when a pitcher, catcher or batter challenges an umpire’s call.

Umpires have been right on about half of those challenged calls. But players still said they preferred the challenge system to the automated one. Some said that challenges add a strategic element.

“Originally, we thought everybody was going to be wholeheartedly in favor” of the fully automatic calls, said Rob Manfred, the M.L.B. commissioner. But, he said, “players feel there could be other effects on the game that would be negative if you used it full-blown.”

Rich McKay, the chief executive of the Atlanta Falcons, leads the N.F.L.’s committee on game rules and had similar feelings about the potential for automated calls in football. “When you take the officiating out of the game and try to put it in a different place, I’m just nervous about what that leads to,” he said. “You’d have to rewrite all the rules.”

[Brat&Beer]

 

[Leader]

 

[Refugee]

13 hours ago, Brat&Beer said:

 

The NFCN is definitely not a cake walk this year. The NFCW and AFCS are finding that out as we have been handing them their *****. Hope that continues in Lambeau next two games. 

[skibrett15]

dejean should be playing over maddox.  The reason he's not is Vic Fangio is making a mistake and because DeJean was injured in camp so he didn't get a chance to compete.

 

If maddox keeps playing coming out of the bye it's on Fangio.  Usually rookies like DeJean get a pretty big bump after the bye

[Old Guy]

16 hours ago, thrILL! said:

From the NYT’s The Morning newsletter (not sure if there’s a corresponding separate article but it would likely be behind a paywall if it is):
 

The future of sports

By Ken Belson

Isaiah Likely of the Baltimore Ravens with his toe out of bounds.  Ed Zurga/Associated Press

For most of sports history, there was no recourse when a referee made a bad call. Fans could boo and players could complain, but the game went on. Instant replay changed that a few decades ago, allowing coaches to challenge a call and ask the referees to review it. That made games fairer, but it also made them slower.

Now, many professional sports are on the verge of a new technological breakthrough: automated referee systems, which get the call right every time and significantly reduce delays from reviews.

Leagues insist that these systems, which they are testing in the minors or in preseason games, are not meant to eliminate officials. Umpires and referees are still necessary to make nuanced calls — checked swings in baseball, charging in basketball, pass interference in football. But the leagues believe automated systems could make games both fairer and faster.

In today’s newsletter, I’ll explain what this technology can do as well as the concerns that some league officials have about it.
 

Referees check an instant replay during an N.F.L. game.  Adam Hunger/Associated Press

State of the tools

Technology is built into the rules of professional sports. The N.F.L. requires instant-replay reviews of all scoring plays and turnovers to ensure that the calls are right.

That was on display on the final play of the season-opening game in Kansas City. The Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely caught a potential game-tying pass in the back of the end zone. But after a 90-second video review, officials determined that Likely’s toe was out of bounds, negating the pass and handing Kansas City the win.

It was an example of what technology does best in sports: help referees make a decision about an easily defined play. But it also highlighted one pitfall of the current system: For fans, that 90-second wait can feel a lot longer.

Automating those decisions would allow games to move more quickly. And for one sport, that has already happened at the highest level. Sony’s Hawk-Eye Live system, which for years allowed tennis players to challenge calls and see exactly where a shot had landed, has gotten so good that it now handles all the line calls at the U.S. Open and the Australian Open.

 

Holding the first down chain.  Mike Comer/Getty Images

On the horizon

America’s big professional sports leagues have not moved to automated refereeing yet, but most of them are testing their own systems.

Baseball appears to be nearing a major change. It has used a system that automatically determines whether a pitch is a ball or a strike in its minor leagues, across more than 8,000 games. The system could make its first appearance in the majors next year, when the league may test it during spring training.

The N.F.L. is also testing computerized officiating. This preseason, the league introduced cameras that help spot the ball after plays. The technology could mean the end of the chain gangs who run onto the field with two poles connected by a 10-yard chain to measure first downs.

And the N.B.A. is testing technology to automatically detect goaltending calls, which involves determining whether the ball was moving upward or downward when it was blocked.
 

The human element

When baseball began testing its automatic umpire system in the minor leagues, it introduced two variations. One determines balls and strikes on every pitch and notifies the umpire, who signals the result. The second variation, which uses the same technology, is called upon only when a pitcher, catcher or batter challenges an umpire’s call.

Umpires have been right on about half of those challenged calls. But players still said they preferred the challenge system to the automated one. Some said that challenges add a strategic element.

“Originally, we thought everybody was going to be wholeheartedly in favor” of the fully automatic calls, said Rob Manfred, the M.L.B. commissioner. But, he said, “players feel there could be other effects on the game that would be negative if you used it full-blown.”

Rich McKay, the chief executive of the Atlanta Falcons, leads the N.F.L.’s committee on game rules and had similar feelings about the potential for automated calls in football. “When you take the officiating out of the game and try to put it in a different place, I’m just nervous about what that leads to,” he said. “You’d have to rewrite all the rules.”

Won’t it be fun to watch football with a holding call on every play! 

[Mazrimiv]

Jesus... some rough stuff here

Patriots' Jabrill Peppers facing strangulation, drug charges

 

[Leader]

As part of a "routine" arrest for something like this, are the police allowed (without a warrant) to secure blood tests from the guy?  If so, I wonder what the results are.