[CBFF] Nolan: Let the punishment fit the crime

[Steve Behrens]

I agree 100% with Vic.  It's a tough enough call to make as it is, but at
least the defender knows that if he interferes in any way, what the
consequences are.

-Behr


On 3/19/07, Victor Waldron <victor19 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Common sense perhaps, but do you really want more subjectivity added to
> the
> calls officials make? The 5 versus 15-yard face mask penalties are fairly
> easy to differentiate, but I see problems trying to apply the same idea to
> pass interference. It would open the door to a lot more controversial
> calls.
>
> That said, I agree with it in principle, but I think implementation would
> be
> problematic.
>
> V
>
> On 3/19/07, Jerry Madsen <jerrywm at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Let's hope that common sense prevails and the league adopts Nolan's
> > proposal.
> >
> > Jerry
> >
> > -----------------------------------------
> >
> > Updated: March 19, 2007, 10:49 AM ET
> > Nolan: Let the punishment fit the crime
> > ESPN.com news services
> >
> > San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Nolan wants to see the NFL adopt a
> > new pass interference rule that gives officials some leeway in handing
> > out punishment.
> >
> > Nolan's plan would let officials decide if a penalty should result in
> > a 15-yard penalty or a harsher, spot of the foul penalty.
> >
> > The current rules state that a defensive pass interference penalty
> > rewards the offense with the ball at the spot of the foul or at the
> > one yard line if the penalty happens in the end zone.
> >
> > Nolan, a former defensive back, points out that with the subjectivity
> > of pass interference calls, it pushes offensive coaches into calling
> > plays that simply try to draw penalties.
> >
> > "You'll see them drop back and throw it vertical," Nolan told the
> > Sacramento Bee. "They'll overthrow the play; they just want the
> > penalty."
> >
> > Nolan appears to be passionate about the topic but so far doesn't
> > expect the issue to get much traction.
> >
> > According to ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli, the NFL's powerful
> > competition committee discussed the pass interference proposal in
> > Naples, Fla. The concept received a lukewarm reception from the
> > committee, which means it probably doesn't have much chance of passing
> > muster with the full league membership at the Phoenix meetings later
> > this month.
> >
> > "You can maim someone, and it's 15 yards," Nolan told the paper. "You
> > can end someone's career, and it's 15 yards. Pass interference -- it's
> > not a reflection of the severity of the crime. It's like getting the
> > death penalty for going 75 mph in a 55 zone."
> >
> > ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli contributed to this report.
> >
> > --
> > http://bloggeddrain.typepad.com/thedrain
> >
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