Former NFL head coach Jon Gruden thinks the NFL should get rid of instant replay altogether.
Over recent years, replay in the NFL has been a widely controversial topic. With everything eligible up for review in the game these days, it means that there’s often lengthy delays and if not worse, bad calls still made on the field despite their being replays.
It’s an imperfect system with a lot of flaws and it has created almost as many questions as it has solved problems. While replays are a necessary component get things right, there are some people that have had enough of instant replay and want to get rid of it entirely.
ESPN Monday Night Football color commentator and former NFL head coach, Jon Gruden, is one of those people that would like to see the NFL get rid of instant replay entirely.
Speaking to Men’s Fitness, Gruden discussed what he would do with replay.
"“I would eliminate all of it,” Gruden said. “Everything’s disputed now. Was he inbounds? Was it a turnover? It’s taken the juice out of the stadium. There are too many timeouts. Let the people on the field officiate and hold them accountable. Look, there’s going to be some bang-bang plays that have to be officiated. And who’s going to make the decision? The instant replay man in New York City?”"
While Gruden’s idea to eliminate replay would never hold up or be voted on, it is easy to see why he is not a big fan of replay. He was on the wrong side of the infamous “Tuck Rule” and that moment has lasted with the league and Gruden ever since the controversial call.
However, leaving it up to the refs without replay to decide what is right is even more dangerous. That’s just asking for trouble and losses to occur because of bad calls on the sideline.
Replays are by no means a perfect system, but they can definitely be improved upon so things aren’t as bad as they currently are or were.