The NFL is thinking about changing the rules on pass interference, and while there are obvious flaws, this would be a move for the better.
No major league has more problems with the current rulebook than the National Football League. On what feels like a weekly basis, nobody can figure out what a catch is, or somebody is using a damn index card to determine if the first down was made.
With the NFL competition committee meeting this week, there’s plenty to keep them busy, and perhaps something most didn’t consider. According to Mark Maske of the Washington Post, the committee is toying with the notion of making pass interference a 15-yard penalty instead of a spot foul. If the interference is within 15 yards of the line of scrimmage, the penalty would be enforced where the infraction occurred.
While some will bemoan the notion with ideas of cornerbacks tackling would-be receivers downfield to save touchdowns, the rule would be a step forward. in recent years, far too many games have swung on ticky-tack pass interference calls that resulted on a 50-50 deep ball. Instead of putting a team into imminent scoring position, a 15-yard penalty would be assessed.
The yardage should still be enough to keep teams from getting overly aggressive in their defense of a receiver. The rule has been as such in college for years, and it has yet to take the big play out of the passing game.
By taking away the huge gain via penalty, the NFL is putting the onus on players a bit more instead of allowing a call to eat up a gigantic swatch of yardage. The next step is to define what the heck a catch is, something that is also being worked on throughout the meetings.
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If the NFL is ever going to take a positive step in terms of fixing the rules, simplicity is the right move. A catch should be obvious to everybody. The same should be said for interference calls, holding, illegal contact and so forth. The game is physical and so it demands some latitude, and constantly throwing a yellow flag only serves to slow the game and ruin the pace.
Hopefully the new pass interference rule goes through, and is followed closely by other, more well-defined changes.