NFL Football: “Eye-in-the-Sky”

[Teach]

They look like ball-turrets on a B-17. Only, they’re called: “Eye-in-the-Sky.” They’re arrayed, everywhere, overhead, a 360-degree field of vision. If you’ve ever been to a casino, you’ve obviously seen them. Just look up. You can’t see those working up there behind the scenes, but they can certainly see you. I’ve been told that those “upstairs” can see those tables – if they decide to zoom in - as if they were looking at them through a microscope.
Why do I cite this? My post has really nothing to do with casino gambling; it has everything to do with professional football.

I bring this up because of my concern about how effective referees are in making calls at football games. The AFC and NFC Championship games evidenced that.

My point: “Wouldn’t judging plays from ‘upstairs’ with many camera-angles be more effective than line-of-sight referees who might (the operative word is might), in some cases, have subconscious (ones they may not even be aware of) reasons for making certain calls.” In some cases, the ref may not have had the best view (they may have been screened). They can’t be making “assumption” calls. In those cases, they’re making calls based on what they think has happened. There must be a better way!

I bring this up because of the proliferation of legalized sports betting. As many of us on this forum know, for years and years, Las Vegas was the only game in town when it came to making a legal sports bet. Yet today, several states, e.g., New Jersey, Rhode Island, Delaware, etc. have legalized sports betting. And, there are many other states “waiting in the wings”.

As I rotate back: There’s gotta be a better way! I believe that you take the refs off the field. Yes, take the refs off the playing field! Put them up in an enclosed booth(s) high atop the stadium. In that booth, there would be the latest in technological equipment. There would be a minimum of a dozen cameras trained on every aspect of the game, i.e., line-of-scrimmage.
If there is need for review, instead of getting under the hood and looking for someone in New York to make the call, let the in-stadium cameras make the decision. This avoids the needless delays that “kill” the game’s continuity, and possibly its outcome.

For example, Did Julian Edelman’s finger touch (brush) the football? If the NFL had the “eye-in-the sky” cameras, I believe that could have conclusively determined that factor. In fact, you can have an electrode imbedded into the football that would conclusively determine if even the slightest touch had made contact with the football.

Personally, I believe the NFL, when it comes to replay, is living in “the horse ‘n’ buggy” era. So much more can be done. I say this: (1) in light of some very controversial calls that affected the outcome of both championship games, and (2) in light of the proliferation of legalized sports gambling. I believe the wagering public demands the very best in surveillance that is technologically possible. Otherwise, the wagering public, and football fans, in general, may throw up their collective hands and say: “Enough is enough. No more!”

[Teach]

Corpus Deliciti

No corpse, but o how obvious it was how the refs can "steal" a game. In the Saints vs. Rams game: (1) the cheap-shot, helmet-to-helmet hit by the Rams linebacker, Cory Littleton, on Saints tight-end, Josh Hill. This was no hit; it was an "assassination." Littleton was not even penalized, let alone tossed out of the game for that flagrant infraction. Is football becoming the "hit squad"?

The other, an obvious pass-interference call, that was not called (talk about changing the complexion of the game). The Rams Nickell Robey-Coleman levels the Saint's receiver, Tommylee Lewis inside the 5-yard line. Blatant. Flagrant. So obvious that my 9-year old grandson could have made that call.

Rule #1: When it comes to defensive pass-intereference: "You Must Be Playing The Ball!" You just can't run over the intended receiver. Robey-Coleman made no attempt to play the ball. No linen. No flag. Nothing. Game-changer. The refs let the Rams back into the game!

Tangentially, when I was a high school teacher, I had a colleague who was the soccer coach. His frequent comment was: "Don't let the refs decide this game!"

"Eye-in-the-Sky," anybody?

[ultracapper]

A dozen cameras? Heck, they have film of all 22 players isolated already.

[sammy the sage]

Despite all this nashing of teeth over these games....Baseball is BLATANTLY worse...

[Greyfox]

The Saints, and a lot of money for their team, was robbed by the blatant non-call.
Had the call been made the Saints could have ran the clock down to almost the 4 second mark and kicked the field goal.
LA most likely would have lost.
Robbed, I say, robbed!!

[davew]

Originally Posted by Greyfox

The Saints, and a lot of money for their team, was robbed by the blatant non-call.
Had the call been made the Saints could have ran the clock down to almost the 4 second mark and kicked the field goal.
LA most likely would have lost.
Robbed, I say, robbed!!

I agree … the bettors should file a class action lawsuit against the NFL for their losses.

[therussmeister]

Originally Posted by davew

I agree … the bettors should file a class action lawsuit against the NFL for their losses.

https://www.apnews.com/654c9e86a53442738b22bb47e27a74b5

[Teach]

As posted by therussmeister, the AP photo shows how blatant the pass-interference foul was. No attempt, whatsoever, to play the ball. What catches my attention is that the the sideline ref can't be more than five yards away. A clear, unobstructed view.

All this could open up "a can of worms". As cited in the article, a bookmaking outfit, Points Bet, had initially talked about refunding wagers on the Saints v. Colts game. Now they've decided to go the route of "bonus bets," not cash payouts.

I'll tell you one thing: NFL must clean up its act when it comes to officiating or you're going to see class-action lawsuits by the dozen (Especially, when the NFL, in their infinite wisdom, admits that the officials blew the call). There is no excuse. Not in this day and age. We may see TV ads that read: "Were you 'jocked' by a bad call in an NFL game? Call this toll-free number." I ask: "Are the floodgates about to open?"