NFL replay review system sucks life out of game

September 14, 2009
CHRIS ZELKOVICH
thestar.com

When it comes to creating a compelling television product, most pro sports leagues look to the NFL for inspiration.

After all, the league that used television to become the success it is today usually gets it right. So why is it that the great NFL can't figure out a replay review system that doesn't send viewers screaming from their living rooms in boredom? The NHL, CFL, tennis and baseball have figured out how to keep these things to a couple of minutes or less. But the NFL, with all its resources and expertise, manages to turn a challenge into a mini-series.

Two challenges during the league's first Sunday illustrated perfectly how the NFL system can suck the life out of any game.

The Cleveland-Minnesota game was clicking along when the Vikings challenged a Braylon Edwards touchdown reception. Over the next six minutes – six minutes! – viewers were treated to the following:

• A series of replays showing Edwards being pushed out of bounds before he caught the pass.
• Two minutes of commercials.
• Close-ups of several coaches, players, officials and fans.
• Fox commentators Brian Billick and Thom Brennaman telling viewers the touchdown was good. 
• Billick calling the challenge a ``lose-lose" for Minnesota.
• Billick and Brennaman deciding it might not be a touchdown after Brennaman explained the rule, which might indicate why Billick is announcing instead of coaching.

By the time officials finally decided that the touchdown didn't count, viewers had lost six full minutes of their lives they'll never get back. You had to wonder if the guys in the replay booth didn't stop for coffee while reviewing the play. Amazingly, Brennaman thought it appropriate to praise the officials and replay booth for getting it right. Right is good. Fast would have been better. So would a Slap Chop infomercial.

Even more amazing was a challenge in the St. Louis-Seattle game. After the Rams blocked a field goal and returned it for a touchdown, there was a challenge because somebody noticed there were 12 Rams on the field. Since this wasn't the CFL, that's not allowed.

So how long do you think it takes to count to 12? I'm figuring 12 seconds if you count using the traditional one-Mississippi rule, double that if you count twice to be sure. Apparently NFL officials use another method as counting to 12 took almost four minutes.

That was enough time for Fox to show four different shots of the Rams formation, complete with computer-generated numbers, all of which showed 12 guys lining up for the kick.I don't know what happened after that, because I changed channels. No doubt many others did, too.