Facemask penalties could be subject to replay assistance next season, NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent told reporters on Wednesday during the December League Meeting.
Facemask penalties, which currently are not subject for review, have been under scrutiny this season following a number of notable missed calls, particularly during prime-time games.
Officials appeared to miss a facemask call in the fourth quarter of Monday’s Bengals-Cowboys game when a Dallas defender grabbed Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow‘s facemask and twisted his helmet on a strip sack. Earlier this season, an apparent facemask call was missed when a Rams defender grabbed Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold‘s helmet on the final drive of Minnesota’s eventual loss to Los Angeles.
Vincent on Wednesday acknowledged that the position of refs and the speed of the game can make officiating facemask calls difficult in real time on the playing field, which is why an assist from New York could be beneficial.
“Concerning yes, because that’s a big miss — that’s a big foul,” Vincent said. “We would like to consider — or for the membership to consider — putting that foul category that we can see, putting that on the field to help because there is a frustration. We believe that is one category that we can potentially get right.”
The league historically has been hesitant to have subjective plays be reviewable — pass interference was reviewable for only the 2019 season — and the NFL has never allowed replay to determine there was a penalty when one was not called on the field.
Making facemask fouls, which carry a 15-yard penalty, reviewable would change that precedent.