New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton says the NFL and its officials were not ready for pass interference challenges.
After significant blowback from a no-call during the NFC Championship Game (January 20, 2019) that, essentially costs the Saints the game against the Los Angeles Rams, the NFL decided that something needed to be done to prevent similar outcomes in the future. Several other alternatives were offered, but the league ultimately settled on being able to challenge pass interference on a play. However, with an incredibly low success rate for challenges, the new rule fizzled out and was dropped after one season.
In an interview with Jason LaCanfora and Ken Weinman on 105.7 The Fan in Baltimore, Saints Head Coach Sean Payton said the league wasn’t ready to handle the change.
“I think the theory behind it, and what the league voted on — and when I say the league, all 32 teams — certainly it had a chance to be successful,” Payton said. “But quite honestly, we weren’t ready in New York (at the league officiating center) to handle it. I know that sounds critical, but that’s just a fact.”
Payton said if the league wasn’t ready, they shouldn’t have done it.
Sean Payton also discussed the infamous “Bountygate” after recent revelations that former Pittsburgh Steeler, James Harrison said his coach Mike Tomlin gave him an envelope after a hard hit. Payton called “Bountygate” a sham and said he’d never truly get over it.
Hear the interview at the link below:
https://app.radio.com/Ve8jXZnAv6
