NFL announced that they will be getting additional help by recruiting 17 more full-time officials for next year. Troy Vincent, NFL's Vice President for Football Operations announced that they are planning to increase the officiating crew during games from seven to eight this offseason.
"The league is already receiving input from coaches, general managers and owners," said Vincent. "Hiring full-time officials and discussions to expand replay reviews are the top the agenda of the NFL's competition committee, which is scheduled to meet in February following the Super Bowl."
According to ESPN, NFL doesn't have full-time officials. Some of them have 'day' jobs during the week and other have offseason jobs. This seems ridiculous as they are the only league that doesn't employ full-time officials that will focus only in officiating the game and improving their calls.
Hiring more official will definitely improve the game. There will be additional eye to watch the interior defensive line penalties and the hits to the quarterback which in the past were commonly overlooked. During offseasons full-time officials will then attend training to improve the consistency of their calls in the field.
"We can pay these guys. There should be full-time NFL officials, and they should be working throughout the week, communicating," said New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton. "These guys all have other significant jobs and I just think it will be very difficult for them to focus with the speed of the game."
In other report by ESPN, technology will be the best option for NFL in terms of improving the calls. With our current replay cameras playing on slow motion and from different angles, officiating professional leagues will be much easier. It will be more efficient if officials will have access to the same footage TV viewers have to make up for their limited vision in the field.
Nothing is certain as nothing is set on stone yet. The competition committee will have to meet in February next year to discuss the matter including other issues.
