The NFL is constantly getting feedback from coaches, players, executives and even fans on how to improve officiating.
But if there's one common thought, it's that we don't necessarily need to drastically improve officiating, we just need the transparency to better. We want to know why officials are making certain calls. We want to know their thought processes and their procedures. Far too much of officiating feels in the dark and hard to understand.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton thinks it's going to change for the better.
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The Denver Broncos head coach is predicting that the NFL will adopt a UFL-style of officiating transparency.
Payton believes that we'll be able to hear what officials are saying and have them mic'd up during reviews. It's something the UFL has embraced and it's worked out great for the league.
“And I think every once in a while the benefit of this other league we have, I think quite honestly it’s been helpful for our league,” Payton recently told Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom.com. “Every once in a while you see something you like, and I think Dean Blandino and his crew, when we kick live right to the booth review, I think that’s healthy. And I think you’ll see that in the next two or three years in our league.”
Payton thinks the NFL will adopt the same processes
Payton thinks that with everything going on, from better TV broadcasts to sports gambling, the league will embrace more transparency.
“I definitely think you’ll see that coming,” Payton said. “I think it’s healthy, and it’s certainly comforting for the fan when you can see how they arrive at decisions. And I think it’s fair, especially to the officials and the people doing the review, to see what we arrived at.”
Payton certainly isn't alone in that kind of thinking. Hopefully, the league will take his word for it.
