In the aftermath of Monday night’s Patriots-Panthers games, the obvious question is whether the NFL will make any changes.
The most immediate change involves no change at all.
Per a league source, officials have received a “strong reminder” to explain unusual situations via the microphone provided to each referee (i.e., the guy in the white hat).
The league previously has acknowledged to PFT that referee Clete Blakeman “absolutely” should have said more to explain the decision to pick up a flag that had been thrown for pass interference.
The league also has informed the officiating supervisors that, when an unusual call or non-call happens at the end of a game, an explanation should be obtained from the referee and provided to the coach who was on the wrong end of the call or non-call. The league prefers that the explanation not be provided by the referee on the field, in the presence of dozens of cameras and microphones and players who may be inclined to drop an “F” bomb or three.