The NFL is eyeing a new electronic system for measuring first downs without the use of a microchip, according to a report in The Washington Post.
The system would still rely on human officials spotting the football on the field before the electronic system measures if a first-down call is warranted. What’s more, the proposed system has already been tested in game conditions, according to the Post.
DailyMail.com has reached out to an NFL spokesman for confirmation.
The report comes after a controversial fourth-down ruling in the Kansas City Chiefs’ AFC Championship victory over the rival Buffalo Bills.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Bills were driving with a chance to extend a 22-21 lead. But after picking up one fourth-and-1 with a sneak, they tried another fourth-down conversion at the Kansas City 41.
Ultimately Allen was bottled up by the Chiefs’ Nick Bolton at the line of scrimmage, and the Chiefs took possession before driving 59 yards for a go-ahead touchdown. But to many fans – and CBS cameras – Allen appeared to have the first-down before being brought down by Bolton.
Unfortunately, there is no current technology being considered that would help determine forward progress. However, the NFL will engage its Competition Committee on technology to take virtual line-to-gain measurements next season.
The league tested Sony’s Hawk-Eye tracking services for virtual line-to-gain measurements in the preseason and in the background during the regular season. The optimal tracking system notifies officiating instantly if a first down was gained after the ball is spotted by hand.
The key word is ‘after.’
This technology replaces the chain measurement. The NFL has long used two bright orange sticks and a chain — the chain gang — to measure for first downs. That method would remain in a backup capacity.
‘What this technology cannot do is take the place of the human element in determining where forward progress ends,’ NFL executive Kimberly Fields told The Associated Press on Friday.
‘There will always be a human official spotting the ball. Once the ball is spotted, then the line-to-gain technology actually does the measurement itself. So I think it’s probably been a point of confusion around what the technology can and can’t do. There will always be a human element because of the forward progress conversation.’
Fields said an average of 12 measurements took place each week during the regular season. The new technology would’ve dropped the time spent to measure from 75 seconds to 35 seconds.
NFL balls have been equipped with Zebra microchips since 2017, powering the NFL’s Next Gen Stats data product. The chips are also affixed to players’ pads. They provide various data and metrics that help clubs, media and fans with player evaluation and analysis of team performance.
But these chips can’t determine where a player was tackled, whether a player is down by contact or which team gained possession of a loose ball to the precision necessary for officiating use.
