Flags will keep on flying once regular season begins

Written by Luis Sung | Twitter: @FLSportDebater
If there's one thing that no viewer wants to see in an NFL game, it's an abundance of penalty flags on the field. During the duration of this year's preseason so far, we have seen just that. Penalties have seen an almost 50% rise so far, as referees are making it a point to enforce new rules regarding contact down the field. There was hope that since it was preseason, the calls were much stricter than they would be in the regular season. Well, NFL Vice President of Officiating Dean Blandino has just sent that hope flying out the window. 

“We’re not going to change how we’re calling the games once the regular-season starts." Blandino said to the MMQB. “The way the game’s being officiated now is the way it’s going to be officiated when the season begins. We have to remain consistent. I knew we’d see a spike in calls when we put out these points of emphasis. But coaches adjust, and players adjust. They have to, and they know it. And we’ll correct our officials when we feel they’re being over-zealous with certain calls."

So Blandino expects the players and coaches to adapt to the new rules. Hopefully they will and very soon, because as it stands there has been a severe lack in entertaining football due to the almost insane amount of calls. The Miami Dolphins game against the Buccaneers seemed to not have that many, which is good, but there will surely be necessary adjustments to be made, and hopefully they will make them before the regular season begins.

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