Mike Nolan- let the refs determine pass interference penalty.

[faba]

Nolan: Let the punishment fit the crime

ESPN.com news services

San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Nolan wants to see the NFL adopt a new pass interference rule that gives officials some leeway in handing out punishment.

Nolan's plan would let officials decide if a penalty should result in a 15-yard penalty or a harsher, spot of the foul penalty.

The current rules state that a defensive pass interference penalty rewards the offense with the ball at the spot of the foul or at the one yard line if the penalty happens in the end zone.

Nolan, a former defensive back, points out that with the subjectivity of pass interference calls, it pushes offensive coaches into calling plays that simply try to draw penalties.

"You'll see them drop back and throw it vertical," Nolan told northern California media outlets. "They'll overthrow the play; they just want the penalty."

Nolan appears to be passionate about the topic but so far doesn't expect the issue to get much traction.

According to ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli, the NFL's powerful competition committee discussed the pass interference proposal in Naples, Fla. The concept received a lukewarm reception from the committee, which means it probably doesn't have much chance of passing muster with the full league membership at the Phoenix meetings later this month.

"You can maim someone, and it's 15 yards," Nolan told northern California media outlets. "You can end someone's career, and it's 15 yards. Pass interference -- it's not a reflection of the severity of the crime. It's like getting the death penalty for going 75 mph in a 55 zone." ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli contributed to this report.

[madmike1]

The refs are bad enough without giving them another judgement call to make.

[PFSIKH]

Go with the college rule. 15 yards max with a spot foul for anything under 15.

The NFL's rule which is based on a subjective opinion is flat out stupid. Ellis Hobbs is called for face guarding, which is actually legal, and the Colts get 18 yards and a 1st down at the 1. A Colts defender who actually does the same thing and actually makes contact receives a no-call.

Go with the college and give them the ability, like with face mask penalties, to assess a 5 or 15 yard penalty depending on level of guilt.

[Sperm Edwards]

Go with the college rule. 15 yards max with a spot foul for anything under 15.

The NFL's rule which is based on a subjective opinion is flat out stupid. Ellis Hobbs is called for face guarding, which is actually legal, and the Colts get 18 yards and a 1st down at the 1. A Colts defender who actually does the same thing and actually makes contact receives a no-call.

Go with the college and give them the ability, like with face mask penalties, to assess a 5 or 15 yard penalty depending on level of guilt.

I agree. As much as I sympathize with madmike's opinion that the refs shouldn't have more judgment calls to make, in reality they have it already. But instead of a lower or higher PI call, they're calling it all-or-nothing. If they were consistent in calling it then it wouldn't matter as much, but we all know that they selectively call it (read: judgment calls) as it is now anyway. At least this would allow a "bad" PI call to not instantly change the entire game in the same manner.