I'm thinking of that clip where they use the chains for measurement, ball is at least 6" from the stick, then the head ref picks up the fb to move it that distance & claims 1st down.

Don't know what happened with that guy's officiating career.

LSU82Cajun•2 months

Musk is working on robots like in the Terminator movies. Just need two ( across the field from each other)no chain . They would come with a AI enhancements , also would change colors & keep a beam across the playing field . Players will also be implanted to with a Neuralink brain chip technology to help enhance decision making, correct angle of pursuit etc.

POTUS2024•2 months

Maybe we can get rid of everything that uses humans. Hell, just have AI give us simulated games.

NPComb•2 months

Video games have done that since Joe Montana football.

skidmark•2 months

How would they mark the scrimmage and 1st down lines for the players to see?

VoxDawg•2 months

Put a chip in the ends of the ball.

cajunmud•2 months

I mean...c'mon...we have self-driving 18-wheelers.

saints5021•2 months

I worked on a chain gang and they are never exactly 10 yards. And the spot of the chain is based on where the down marker is, which is spotted based on where the line judge is standing. You probably have .5 to 1 yard variance everytime a team gets a new set of downs.

tigermenard•2 months

with the technology thats available...it always seems ridiculous that the NFL relies on eyes and video replays to tell if the ball has crossed the goal line.

MeanWeen225•2 months

You mean no more overweight 70 year olds that are out of breath from jogging from the sideline to the line of scrimmage?

jgoodw318•2 months

SCREW that! While technology is good in some instances, there are some things that more technology takes away from the game. This is one of those instances. Keep the chain gangs. Why take it away for the sake of taking it away? It’s not hurting the game in any way and the excitement of the chains coming out for a measurement on a big 4th down is still there.

TheWalrus•2 months

The thing I never understood is if they know the exact spot of the line of scrimmage when they measure, couldn’t they eyeball exactly ten yards? Or how do we know the initial chain is in the right spot? Always seemed like it was for show.

southernboisb•2 months

I don't see why not. We already have video replays that can reverse calls in sports.

Not to mention several sports video clips where movement of the chains, spotting of the ball, & correct down have been incorrect.

It's interesting how people say they like the human aspect of sports (UNLESS calls are favorable for the other team).