It’s being reported that the NFL has declined requests for a replay of the final minutes of the NFC Championship game between the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints, stating such would cost over $100 million, and would necessitate rescheduling the Super Bowl.
I respectfully disagree.
Presented for your consideration is a plan that’s not only feasible, it’s an opportunity for you to do what should already have been done: ensure that the team that deserves to be in the Super Bowl, whichever that may be, earns that right fairly. It’s an opportunity to turn around an unfortunate situation which has tarnished the NFL’s image worldwide, and an even bigger opportunity for the League to demonstrate that integrity still matters.
Here’s the plan: Showdown in Atlanta, pre-Super Bowl Saturday.
The Los Angeles Rams already will be in town, thus eliminating all those travel and housing expenses. New Orleans Saints can fly in on Friday. Replay the end of the game in Atlanta’s Mercedes Benz Stadium Saturday morning or afternoon, allowing for the evening to reset in preparation for the next day’s game. (No need to fill the stadium, sell tickets, bring in staff to serve crowds–just teams, refs, coaches, maybe their families–keep it simple to minimize stadium impact and expenses.) Bring in a television network so the world can witness the showdown–it’s likely those ratings will rival those of Super Bowl Sunday. The commercial broadcast fees alone could offset the expenses.
Then the winner plays in the Super Bowl the next day. As it should be.
Granted, we know it’s not quite that simple. Nor is it the same as if the Saints had not been cheated out of their just due as a result of the admittedly failed “no call” play seen and heard round the world. This solution still deprives the Saints of the full Super Bowl experience they deserved, as most of the fans will not be able to travel and attend the game. But it’s a far better option than a total shutout and a permanent blemish on the reputation of the NFL, as many wonder what could have and should have been.
The world is watching.
And we, the Saints Nation, still believe.
