NEW ORLEANS – With a microchip embedded in players’ shoulder pads, it’s possible to track that a receiver hit speeds over 20 miles per hour while sprinting into the end zone.

This is all thanks to technology.

Every NFL stadium is equipped with at least 30 cameras, thoroughly monitoring every inch of the field. Even the football contains microchips at both ends that can swiftly inform officials, through a wrist device akin to a smartwatch, of precisely where a punt went out of play.

Technology is ever-present.

Additionally, the league employs an AI system for detecting unusual betting patterns, which might hint at potential biases from officials or a possible financial interest in a certain team, allowing the NFL to investigate further.

This is technology as well.

However, when viewers at home, along with TV analysts, frustrated coaches, and passionate fans, collectively believe that a quarterback – imagine Buffalo’s Josh Allen – truly converted that crucial fourth-and-inches attempt, the issue remains…

Technology does not resolve everything.

“It’s complicated,” remarked Roger Goodell on Monday afternoon.

The NFL commissioner addressed media questions for 48 minutes inside the Saints’ locker room, kicking off Super Bowl week. He was expectedly grilled about how the NFL plans to enhance its officiating processes to prevent mistakes like the controversial calls that marred the Chiefs’ win over the Bills in the AFC Championship.

Integrity is key. If the NFL aims to diminish (or at least manage) the perception that teams like the Chiefs might receive preferential treatment from referees – which Goodell termed a “ridiculous theory” – it can leverage technology to better clarify contentious decisions.

Goodell seems open to improving this aspect – and he’s likely hoping that Super Bowl 59 won’t bring its own set of controversies as the Eagles face the Chiefs for a bid for a third consecutive title at the Superdome.

“We want to employ technology to assist officials in making accurate calls,” he stated.

He highlighted the advantages of the league’s “replay assist” program, which allows officials back at headquarters to swiftly make obvious call rulings, enabling coaches to conserve their timeouts and keep the game flowing smoothly. He also anticipates that other plays, like facemask violations, might be managed through “replay assist.”

Nonetheless, Goodell displayed caution regarding the use of Sony’s Hawk-Eye system, employed for virtual line-to-gain measurements, to definitively determine whether Allen (or another player) gained the necessary first down.

He pointed out that the shape of “The Duke” (the official NFL football) plays a role in this consideration.

In short: while more technological integration is on the horizon, it may not address the confusion from the AFC Championship game.

Kimberly Fields, senior vice president of football operations, shared with YSL News Sports on Monday that, pending advice from the competition committee, technology might see increased use next season in line-to-gain instances.

However, similar to Goodell, she specified that human judgment will still play a role in assessing where to spot the football. In other words, after the ball’s position is determined by officials, technology can then be applied to ascertain if the first down was actually achieved.

This isn’t as straightforward as the computer-generated graphics that determine whether a tennis serve falls inside the lines.

“Unlike tennis, we have moving body parts, arms and legs involved, making it hard to pinpoint where the ball is,” Fields explained, referencing scenarios such as a pileup or the Eagles’ effective “Tush Push.”

If you think the chain crew is becoming obsolete, think again. Even if the NFL advances to leveraging technology post-ball spotting, Fields assured that “the chain crew will always have a part to play. You still require backup plans to support technology.”

Since 2017, the NFL has utilized footballs embedded with Zebra microchips, enabling the data used for advanced metrics like Next Gen Stats, which has long been a foundational component.

Nonetheless, it can be somewhat exasperating or perplexing for viewers who see first-down markers projected on their screens yet realize that the on-field officials are adhering to a different standard.

The tests conducted throughout the preseason and selected regular-season games were crucial for moving towards the integration of more technology.

“You have to get it right when implementing it,” Goodell emphasized.

Fields noted that the data collected this season, including the preseason, answered vital questions. Testing showed that the average time taken for 12 line-to-gain measurements across the league dropped from 75 seconds to just 35 seconds with the new technology.

“It’s all about the process,” Fields added. “This definitely validated that.”

She also confirmed that technology achieved 100% accuracy in determining where punts went out of bounds.

Still, the human element will always be a part of officiating.

This aspect can intensify suspicions, particularly against the backdrop of expanding legalized gambling, a shift for the NFL that once shunned any connection with the betting industry.

Despite the league’s immunity from officiating scandals seen in other sports, concerns about conspiracy theories could easily resurface with a single mismanaged call. Moreover, the NFL, which once distanced itself from gambling, now forges close connections with the industry.

It was purely coincidental that while Goodell defended the integrity of the NFL’s officials, Major League Baseball imposed a ban on an umpire for violating gambling rules.

Goodell wasn’t questioned about that MLB incident or the ethics concerning his officials, but he made sure to assert the credibility of NFL officiating crews while hinting that the league is vigilant. Just in case.

“Our officials undergo evaluation through various channels,” Goodell stated. “Not solely based on their performance on the field, but also considering aspects of their personal lives. We keep a close watch on this in multiple ways.”

After all, the NFL is still a long way from utilizing robots.