Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams
Getty
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay looks on against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game.
The Los Angeles Rams have a unique advantage, and it is tied directly to head coach Sean McVay.
McVay is a member of the NFL’s competition committee. The committee’s purpose is essentially to consider and agree upon which policies the league will implement each season, and there will be a key issue on the docket for discussion.
It cost the Rams dearly.
Rams’ Sean McVay Aiming for Major Reform
Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams
GettyLos Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay looks on before a game against the New Orleans Saints.
During the Rams’ loss to the Seattle Seahawks on “Thursday Night Football” in Week 16 this past season, a game that went to overtime, LA outside linebacker Jared Verse deflected Sam Darnold’s pass on a two-point conversion try.
However, it was a backward pass and not a fumble. Therefore, Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet was allowed to pick the ball up and continue for the scoring try.
That was after the whistle blew, noted CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, leading to the Rams’ push.
“The Rams plan to propose at least one rule change this offseason, sources say, and there may be a second proposal aimed at certain details around that play. Teams regularly submit rules proposals toward the start of the new league year, and many of those proposals come in around the time of next week’s NFL Scouting Combine,” Jones wrote on February 21.
“While the language remains unclear, one source with knowledge of the proposal(s) said the Rams’ goal is to ‘fix what went wrong in a few places.’”
Jones noted that he was told by the NFL in a statement that it is not unusual for communications with the broadcast to occur. In-game TV rules analyst Terry McAulay contacted the league regarding the play.
McAulay called it correctly in real-time, but it was a flashpoint for McVay and the Rams.
Sean McVay Upset After Seahawks Game
Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams
GettyLos Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay looks on against the Seattle Seahawks.
The Rams lost that game 38-37, and the No. 1 seed in the NFC right along with it, leaving McVay beside himself.
“I’ve never quite seen anything like what happened on the 2-point conversion, where you’re lined up to kick off, then they say it’s a fumble because they had the clear and obvious recovery. Now, you tack it on, you make it a 30-30 game. Very interesting. Didn’t get clear explanation of everything that went on, just because of some of the timing of it,” McVay said during his postgame press conference.
“I’ve never seen anything–or never been a part of–anything like that, and I’ve grown up around this game. I’m not making excuses. We don’t do that. I don’t believe in that. It doesn’t move us forward. But we do want clarity and an understanding of the things that we can do to minimize that when we rejected the 2-point conversion.”
McVay may not have used his seat on the NFL’s competition committee to get the rule brought up. It remains a significant underlying storyline. The situation appears headed for some discussion this offseason.
Sean McVay Reunites With Former Assistant
Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams
GettyLos Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay reacts before a game against the Seattle Seahawks.
McVay will see a new but still familiar face on the committee when they next convene. The NFL announced that Minnesota Vikings head coach and former Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell was added to the panel.
He joins, along with Houston Texans HC DeMeco Ryans, as a first-year member.
This will be McVay’s second season on the panel. It also includes Mike Vrabel (New England Patriots), Sean Payton (Denver Broncos), and Todd Bowles (Tampa Bay Buccaneers).
There are also owners and executives on the committee. So, it is not as though McVay would be able to push through whatever reform he wanted. Still, he has a greater opportunity than most coaches to influence the outcome of a potentially significant rules change.