Goodell addresses NFC title game controversy: 'Our officials are human'

Ten days after the NFC Championship Game, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the contest's controversial pass interference no-call that helped the Los Angeles Rams advance to the Super Bowl.

The commissioner said he empathized with the New Orleans Saints' anger, but stressed there are no easy answers.

"We understand the frustrations of the fans. ... But we also know our officials are human," Goodell said Wednesday in his end-of-season address, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. "They have to make snap decisions under difficult circumstances and they're not going to get it right every time."

Goodell wouldn't divulge specifics from his conversations about the no-call with Saints head coach Sean Payton and owner Gayle Benson, but admitted it was a play where pass interference "should be called," according to Jonathan Jones of Sports Illustrated.

The commissioner also said the league will evaluate how to improve the replay system, though he didn't go into detail.

When asked whether he considered restarting the game after the missed pass interference penalty, Goodell said, "Absolutely not," according to Larry Holder of The Athletic.

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