My 2 cents
1. Your IR idea is logical, in that it gets the ref off the hook, but kind of unworkable. It would mean adding ANOTHER 70 odd officials to the payroll. Also going to a committee to get a decision is RARELY a good idea. I'm all for doing what's necessary to speed up the process. That's where IR improvement ideas should focus. BTW. One idea to get the ref off the hook, would be to for him to select the best view of the play (the one that made up his mind one way or the other) and let the fans see it. Most of the time they DO get it right.
2. I have a number of thoughts on rule changes in the passing game. type calls.
a. First is illegal contact. The rule SHOULD state that its only illegal to contact the WR passed 5 yds....IF the defender IMPEDES the receiver from running his route. Incidental contact or touch fouls WOULDN'T be called.
b. I also agree with the 2 PI levels, except that any PI should come with a 1st down. I say the refs have to make judgments all the time, this added one shouldn't be a burden. The punishment should fit the crime.
c. ENFORCE the "uncatchable ball" rule (if its still a rule) Too often the offense is rewarded even though its a bad throw.
d. absolutely agree on the face guarding, though I think the league took care of that, and its no longer a penalty.....I think
3. I'm OK with the current OT. However if they asked me, I'd eliminate the KO and winner of the coin toss has to start on their own 20. The other thought would be that to you have to win by 4 points in OT. That would encourage more teams to play for a TD and make it much more likely that both teams would get to pay offense.
While my 2nd idea is a fairer way to play the OT, it will never happen because its in the owners and players best interest to limit the number of plays in a game for the players protection and having to win by 4 would lengthen OTs
4. The NFL talks about trying to take arbitrary judgment out of the game for refs, then introduces the "taunting" call, which is ENTIRELY a judgment call. The punishment RARELY fits the crime.
5. Half the distance to the goal should only be enforced inside the 15. Otherwise take the full yardage....but mostly I don't care.
6. Now understand, I come from an era when you could legally hit a QB 2 full strides AFTER he got rid of the ball. A time when as an OLB, my favorite move covering a back out of the backfield was the clothesline. It was also a time when, if your CB didn't warn you, the "crack back" could literally CRACK your back. I'm not looking for any of those rules to be put back. However I would like to see incidental contact to the QB's head NOT be called roughing. QBs have hard hats too, and it would take quite an OBVIOUS blow to cause any damage to the QB. However most of the stuff the DO call, is BS, that the QB barely feels.
Than being said I am all for the "Brady rule" Going low on a QB SHOULD be called. That call on Brady was the RIGHT one. The guy was clearly going for his knees. He shouldn't get off just because he almost missed.
Here are a couple that haven't been mentioned
1. More spearing calls. If they called this penalty more not only would there be fewer injuries, to both offensive and defensive players, the quality of tackling would improve. If you aren't hitting with your facemask and the forehead of the helmet, it should be a foul. If I had my way guys who tackle with heads down would be flagged for gross stupidity.
2. I noticed this one for the first time over the last few weeks. On at least 2 occasions that I saw TDs were awarded to the offense even though the ball never made it across the plane of the GL. Though the ball never made it across the plane, the player had a foot in the endzone when they caught the ball.
Now I have a problem with this since they DO allow TDs when the ball crosses the plane, even though the player himself never makes it into the endzone. Thats always been a pet peeve of mine. I'd like to see a time when a touchdown means what it says. That at least some part of the player "touches down" in the endzone....not just the ball.