Pass interference in review

I set out to suggest that the NFL's policy that certain calls are not reviewable using instant replay is nonsensical. The rules are clear, I thought, even about roughing the passer and pass interference. Why can't the referee review those calls?

Then I looked at the NFL Digest of Rules. In particular, here is the section on pass interference:

1. There shall be no interference with a forward pass thrown from behind the line. The restriction for the passing team starts with the snap. The restriction on the defensive team starts when the ball leaves the passer's hand. Both restrictions end when the ball is touched by anyone.

2. The penalty for defensive pass interference is an automatic first down at the spot of the foul. If interference is in the end zone, it is first down for the offense on the defense's 1-yard line. If previous spot was inside the defense's 1-yard line, penalty is half the distance to the goal line.

3. The penalty for offensive pass interference is 10 yards from the previous spot.

4. It is pass interference by either team when any player movement beyond the offensive line significantly hinders the progress of an eligible player or such player's opportunity to catch the ball Offensive pass interference rules apply from the time the ball is snapped to the time the ball is touched Defensive pass interference rules apply from the time the ball is thrown until the ball is touched.

Actions that constitute defensive pass interference include but are not limited to:

(a) Contact by a defender who is not playing the ball and such contact restricts the receiver's opportunity to make the catch.
(b) Playing through the back of a receiver in an attempt to make a play on the ball.
(c) Grabbing a receiver's arm(s) in such a manner that restricts his opportunity to catch a pass.
(d) Extending an arm across the body of a receiver thus restricting his ability to catch a pass, regardless of whether the defender is playing the ball.
(e) Cutting off the path of a receiver by making contact with him without playing the ball.
(f) Hooking the receiver in an attempt to get to the ball in such a manner that it causes the receiver's body to turn prior to the ball arriving.

Actions that do not constitute pass interference include but are not limited to:

(a) Incidental contact by a defender's hands, arms, or body when both players are competing for the ball, or neither player is looking for the ball. If there is any question whether contact is incidental, the ruling shall be no interference.
(b) Inadvertent tangling of feet when both players are playing the ball or neither player is playing the ball.
(c) Contact that would normally be considered pass interference, but the pass is clearly uncatchable by the involved players.
(d) Laying a hand on the receiver that does not restrict the receiver in an attempt to make a play on the ball.
(e) Contact by a defender who has gained position on a receiver in an attempt to catch the ball.

Actions that constitute offensive pass interference include but are not limited to:

(a) Blocking downfield by an offensive player prior to the ball being touched.
(b) Initiating contact with a defender by shoving or pushing off thus creating a separation in an attempt to catch a pass.
(c) Driving through a defender who has established a position on the field.

Actions that do not constitute offensive pass interference include but are not limited to:

(a) Incidental contact by a receiver's hands, arms, or body when both players are competing for the ball or neither player is looking for the ball.
(b) Inadvertent touching of feet when both players are playing the ball or neither player is playing the ball.
(c) Contact that would normally be considered pass interference, but the ball is clearly uncatchable by the involved players.

Notes:
1: If there is any question whether player contact is incidental, the ruling should be no interference.
2: Defensive players have as much right to the path of the ball as eligible offensive players.
3: Pass interference for both teams ends when the pass is touched.
4: There can be no pass interference behind or at the line of scrimmage, but defensive actions such as tackling the receiver can still result in a 5-yard penalty for defensive holding if accepted.
5: Whenever a team presents an apparent punting formation, defensive pass interference is not to be called for action on the end man at the line of scrimmage, or an eligible receiver behind the line of scrimmage who is aligned or in motion more than one yard outside the end man of the line. Defensive holding, such as tackling the receiver, can still be called and result in a 5-yard penalty from the previous spot, if accepted. Offensive pass interference rules still apply.

And that's just the digest! Now, I understand why pass interference is not reviewable. Put all these rules together and what do you get? It's a judgment call!

In particular, consider the play that led to the game-ending interception in Monday night's contest between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Carolina Panthers. Jake Delhomme lobbed a pass to the corner of the endzone, intended for Keyshawn Johnson, that was intercepted by Lito Sheppard. The replay showed that Sheppard held Johnson up inside the endzone, and then pushed off and jumped backwards to catch the ball.

The line of scrimmage was the seven, and the ball was in the air, so it's clearly a case of pass interference, right? I thought so. But the rule digest says that "Contact by a defender who has gained position on a receiver in an attempt to catch the ball" is an example of an action that does not constitute pass interference. Well, Sheppard certainly had position, and he pushed off so that he, and not Keyshawn, could catch the ball. Case closed. It's allowed.

What?! No! Whatever that exception is supposed to mean, it can't possibly apply in this case, can it? No wonder the officials make so many mistakes. They've been asked to do an impossible job—enforce a mutually contradictory set of rules.