By Nic Sgaggi
Stampeders.com

Glen Johnson, Canadian Football League vice-president of officiating, visited McMahon Stadium on Friday to discuss the proposed rule changes and officiating objectives for the 2014 season.

After a lengthy meeting with the Stampeders’ coaching staff, Johnson took some time to address the media and explain exactly which rules are being examined and why.

Johnson indicated that the CFL could see a number of rule changes for the 2014 season covering such items as peel-back blocks, the distance a lineman must be from the line of scrimmage at the snap and quarterbacks having a chance to choose the footballs used in games.

However, perhaps the most controversial issue in question is the potential new rule which would allow a coach to challenge defensive pass interference calls and non-calls.

“This is the penalty we’ve had the most trouble being accurate with,” said Johnson. “We can move the ball 20, 30, 40 yards downfield. (We can even) put the ball on the one-yard line, so when we did our research based on our data and our game, it came out as the one that made the most sense to try.”

One concern pertaining to this potential rule change is the possible over-use of the challenge flag, but when asked, Johnson pointed out there would be no change in the number of challenges a team receives.

Johnson voiced his support for the new rule, admitting that referees do sometimes get it wrong.

“We want the (integrity of the) game protected,” he said. “We make mistakes, we understand that, and if we can have one of our mistakes corrected, it certainly helps us and makes us feel better as well.”

Having previously visited Montreal, Winnipeg and Regina, Calgary is the fourth stop of Johnson’s nation-wide tour in light of the potential rule changes. His goal is to make sure every team in the league is on the same page.

The CFL board of governors will vote whether or not to pass the proposed rule changes for the 2014 season on Thursday.