During the Rams-Seahawks game, there was a questionable placement by the line judge that was challenged by Seattle Coach Pete Carroll. Both ball placement and line judge were on the opposite side of the official first-down chains. As a result, they had to carry the chain across the field for a measurement. Why aren’t there two sets of first-down chains on the field? The games are long enough as it is.

Jim Singh, La Mesa, Calif.

Farmer: For readers who don’t know, there are seven people on a chain crew. Four work on the same side of the field as the head linesman, who oversees them, then they all switch to the other side after halftime. There’s a three-person auxiliary crew on the other sideline, but the official measurements are never made by that trio. The main reason that the official measurement is kept on only one side of the field is it would be too difficult to consistently synchronize both sides.

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