Applied philosophy for children: An NFL do-over? (you know, for the kids)

This is part of a new series of blog posts on philosophy for children - far and away the biggest no-brainer in history - and I can't think of a better time for kid-accessible applied philosophy at the present time than the case of the worst no-call of all-time.  It has raised important ethical questions as to whether the Super Bowl is tainted.

In my earlier post I gave my reasons for regarding a Rams-[AFC Team] Super Bowl tainted due to the horrible officiating, and that the Rams in the name of honor and fair play should agree to a quick and easy do-over like the kids could figure out so easily in their street games.  They even admitted to cheating, so why not own up to that in action?  (Just resume it from where the game was assuming the play was called correctly, if the Saints score a touchdown they go the Super Bowl and if the Rams stop them they go.  The poor referee [I know, I've been there, but come on, man, ffs] even gets to save face.)

I mean, let's say the NFL asked the kids - their most important fan base, currently and long term (this sport is like pro wrestling but not all scripted; I liked both as a kid but outgrew only one of the two...), what they think the fair thing would be to do.  A do-over, right?

Should honor require the Rams to admit what getting away with a really significant cheat entails ethically, and to accept a do-over?  What do principles of justice and virtue (honor being among them) require here?  That would be a great exercise in getting the ball rolling in getting the kids to think philosophically.  Yes? :)

Oh, and wouldn't that be a lot better for the ratings (you know, for the adults)?  Not just the do-over, but the Super Bowl itself, which I and many others are planning as of now to avoid....

[In the posting queue: 'Ultimate Blogging tips: for Philosophers' ^_^ ]

Is the upcoming Super Bowl tainted?

It sure is, in my opinion.

The Rams were almost certainly put into the Super Bowl by shitty officiating.  Now here comes the moral question: if the Rams are honorable, shouldn't they concede the NFC slot in the Super Bowl to the Saints?  Just because the referee fucks up, making the most obviously shitty no-call of all time, that doesn't mean that the Rams just have to accept the non-decision, right?  They know they committed pass interference, so why do they think it's okay to get away with blatant cheating?  Can't exceptions to rigid rule-keeping be made when the injustice of their observance is so obvious in some cases?  Especially when the rules were so obviously contravened in this case?

What lesson is this supposed to say to the nation's youth?  Their soccer team gets screwed by a referee's call but then again remember how arguably the best team in football in 2019 was screwed by the refs, so suck it up, kids.  Something like that?  You want to breed cynicism into them?  Actually, don't the kids have a way of resolving such injustices -- a do-over?  They're setting a better example than the adults are, ffs.

So I guess there is by default a team to root for in the Super Bowl as is this year, the ones who aren't dishonorable cheaters, and that would be the AFC team.  Right?  Put the Saints in the Super Bowl as they deserve, and we've got a non-Patriots team to root for once again.  Drew Brees deserves the chance, and he had one of his fine on-target passes broken up by a cheating player who openly admits he should have been penalized.

C'mon, Rams and/or NFL, do the right thing.

ADDENDUM: Here's the fairest idea I can think of.  Give the Saints-Rams a do-over from the time and spot of the un-called foul.  Like just televised from a practice field or whatever, relatively quick and easy.  Then everyone's consciences can be clean.  Yes? :)

[Addendum #2 1/27/19: An updated version of the do-over idea is available here and integrated to the most overwhelmingly important topic at present, philosophy for kids.]