The NFL "rejected the return of instant replay
Wednesday on the final day of the league's annual spring
meeting," according to Rick Gosselin of the DALLAS MORNING
NEWS. The final vote was 20-10, with the Cowboys,
Cardinals, Bills, Bears, Bengals, Chiefs, Giants, Jets,
Raiders and Bucs voting against the measure. The "cost of a
timeout" per replay challenge "made replay prohibitive in
some NFL minds" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/13). In New York,
Gary Myers notes Packers GM Ron Wolf spoke to Jets coach
Bill Parcells, but "was not able to sway him" to change his
vote on replay (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/13). In Baltimore, Vito
Stellino notes Parcells and Raiders Owner Al Davis provided
the "critical swing votes" (Baltimore SUN, 3/13). In Boston,
Ron Borges notes that "some proponents discussed the
possibility of amending the proposal before the final vote.
... but the members of the Competition Committee who drafted
the final proposal felt it was useless to amend it." Giants
GM/Competition Committee member George Young: "Our name is
not [Neville] Chamberlain. We're not in the appeasing
business. If we appease this group, it screws up something
else" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/13). Afterward, Eagles coach Ray
Rhodes was outspoken in his opposition to the Competition
Committee: "A lot of things need to be reviewed. ... Look at
that committee. See the guys trying to keep the game at a
standstill. Because there are guys trying to keep it at a
standstill" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 3/12).
REAX: In Boston, Ron Borges: "If the men who run the
National Football League had planned the D-Day invasion,
we'd all be speaking German this morning" (BOSTON GLOBE,
3/12). In Miami, Armando Salguero: "In the end, the NFL
found no compelling reason to resurrect replay" (MIAMI
HERALD, 3/13). In Detroit, Curt Sylvester: "The
complications and threat of sideline shenanigans outweighed
the potential benefits" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 3/13). In
L.A., T.J. Simers writes under the header, "Meetings Leave
Us Little To Celebrate. Analysis: On Further Review, NFL
Owners Blew Chance To Do Something For Good of Game" (L.A.
TIMES, 3/13).
FAST FORWARD ON REPLAY: USA TODAY's Gordon Forbes:
"Replay was left bruised and sagging and maybe without a
future in a sport more concerned with stadium problems, debt
service and new coaches" (USA TODAY, 3/12). ESPN's Chris
Mortensen: "It's been five years since replay was voted
out, and maybe another five years until it's voted on again"
("SportsCenter," ESPN, 3/12). Steelers Owner Dan Rooney:
"It's a dead issue. Dead, that is, for now" (N.Y. TIMES,
3/13). In New York, Gary Myers: "It may be gone forever"
(N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/12).
EMMITT, NOW HEAR THIS: NFL owners did approve a
Competition Committee recommendation that prohibits a player
from removing his helmet on the playing field during the
game. A 15-yard penalty would ensue for the violation.
Packers coach and Committee co-Chair Mike Holmgren said the
move was made to reduce "showboating and taunting"
(MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 3/13). Holmgren, who mentioned
his own team's actions in Super Bowl XXXI: "When a player
takes off his helmet and does all the things he does, we
felt it focuses too much on the individual, and that's
something we're not trying to sell our teams. We're trying
to sell teamwork" (Baltimore SUN, 3/13).
PIECES FROM PALM DESERT: The NFL discussed the proposed
financial and marketing agreement with the CFL (Gary
Picknell, TORONTO SUN, 3/13)....The N.Y. TIMES' Richard
Sandomir writes on L.A.'s chances of landing an NFL team.
Sandomir: "For Los Angeles, getting a team back is not going
to be easy." He notes NFL owners have "some doubts" about
the Coliseum group's "ability to finance" the $200-300M
stadium renovation. Sandomir: "Part of the league's doubt
about the group's financing is whether it puts too much of
an onus on an owner's contribution." The Coliseum group may
"also face legal challenges" from the Raiders' Al Davis, who
claims to control the L.A. market. Davis: "I'm saying this
very softly. We're a factor" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/12). Noting
the comments, the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE's Jerry Magee
writes "nothing Davis says should be dismissed as
preposterous" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 3/12)....In Tacoma,
John Clayton noted the approval of cross-ownership, adding
"to satisfy the league concerns that multiple sports owners
might not make football a business priority, prospective
owners must receive approval on a designated appointee to
vote on league matters" (Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE, 3/12).
