The proposal to bring back instant replay fell "two
votes shy of passage -- the seventh consecutive year it has
been voted down," according to T.J. Simers of the L.A.
TIMES. Owners in Orlando voted 21-9 on a plan that "would
have allowed coaches to challenge two calls a game -- each
unsuccessful challenge resulting in a lost timeout." Replay
needed 23 votes to pass. The Giants, Cardinals, Bills,
Bengals, Chiefs, Bears, Bucs, Chargers and Raiders all voted
against the measure, which proposed a one-year trial period.
A year ago replay lost 20-10, and in '92 it was defeated 17-
11. Packers VP/GM Ron Wolf: "Replay might have died today.
I would hate to think that, but the way it was presented
today with the modifications added, I don't think we're ever
going to see it." NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue: "I think
most everyone agree with the goal (of having instant
replay), but the disagreement comes in how to get there"
(L.A. TIMES, 3/26). Vikings Coach Dennis Green, a replay
supporter: "I know I'm not going to bring it up next year"
(N.Y. TIMES, 3/26). But in Baltimore, Vito Stellino writes
that replay proponents "aren't going to take no for an
answer." Redskins GM Charley Casserly: "We'll be lobbying
for Cleveland's vote next year" (Baltimore SUN, 3/26).
ORLANDO NOTES: Owners named New Orleans and San Diego
as the finalists for Super Bowl 2002. In San Diego, Barry
Bloom said San Diego was the early favorite as New Orleans
is facing a shortage of available hotel rooms (SAN DIEGO
UNION-TRIBUNE, 3/24). League President Neil Austrian told
owners that if Baltimore can bid for a Super Bowl, Redskins
Owner John Kent Cooke "wants consideration for one in his
stadium." But Colts Owner Jim Irsay said that he "doesn't
think the idea" of a cold-weather Super Bowl site without a
dome has much support, and called it "very much a long shot"
(Baltimore SUN, 3/26)...Among new rule changes: assistant
coaches can now "at least become aware of head coaching
opportunities while their team is in the playoffs through a
system in which the CEOs of the two teams involved handle
the direct contact" (Ron Borges, BOSTON GLOBE, 3/26).
