NFL owners voted 28-3 yesterday to reinstate a
conditional version of instant replay for the '99-2000
season, which features a "coach's challenge" system. The
Bengals, Cardinals and Jets voted against the proposal. The
move garnered a front-page story in the N.Y. TIMES by Thomas
George, who details the new replay initiative (N.Y. TIMES,
3/18). In Baltimore, Vito Stellino describes the new plan
as "Replay Lite," because it is designed "not to correct
most bad calls, but only the calls that can turn around a
game" (Baltimore SUN, 3/18). In Charlotte, Scott Fowler
writes that "it's not a perfect system, but it's a lot
better than nothing" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 3/18).
MUSINGS FROM THE BILTMORE: Owners "passed a resolution"
moving the 2003 Super Bowl from San Francisco "until a later
date" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 3/18). In Miami, Armando
Salguero writes that the NFL "invited" South FL and San
Diego to enter bids for the 2003 Super Bowl (MIAMI HERALD,
3/18)....In Chicago, Michael Sneed writes that Bulls/White
Sox Chair Jerry Reinsdorf was "spotted" at the owners'
meetings on Monday. Sneed: "Is Reinsdorf going to play a
role in building a new Chicago Bears stadium?" (CHICAGO SUN-
TIMES, 3/18)....In Dallas, Frank Luksa credits the owners
for not rotating the Thanksgiving Day game among its 31
teams, and writes that the league handled the proposal with
"the respect it deserved. They buried it" (DALLAS MORNING
NEWS, 3/18). Lions Vice Chair Bill Ford, Jr., on whether he
is "finished criticizing" NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue:
"We'll see. It depends what he does next. I think the
relationship is certainly workable" (DETROIT NEWS, 3/18).
...Tagliabue said that the $1M fine levied against 49ers co-
Owner Eddie DeBartolo for his role in a LA gaming scandal
will "probably" be given to charity (SACRAMENTO BEE, 3/17).
