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Leagues and Governing Bodies

Goodell Says NFL Planning Centralized Replay System To Help Quicken Pace Of Games

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell this morning said the league is "going to centralize replay" at its N.Y. HQ going forward. Goodell in a letter yesterday to fans alluded to the change, and this morning on ESPN Radio's "Mike & Mike" said NFL Senior VP/Officiating Dean Blandino "will have the final decision." Goodell: "We want the referee's input. So instead of having a sideline monitor over against the wall, we're going to bring him a tablet and he can look at the play, be in communication back to our office." Goodell said the process will move "much quicker." Goodell: "We're not going to wait, if we have a decision, we're not (going to) wait in the stadium, we're going to make the announcement, which is good for the fans in the stadium." Alluding to his plans to improve the product, Goodell said, "I don't think one thing is going to cure it, but I don't think we're going to cure it all this offseason." Goodell also discussed the NFL's celebration policy, saying he wants referees to "focus on the important things in the game." Goodell: "What we've heard from our players, I've heard it repeatedly, I've heard it from our fans, is they want to give the players the opportunity to celebrate." Goodell: "I want to reach out to our players and find out what are the right standards for us here? Because it reflects on all of us" ("Mike & Mike," ESPN Radio, 3/23).

CH-CH-CHANGES: In Pittsburgh, Sean Gentille writes under the header, "NFL Decides To Make Its Product Quicker, Less Awful" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 3/23). THE MMQB's Albert Breer notes conversations on how to "execute the adjustments are ongoing, but bet on the idea being all-encompassing." The idea of a "centralized replay system is a good one." The technology is there "to be more efficient and faster." It "never made sense not to take advantage of it" (MMQB.SI.com, 3/23). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio noted the proposed rule changes feel "a lot like a President making his case for legistlative change to the people before the House or the Senate cast a vote." The letter from Goodell with the salutation “Dear Fans” presents the proposals in a way that "suggests the changes are a done deal, even though the changes won’t be finalized until at least 24 owners vote in favor of them." This "means either that Goodell has polled enough owners to conclude that at least 24 votes are coming -- or that he has concluded that enough owners are on the fence to justify an effort to work the public in advance of the vote." Meanwhile, allowing a referee to use a Microsoft Tablet should allow the company to "get even more bang for its product-placement buck" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 3/22).

TWEAKS, EH? In Winnipeg, Ted Wyman reports the CFL rules committee is "recommending far less impactful 'tweaks'" in '17. The league is "working with its broadcast partner, TSN, and plans to have every possible review of a challenge take place during a commercial." The average review took 1 minute, 10 seconds last year (WINNIPEG SUN, 3/23).

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