While NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said team owners
could vote on a return of instant replay for the playoffs
and Super Bowl, a "check" with owners found "eight solidly
opposed [to] replay and at least two others leaning that
way," according to Len Pasquarelli of the ATLANTA
CONSTITUTION. Some team officials characterized Monday's
call for a vote as "overreaction" by the league. Bengals
President Mike Brown: "We've seen the real-life definition
of knee-jerk" (Len Pasquarelli, ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 12/9).
NOT GOING TO HAPPEN: In N.Y., Richard Sandomir reports
that the league "knows that its quick and unexpected
decision to seek a vote on postseason replay may not
succeed." NFL Senior VP/Communications Joe Browne: "Having
replay remains a possibility, not a probability." The
opposition "appears to center on the short time left to
implement an effective system before the first playoff game"
(N.Y. TIMES, 12/9). In Newark, Paul Needell writes that
Tagliabue's "officiating nightmare continues," as replay in
'98 "appears destined to crash and burn." The Giants,
Cardinals, Bengals, Bucs, Chiefs, Bears, Steelers and
Raiders as "against changing the rules" for the playoffs,
"and there could be more" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 12/9).
Raiders Owner Al Davis: "In my opinion, there is no way they
can get the votes for it at this time in the season" (BOSTON
GLOBE, 12/9). ESPN's Chris Mortensen said that the
"consensus" is that the NFL is "going to have a very tough
time raising support for replay for the playoffs." ESPN's
John Clayton: "It looks like sentiment's going against
replay now" (Rudy Martkze, USA TODAY, 12/9).
REPLAY QUOTEBOARD: Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones, who was
asked by Tagliabue "to take an active part" in the replay
process: "I want to emphasize you get way ahead of this
thing if you imply or say there's going to be a meeting on
this thing. We're not there yet" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS,
12/9). Giants co-Owner Wellington Mara: "We're absolutely
opposed to rushing into replay this year. ... It would send
the worst possible message to the officiating. We're not
going to cure anything by going into it half-cocked" (N.Y.
POST, 12/9). Steelers coach/NFL Competition Committee
member Bill Cowher, on using replay in the postseason: "I
think it would be a knee-jerk reaction, and I think we
should never do that. We spend a whole off-season, a whole
league meetings talking about it with committees, presenting
it to ownership" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 12/9). Packers
coach/NFL Competition Committee co-Chair Mike Holmgren: "I
want it; I just don't think we should shove it in for the
playoffs" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 12/9).
