NFL owners completed their annual meetings yesterday in Palm Desert, CA, and in Dallas, Rick Gosselin writes that instant replay received a three-year renewal, marking the "first time the NFL has ever committed to replay for longer than one season" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/29).
PAUL, BEARER OF NEWS: CBS SportsLine's Len Pasquarelli wrote Commissioner Paul Tagliabue "revealed the league will not reopen" its TV contracts after the '02 season as was its option. Instead, the TV deals will remain in effect for eight years, through '05 (CBS SportsLine, 3/28). Tagliabue, asked about the struggles of the XFL, said: "There seems to be a little confusion as to what they're trying to do. But this was not a big issue for us (when it started) and it still isn't. I guess they'll have to do their own postmortems" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 3/29).
BANDANNA REAX: In N.Y., Thomas George reports owners voted 30-1 in favor of banning players wearing bandannas under their helmets. The Raiders voted against the motion (N.Y. TIMES, 3/29). In DC, Leonard Shapiro adds players will be allowed to wear skullcaps "to avoid chafing or irritation, but they must feature the team's colors and logos" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/29). In Tampa, Roy Cummings writes the provision allowing certain skullcaps "amounted to a compromise on a potentially controversial issue" (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 3/29). Ravens Owner Art Modell, who is Jewish, on mandating the use of team colors and logos on skullcaps: "We've passed the yarmulke resolution. Yes, the yarmulke should have stripes in Cincinnati and stars in Dallas" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 3/29). Vikings coach Dennis Green said, "You wouldn't want to see a bandanna under a baseball player's batting helmet or hat, so why should we have it under a helmet?" (NEWSDAY, 3/29).
TONE IT DOWN: In Ft. Worth, Charean Williams writes owners also voted to "'forcefully eliminate taunting' by promoting tougher officiating and more stringent fines" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 3/29). A PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER editorial calls taunting "stupid," noting, "There's too much of it in professional sports. ... So hold the line, NFL. Good for you. You're saying, 'That's not what this sport is about.' It's not what any sport should be about" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 3/29). In S.F., Ira Miller notes "'stomping on a team logo' anywhere on the field" will be deemed an unsportsmanlike act beginning in the upcoming season. Among other "prohibited acts: 'throat slash, machine gun salute, sexually suggestive gestures, prolonged gyrations.'" In a "confidential report to teams," the competition committee said in its annual survey, "a number of (coaches) identified the decline of sportsmanship as a matter that must be addressed" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/29).
BROWN FILES SUIT: Former Browns OG Orlando Brown sued the NFL for $200M, "claiming his career was ended by eye injuries sustained from a penalty flag thrown by a referee" in '99. Brown's attorney, Clifford Stern, said the suit claims the NFL failed "to properly supervise and enforce rules that flags be properly weighted and thrown in a proper fashion" (USA TODAY, 3/29). In OH, Patrick McManamon notes the suit was filed in Supreme Court in N.Y. by attorneys from Johnnie Cochran's law firm (A.B. JOURNAL, 3/29).
