NFL considering expanding instant replay

By Alex Guzman | Thursday, March 17, 2005 | ( 0 )

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The NFL is considering expanding instant replay. Previously, "down by contact" plays were not included in reviews.

Atlanta general manager Rich McKay - the chairman of the league's competition committee - said the change will be considered next week at the annual league meetings in Maui, Hawaii.

In the past, replay has not applied to plays ruled dead because an official has blown a whistle calling the runner down. Instant replay was extended last year for 5 years, although a proposal to put it in permanently was not approved.

Next week's meeting will include a variety of business items, but few definitive moves.

The owners will discuss the slow pace of talks with the NFL Players Association about the current labor agreement, which runs out in 2008. Also on the agenda are the stalled negotiations on the new TV contract, which runs out after 2005.

CBS and Fox already have renewed their AFC and NFC contracts for a total of $8 billion over 6 years. However, the Sunday and Monday night packages remain under discussion with ABC and its subsidiary ESPN. The Disney companies are balking at the NFL's asking price.

The league also could award the 2010 Super Bowl to New York contingent on a new stadium being built for the Jets on the West Side of Manhattan.

McKay noted that injuries were up last year and said he expects the committee to recommend additional guidelines that could lead to more calls of unnecessary roughness. The guidelines could address chop blocks, blind-side hits on screen passes, and hits on quarterbacks, punters and kickers otherwise out of the play.

The committee is also considering a proposal by the Kansas City Chiefs to change to the college rule on pass interference. That mandates a maximum of 15 yards on defensive interference or a spot call if the penalty is less than 15 yards. In the NFL, the ball is spotted where the interference takes place or at the 1-yard-line if it is in the end zone.

The Chiefs' proposal includes one slight difference from the college rule: on a flagrant foul, the ball would still be spotted where the penalty took place. That would presumably eliminate players from fouling when they know they are beaten and taking a 15-yard penalty rather than a play of 30 or 40 yards or more.

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