FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
|NFL-25 5/21/98

The NFL will experiment with new concepts of instant replay during 10 nationally televised preseason games this year, the league has announced.

Commissioner PAUL TAGLIABUE presented details of the experiment to NFL clubs at a league meeting in Coral Gables, Florida on May 20.

Commissioner Tagliabue said the league had no plans at this time to revive the instant replay system as it operated for six seasons ending in 1991. But, he said, the NFL will continue to explore ways of making television replays promptly available to game officials in connection with on-field decisions and to keep abreast of current technology for that purpose.

The major elements of the preseason testing include:

* Reviews by the referee at two field-level monitors, one at each 20-yard line.
* A challenge system for coaches (two per team per game)
* Limited categories of reviewable plays
The 10 preseason games in which testing will be conducted:

"We are always looking for ways to improve the game," said Commissioner Tagliabue. "Our officiating is very strong, but our game is incredibly fast with a large playing field to cover. Our clubs are divided, as they always have been, on whether instant replay in any form is good for the game. This experiment is a means for the league to determine if there are satisfactory methods to correct the rare and significant obvious error and at the same time eliminate many of the disadvantages of the prior system."

When a replay review occurs in any of the above preseason games, play will stop and the resulting decision -- including reversals of calls -- will affect the action. The decision will be made by the referee after consultation with the other covering official(s) at a field-level monitor positioned diagonally on the sideline at the 20-yard lines.

Each team will be permitted a maximum of two challenges per game. Outside of the final two minutes of a half, a team may use its challenges without being charged with a timeout, whether or not the challenge is upheld or rejected. Also outside of the two-minute warning, a challenge can be made and will be recognized even if a team has exhausted its timeouts.

After the two-minute warning, each challenge will cost a team a timeout. If a challenge is upheld, the team’s timeout will be restored – but the challenge will not be restored. Challenges will not be recognized from a team that has exhausted its timeouts.

Should a game go into overtime, each team will receive one additional challenge at the cost of a timeout. No challenge will be recognized in overtime from a team that has exhausted its timeouts.

Times of the reviews will be split between the games – 60 seconds in five games, 90 seconds in five games. Timing begins when the referee begins review of the play.

A buzzer communication between the head coach and referee will be used to initiate the challenge.

To limit the number of stoppages and enhance the flow of the game, the tests will pare down categories of reviewable plays to the three areas listed below, or some combination of these:

1. Plays of Possession or Touching

1. Pass ruled complete/intercepted/incomplete.
2. Runner ruled not down by defensive contact.
3. Touching of a forward pass by ineligible receiver.
4. Touching of a forward pass by a defensive player.
5. Quarterback forward pass or fumble.
6. Touching of a kick.

1. Plays Governed by Sideline, Goal Line, End Line, Line of Scrimmage

1. Runner/receiver in or out of bounds.
2. Scoring plays, including a runner breaking the plane of the goal line (no kicks).
3. Pass complete/intercepted/incomplete at sideline, goal line and end line.
4. Spotting of the ball.
5. Forward or backward pass.
6. Illegal forward pass beyond the line of scrimmage.
7. Illegal forward pass after change of possession.
8. Recovery of loose ball in or out of bounds.

C) Other Detectable Infractions