FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NFL-71                  11/30/98

COIN TOSS PROCEDURES MODIFIED FOR NFL GAMES

Current procedures for the pregame and overtime coin toss will be modified beginning this weekend, the NFL announced today.

These revamped procedures, which are being implemented following a review of the Steelers-Lions overtime game on Thanksgiving Day, are the first major alterations in the coin toss ceremony since 1976 when the coin toss was moved to three minutes before kickoff. Prior to 1976, the coin toss occurred 30 minutes before the game and a symbolic re-enactment was held moments before kickoff.

The refined procedures are as follows:

*The referee will ask the designated visiting team captain to call heads or tails prior to tossing the coin. (The previous procedure was to have the call made while the coin was in the air.)

*The back judge and field judge, who walk the team captains to the center of the field, will line up alongside their respective team captains throughout the coin toss ceremony. (The previous procedure had these same two officials walk with the captains to mid-field but not stay for the actual coin toss.)

"The confusion during the Lions-Steelers coin toss was unfortunate," Commissioner Tagliabue said. "I have read the report of referee Phil Luckett and also have seen the comments of Steelers players Jerome Bettis and Carnell Lake. All three individuals have excellent reputations and are known to be men of integrity, but their conflicting accounts do not resolve the matter."

"Our new procedures should make certain that the Thanksgiving Day incident is not repeated. Prior to Thanksgiving, we used the existing procedures for more than 20 years without any serious incident, and expect our modifications to apply for 20 times 20 years."

The modified procedures will be used for the first time during the games of December 3, 6-7.