From the archives: NFL owners vote to bring back replay

This story was originally published in Newsday on March 18, 1999.

Less than four months after Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde scored the touchdown that wasn't, NFL owners voted overwhelmingly yesterday to use instant replay for the first time since the 1991 season.

Replay will be applicable to goal-line and sideline plays and possession, but not to penalties. It was approved on a one-year basis.

Mike Holmgren, co-chairman of the Competition Committee, stressed that the replay system being introduced is not meant to correct every call, as the system used from 1986-91 attempted to do. Rather, replay now will be used to review potential game-deciding plays. "We are implementing this system to correct the major, major, big mistake," Holmgren said.

Testaverde was awarded the winning touchdown on Dec. 6 in a 32-31 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, even though replays showed he was down a foot before the goal line. The phantom touchdown was among the worst in a series of bad calls that ignited a firestorm of controversy, which led to yesterday's 28-3 vote to bring back replay.

Jets coach and general manager Bill Parcells was one of the dissenters, but not because it had anything to do with Testaverde's controversial play. Parcells is an advocate of replay, but not in the form that was approved by owners at their annual winter meetings.

Under the system, each team will have two coaches challenges per game. In addition, an instant-replay assistant in the press box will initiate replay reviews if necessary during the final two minutes of each half, thereby alleviating coaches concerns about having to use a timeout to challenge a call.

NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue suggested that the league include the two-minute replay provision in each half, which allayed coaches concerns about timeouts and convinced enough owners to approve the measure. One of the teams voting for replay was the Giants, who voted against replay all nine times it previously came up.

Parcells opposes the coaches challenge system, which is why he voted against replay. The other teams to vote against it were the Cincinnati Bengals and the Arizona Cardinals.

"I think once the two-minute provision was presented, that made the coaches feel more comfortable, because they wouldn't have to worry about having timeouts to make a challenge," said Holmgren, who replaced Dennis Erickson as Seahawks coach shortly after the season ended.

The 1998 season was marred by several disputed calls, highlighted by the Testaverde play. The Jets quarterback ran for the end zone on a designed play from Seattle's 5-yard line, but was tackled inside the 1 by Cortez Kennedy and Jay Bellamy. Side judge Earnie Frantz ruled it a touchdown but later admitted he had mistaken Testaverde's helmet for the ball.

In a game the previous week between the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills, the Patriots were awarded a first down on a fourth-down pass to Shawn Jefferson at the Bills 26 with six seconds left in the fourth quarter. Replays showed Jefferson did not land with both feet in bounds. On the next play, Drew Bledsoe threw a Hail Mary pass to wide receiver Terry Glenn, but safety Henry Jones was called for interference in the end zone as time expired. New England was awarded a final play from the 1 and scored the winning TD.

Another controversial play, a fumble by San Francisco 49ers receiver Jerry Rice in the final minute of a first-round playoff game against the Green Bay Packers, was missed. However, an official's whistle had blown, so replay would not have affected the call. Shortly after Rice's fumble, the 49ers scored the winning touchdown.

"You've got to give the officials a chance to correct some of the wrongs," New Orleans Saints coach Mike Ditka said. "Everybody makes mistakes, but if you can remedy one with replay, then let's go ahead and remedy that."

Said Minnesota Vikings coach Dennis Green: "I think replay is going to help the NFL. The idea is to correct the obvious call. This system will address that."

But not all coaches are enthused about replay, and some worry that they will be open to further scrutiny by fans.

"It's not going to be the be-all, end-all-type thing," Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Tony Dungy said. "But there will be calls that fans see and coaches don't challenge, and the fans are going to say, 'Why didn't you challenge that?

"As long as we know that it won't correct every play, then it's OK. This is a system for those one or two calls during the course of a game that will get those calls right." INSTANT REPLAY

Highlights of instant-replay system:

--Each team will receive two coaches challenges per game to review disputed calls. When a coach challenges a call, his team loses a timeout. However, if the play in question is overturned by replay, the timeout is reinstated.

--During the final two minutes of each half, a replay official stationed above the field will review all plays. If he thinks there has been a questionable call, he will signal to the referee on the field that the play should be reviewed by replay.

--All calls will be made by the referee, who will view disputed plays on a replay monitor stationed on the field, probably on one of the sidelines. If the referee cannot establish conclusive evidence to overturn a play after 90 seconds, the play shall stand as initially called.

--Reviewable plays will include the following:

A: Plays governed by sideline, goal line, end zone and end line:

1. Scoring plays, including a runner breaking the plane of the goal line.

2. Pass complete/incomplete/intercepted at sideline, goal line, end zone and end line.

3. Runner/receiver in or out of bounds.

4. Recovery of ball in or out of bounds.

B: Passing plays:

1. Pass ruled complete/incomplete/intercepted.

2. Touching of a forward pass by an ineligible receiver.

3. Touching of a forward pass by a defensive player.

4. Quarterback forward pass or fumble.

5. Illegal forward pass beyond the line of scrimmage.

6. Illegal forward pass after a change of possession.

7. Forward or backward pass thrown from behind the line of scrimmage.

C: Other detectable infractions:

1. Runner ruled not down by defensive contact.

2. Forward progress for a first down.

3. Touching of a kick.

4. Number of players on the field.