NFL Owners Decide to Keep Instant Replay

Once again, reports of the impending death of instant-replay officiating in the National Football League were greatly exaggerated. With adroit handling by Commissioner Pete Rozelle and General Manager Tex Schramm of the Dallas Cowboys, it passed for another season Wednesday, 23-5, which is two more votes than it got a year ago.

The big switch was influential Pittsburgh owner Dan Rooney, who liked this year’s modification: The replay official will now be part of the officiating crew, will work with the same crew each week, and will travel with it.

“Some clubs felt a few officials were hesitant because the eye in the sky was going to correct them,” said Schramm, chairman of the competition committee.

“This way, they’ll be together.”

Rooney, who voted against it a year ago, spoke for replay officiating Wednesday and carried another of last year’s nays, the New York Jets.

The five teams continuing in opposition were the New York Giants, Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs and Phoenix Cardinals. It would have taken eight votes against to overturn.

Polls have shown fans overwhelmingly in favor of the replays, which may be wearing away the opposition among owners. There is also reason to believe that the opposition tends to be overstated.

A year ago, when foes had a real chance to get rid of it, both Cardinal owner Bill Bidwill and Chief owner Lamar Hunt indicated that they would override their personal feelings and vote for the measure, should Rozelle and Schramm need them to. Only when it became clear that they didn’t did they vote no.

That leaves only three die-hard opponents, the Bengals, Bills and Giants.