NFL MEETINGS : Replay Saved When Buccaneers Change Position

Another season of instant-replay officiating was authorized for NFL games Tuesday after a hard fight at the league’s annual convention, where opponents gained a convert--the Detroit Lions--but lost a traditional foe of the procedure, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

When Buccaneer owner Hugh Culverhouse surprisingly decided to vote with the majority this time, the instant-replay measure passed by the barest possible margin, 21-7.

“The mechanics will be the same as last year,” said Jim Finks, president of the New Orleans Saints. “To reverse a call, the (officials) will have to do it in two minutes.”

Personal lobbying by former commissioner Pete Rozelle and Commissioner Paul Tagliabue saved replay officiating in 1989 and ’90. And NFL Vice President Joe Browne said it was saved this week--for a sixth consecutive season--by four lobbyists in particular: Coach Don Shula of the Miami Dolphins, Raider owner Al Davis, Finks and Tagliabue.

“There have been some (replay) inequities, but you have to go forward,” Davis told the other owners. “(The NFL) is the flagship of pro sports, of college sports. All we have to do now is make (instant replay) better. And if they could put a missile down a smokestack in the (Persian Gulf), we can develop the technology to improve.”

Said Shula: “I (agree) with Al Davis. The NFL is unique. Other sports are looking toward (replay officiating). All we have to do is improve it.”

Voting against the replay plan, once more, were the Cincinnati Bengals, the Buffalo Bills, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Chicago Bears, the Phoenix Cardinals and the New York Giants.

The Raiders’ Art Shell was voted NFL coach of the year by the Pro Football Writers Assn. and accepted the trophy at a press breakfast, where the Sporting News named Giant General Manager George Young executive of the year.

“This (trophy) goes to the players for their great year,” Shell said.

Asked about his last start, when the Raiders were routed out of the playoffs in Buffalo, he said: “That will be my cross for a while.”

Running back Bo Jackson is the only modern athlete who has succeeded as a player in two major sports, Davis said, “and we’re happy that in one of those sports, he’s wearing the silver and black.”

Asked again for the Raiders’ diagnosis of Jackson’s medical problem--which the Kansas City Royals fear is avascular necrosis--Davis said: “I’m not a medical person, and I don’t want to get into medical (terms), but I don’t consider Bo’s (ailment) that tough. I’ve been through a lot of tougher things in my life. He’ll be back.”