He’s Waiting for NFL’s Signal : Pro football: Newport Beach’s May hopes that the league will adopt his “audibilizer” in time for him to make enough of them.

In addition to the new two-point conversion, NFL owners are also prepared this week to increase scoring through the wonders of electronics.

But it will be a wonder if those electronics can be ready on time.

Sources say that at this week’s owners meetings, the influential Competition Committee is prepared to recommend full-time use of the “audibilizer” for next season. It is a device that helps offensive players hear the quarterback’s signals near the goal line.

But Newport Beach-based inventor Randy May might be in the unenviable position of asking the league to wait.

His six-person company, which currently has one audibilizer in stock, might not be able to produce at least 13 others needed for the first game of the season in September.

May will meet with officials here as early as today to discuss the recommendation, which could be made to the ownership groups Monday.

“This is something we want,” said Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboy owner and member of the competition committee. “This is something that is badly needed. Offensive linemen have got to be able to hear the signals.”

May agreed, but said, “It will be a formidable challenge to get everything in place by Labor Day. We don’t want to hurry to make the 1994 season, then stub our toes along the way.”

After hearing May, the league might decide to begin using the device in this year’s playoffs, which gives him more time and fewer audibilizers to manufacture.

The audibilizer involves a tiny microphone in the quarterback’s helmet and large speakers on either side of the field.

It can be activated anywhere within the 30- or 20-yard line of either team’s goal--owners haven’t decided yet. The quarterback simply touches his shoulder pads and the microphone is switched on.

The linemen and wide receivers can then hear his signals through the sideline speakers. The microphone is automatically deactivated several seconds later. The unit is so small and resilient, it cannot be damaged when the quarterback is hit.

The device was successfully tested during last year’s exhibition games, in one regular-season game between the Rams and Cincinnati Bengals and in the Pro Bowl.

Even more important for its development, according to May, were private tests performed during the middle of the season for two influential coaches on the Competition Committee, Don Shula and Marty Schottenheimer.

Shula was so enamored of its function, he tested it for nearly an hour at the Miami Dolphins’ practice facility amid artificial noise.

Because it would not have been cost efficient for his small company to manufacture the devices before gaining league-wide approval, May said he has waited for this week’s vote before proceeding.

Not only does this former rock musician have to arrange to build the product, he must arrange for installers and workers at each of the 14 game sites each week.

“From day one, the league has always looked at 1995 for the start of this thing,” May said. “We could do it this year, but it would be much tougher.”

May said the league could give him more time by using it during the second half of this season, “but that might not go well with teams who play in loud locations during the first half.”

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Besides the expected rule changes, realignment will be discussed. No recommendation from the realignment committee is expected, but there probably will be much discussion leading to a possible resolution in the owners’ meetings in May in Miami.