NFL Says Referees Erred

The NFL reviewed three critical plays from Sunday’s game between the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers and found officials made the wrong call in each instance.

The Buccaneers were told that a Trent Dilfer fumble returned for a first-quarter touchdown should have been ruled an incomplete pass. Replays showed the quarterback’s arm was moving forward when he was sacked by New York’s Jessie Armstead.

A second Dilfer turnover, a fourth-quarter interception that prompted his benching, also should have been disallowed because Dilfer stepped out of bounds before releasing the ball.

Referee Ed Hoculi made what the Buccaneers believe was the biggest error when he reversed a fourth-quarter pass reception after reviewing the play under the league’s new instant replay rule.

The 28-yard catch by Karl Williams, on Tampa Bay’s final possession, would have given the Buccaneers--trailing, 17-13--a first down at the Giants’ 49. Instead the ball was moved back to the Tampa Bay 23. Three plays later, the Buccaneers were stopped on downs at their 31.

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Fullback Daryl Johnston of the Dallas Cowboys will sit out the rest of the season because of further neck problems related to 1997 surgery on a herniated disk. Johnston, 33, conceded the latest problem, discovered in tests Wednesday, could end his career.

“It is going to be a tough decision,” he said. “That will be considered at the end of the season. . . . The strange thing is I thought after making it through last season, I’d be OK.”

Johnston had surgery six weeks into the 1997 season to fuse two vertebrae in the neck.

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Quarterback Chris Chandler of the Atlanta Falcons is doubtful for Monday night’s game against the Dallas Cowboys because of a sore right hamstring. Tony Graziani will start if Chandler is unable to play. . . . Quarterback Steve McNair of the Tennessee Titans sat out practice because of mild stiffness and spasms in his lower back but is expected to play Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. . . . Rookie running back Ricky Williams practiced with the New Orleans Saints but remained questionable for Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers because of a left ankle sprain. . . . Tailback Fred Taylor of the Jacksonville Jaguars practiced on a limited basis and remained questionable for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers because of a sprained left foot. . . . A meeting between the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and its three tenants at Giants Stadium to discuss a full-time grass field was postponed because of Hurricane Floyd. It was rescheduled for today.