NEW YORK -- NFL executives will vote today on the merits of using instant replays, and they will probably want to look at the issue from a few more angles before the measure is adopted.
The vote on use of television replays to aid officials' decisions in this year's postseason games will be taken at the second and final day of the annual fall league meetings.
Although there have been calls for using the replay from coaches and fans the past few years, proponents of the plan feel more nudging will be needed before it is passed. That's what Dallas executive Tex Schramm, leader of the pro-replay pack, believes. NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle said he's 'ambivalent' toward the use of replays.
'Informally, a lot of owners have said they like it, others have pointed out some instances that can cause problems,' Rozelle said Tuesday.
'The cost would not be heavy. Mechanically, we're convinced it can work.'
One stumbling block is potential inconsistency of camera angles. Not all replays can show clearly if a judgment call is right or wrong.
The plan, which would be used only for possession (fumble and reception) plays, needs 21 votes from the 28 teams to pass.
The executives will also discuss scheduling another exhibition game in London. A preseason game was played there in 1984, and Rozelle said Great Britain is a potential television market.
Issues decided Tuesday include:
-- The college draft was set for April 29. All 15 rounds will be held on one day, with one slight change in the drafting format: teams will have 10 minutes rather than 15 to make their second-round selections. Clubs still have 15 minutes in the first round, and five minutes in rounds 3-12.
-- NFL teams will switch from film to videotape to record games beginning next season. Rozelle said the changeover will cost each club a minimum of $400,000, but teams will save over the long run because of cheaper costs in processing videotape.
-- The voice amplication experiment used in two preseason games this year will continue during next year's exhibition season. The experiment involves a radio system in the players' helmets to make quarterback signals clearer.
-- Detroit Lions general manager Russ Thomas withrew his proposal to expand rosters from 45 players. The proposal was given little chance of passing since the regular season is already six weeks old.
'I'm just glad we don't have to take it up for a third time (this season),' Rozelle said of the roster issue. Clubs voted at their spring meeting to reduce rosters from 49 to 45 players.
Rozelle said the proposed sale by Minnesota owner Max Winter of 48 percent of the club to a group headed by Twins owner Carl Pohlad will not be discussed at these meetings. Under NFL rules, Pohlad cannot be a majority owner because he owns a team in another sports league.
'The plan hasn't been presented to us,' Rozelle said. 'We don't know who the owners will be.'
Rozelle Tuesday said there was no indication any NFL owners would be receptive to absorbing one or more USFL clubs.
'I haven't had any club suggest it to me,' he said.
Rozelle also said television ratings are up this year after two years of decline. He said ratings have risen 15 percent on ABC, 10 percent on NBC and between 3 and 4 percent on CBS.
