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Combine notebook Overtime probably won't undergo drastic changesPosted: Friday February 21, 2003 5:54 PMUpdated: Saturday February 22, 2003 2:23 AM INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Tampa Bay general manager Rich McKay is somewhat surprised that many coaches don't favor radical changes to the NFL's overtime system. "It's not a panacea," McKay, co-chairman of the league's competition committee, said Friday at the NFL scouting combine. "There may be unintended consequences any way you go. A lot of coaches say they're OK with the system we have." That includes McKay's own head coach, Jon Gruden, as well as Baltimore's Brian Billick. There were a record 25 overtime games last season. Ten of them, or 40 percent, were won on the first possession by the team that won the coin toss, leading to proposals to give both teams at least one possession in the extra period. Cleveland's Butch Davis, who coached at the University of Miami, said he doesn't want to see the NFL adopt the NCAA's overtime system, but he would accept one major change. "The one proposal I've heard that I like is to leave it exactly the way it is, and if a team gets a field goal on its first possession, the other team gets a possession," Davis said. ARIZONA'S GAMBLE: The Arizona Cardinals confounded other teams when they decided not to use their franchise designation on wide receiver David Boston or quarterback Jake Plummer. Both are considered to be among the best free agents at their position. Head coach Dave McGinnis said earlier this week he was hopeful Plummer would agree to a contract before free agency started. Cardinals vice president Rod Graves said he left Boston unprotected for two reasons: a serious knee injury last season and an arrest last March 13 for driving under the influence of drugs. "We recognize he is one of the top players in the NFL, but there are a lot of concerns," Graves said. "There are, were and still is concern in dealing with him, on and off the field, and we did not feel comfortable getting into a guaranteed contract situation with him." The Cardinals are hoping other teams feel the same way, so they could can re-sign Boston for less than the $5.01 million they would have been charged against the salary cap with the franchise tag. Graves said negotiations are continuing with Boston's agent, Mitch Frankel. RETIREMENT PLAN?: Baltimore defensive end Michael McCrary hasn't announced his retirement yet, but Ravens head coach Brian Billick implied that it could happen soon. "I'm limited in how I can comment on that," Billick said. "If Michael seems inclined to retire, that has to come from him." Billick said he's already had discussions with McCrary about coming to training camp as an assistant coach. NO BUCKING THE TREND: Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden has long been known as one of the league's workaholics. That doesn't mean he tuned out everything as he led his team to a Super Bowl victory. He demonstrated his sports knowledge when he was asked to comment about the Ohio State Buckeyes' national college championship. "It was a great year for the Bucs, if you know what I mean," he said. "I even watched the Milwaukee Bucks make a pretty big trade last night." Gruden was referring to the five-player deal that sent Ray Allen to Seattle for Gary Payton. |
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