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That's a wrap Owners agree to stand pat on issues -- for nowPosted: Thursday March 27, 2003 4:13 PM
PHOENIX -- Over time, the NFL might decide to change its overtime format from sudden death to a two-possession configuration. But the only proposal that appeared to have any chance of passage at this week's NFL annual meeting here was to give the two-possession format a try on a one-year experimental basis. Even that fell seven votes short of approval, with 17 clubs in favor, 14 against, and one abstention from the Raiders, as usual. "When it went to the one year, I did think it had a good chance to pass," said Pittsburgh owner Dan Rooney, a proponent of the two-possession format. "I thought it might make it." In the end, the strong opinions voiced by some of the league's head coaches seemed to carry the day against changing the overtime rules. Oakland owner Al Davis said Washington's Steve Spurrier made a particularly convincing case for leaving sudden death well enough alone. "I think the most educational thing [Wednesday] was when Steve Spurrier stood up and said, coming from the colleges, he thinks we have the best overtime system, better than the colleges," Davis said. "That was very educational, very interesting." In the NCAA, of course, teams get alternating overtime possessions at the opponents' 25-yard line, until one team fails to match the other team's score. Most head coaches seemed to agree with the Giants' Jim Fassel, who fought the change on the basis that it would simply add another opportunity for the fans, media and entire civilized world to second-guess his pressurized game-day decisions. "When you start looking at the coaching standpoint with OT, you're throwing a lot of what ifs in there," Fassel said. "What if it's windy? Are you going to let them have the ball first? If certain things happen, if your offense and defense matches up, there are all kinds of ramifications. "[Former Giants general manager] George Young told me a long time ago, 'Don't be voting for rules that put you one more foot on the hot seat. You got enough [stuff] to worry about.'" This week might have been the change-overtime crowd's best chance to get something done on that front. Momentum for the two-possession system has clearly ebbed since the end of the season, when Tennessee's playoff overtime win against Pittsburgh served as the impetus for much of the debate. Tampa Bay general manager Rich McKay, one of the competition committee's co-chairman, said he does not see the overtime issue becoming a lingering, annual debate, much like instant replay was for years. While the league had a record 25 overtime games in 2002, if that number shrinks this season, the move to alter the sudden-death format could slip back off the radar screen. "I don't think this issue will continue to haunt us," said McKay, who is in favor of the two-possession format. "What I heard was there's enough sentiment in the room [among NFL owners, executives and coaches] that they're comfortable with the risk-reward factor of the sudden-death overtime system. I don't think this is something we're going to be debating every year."
Let's be real here. We all know the NFL isn't going to decide anything about the playoffs without first running it by their friends and partners at the TV networks. The coming two months gives the league time to run it up that flagpole and see which way the prevailing winds are blowing. "The reason [we tabled it] is first of all we owe our network partners the opportunity to get their opinion about extra playoff games," Denver owner Pat Bowlen said. "I think we've got to do our homework. We've got to see what the interest is from the network standpoint, what they think about it." While there remains opposition to the 14-team playoff format based on the competitive advantage it gives to the top-seeded teams in each conference, which would be the only qualifiers to receive a first-round bye, the sentiment this week seemed to be building in favor of expanding the postseason. The competition committee still would rather deal with the subject next year, when it does its two-year analysis of the new divisional realignment and scheduling format. But it's now thought possible -- possible, but still not likely -- that the 14-team playoff proposal could be approved in May.
It would mean great things for fat-cat corporate America, which already has squeezed the average fan out of the picture at the Super Bowl, but it would be a lousy development for the league's bread-and-butter base. Neutral site, warm-weather championship games would sure as shooting turn into mini-Super Bowls, with all the accompanying downsides of that game and none of the upsides. Thankfully, it's not a movement that appears to be gaining much traction among league owners. "I don't think there's a lot of sentiment right now to move the championship games to neutral sites," Tagliabue said in his Wednesday wrap-up news conference.
"To go into Philadelphia, with Philly's fans, opening night, Monday Night Football, on the road, defending Super Bowl champions, we'll take it," Bucs executive Joel Glazer said. "We'll be ready.… Hey, we'll play the hand we're dealt. We did all last year, and the team has always thrived on adversity. "Whatever it takes to get this team going. If this is what it takes to get us fired up about defending our championship, I know coach [Jon] Gruden will have the team ready." In the other Week 1 conference title game rematch, Oakland will travel to Tennessee for the Sunday night game. The Raiders played host to the Titans in January's AFC Championship. The Bucs have played at Philadelphia in each of the past three postseasons, and four times overall since the 2000 playoffs. Asked if he ever dreamed he'd get to visit Philly again so soon, Glazer quipped: "Well, at least we're getting to see it in warm weather. I've never seen it in warm weather."
That's why Gruden will opt for the pair of former Bears quarterbacks (what, Cade McNown wasn't available?), rather than finding a younger, still developing passer for the third spot. While Miller will be ahead of Matthews on the depth chart, and had an outstanding season as a starter as recently as 2001, he will not in any way be considered a challenge to Johnson's No. 1 status.
Don Banks covers pro football for SI.com.
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