| |
 Mara's about-face aided instant replay
Posted: Thursday March 18, 1999 12:00 PM
If instant replay needed one more boost, it got it from elder statesman Wellington Mara of the Giants. Mara had voted no on replay every time in the 13 years the league has been voting on the issue. The 81-year-old Mara rose at this week's owners meetings and said, "As you know, I've been opposed to replay since it began, but there's been such a human cry and the fans want it, I'm willing to give it one year." Now, as expected the coaches will be able to challenge two plays per game in the first 28 minutes of each half. In the final two minutes of each half and in overtime, a replay official seated upstairs will control all replay reviews. This 'n' thatOn the final day of the meetings, New Orleans coach Mike Ditka said that the Saints would be willing to trade all six of their picks in the 1999 draft to move up to get talented running back Ricky Williams from Texas. Kansas City president Carl Petersen won't let ex-Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer out of his contract without a fight. Schottenheimer is rumored to be the next coach of the Redskins, but Petersen told CNN/SI that he thinks first-, second- and third-round draft picks would be fair compensation for Schottenheimer, who has three years remaining on a contract that he quit at the end of the 1998 season. Finally, Baltimore held trade talks Wednesday with St. Louis for unhappy quarterback Tony Banks. The Ravens are waiting for Warren Moon to make a decision; if Moon comes to Baltimore, they are not interested in Banks. Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King covers the NFL and appears regularly on CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNN's NFL Preview.
| |||||||||||||||||
Copyright © 1999 CNN/SI. A Time Warner Company. Terms under which this service is provided to you.
| |||||||||||||||||
