Snap Judgments

? Too early to know if defensive players will join quarterbacks in being allowed to have a communication device in their helmets in '08. The Competition Committee is planning to discuss a new proposal that is very similar to the one that was narrowly defeated at last year's NFL annual meeting. Only one defensive player at a time could be designated to wear the helmet transmitter, but the problem that the committee is grappling with is how to deal with the higher rate of substitutions on defense.

"We're looking at a more practical way to handle the backup situation,'' Fisher said. "If you lose the defensive player, if the starter goes down, the backup has to have the capability to take over (the in-helmet communication). It's up to the defense to designate an every-down player to wear it.''