Expansion Of Instant Replay Only Matter Of Time, Lewand Says
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
PHOENIX - Before the NFL owners meetings commenced Monday, teams submitted 13 proposals related to instant replay. Only one of them, which allows for the game clock to be reviewed at the end of a half or at the end of a game, received approval.
One of the 12 proposals that did not pass belonged to the Detroit Lions, who wanted penalties - even notoriously subjective ones like pass interference and holding - to be subject to review.
Leading up to the meetings, the Lions did not express optimism about their proposal passing, but team president Tom Lewand said Tuesday that he believes changes in the instant replay system will happen eventually.
"The issue of expansion of instant replay isn't going to go away," Lewand said in a sit-down interview with Detroit reporters at the Arizona Biltmore. "We haven't come up with the right solution yet, but the issue isn't going to go away."
One of the proposals, which the competition committee tabled, suggested the installation of fixed cameras on the goal lines, sidelines and end lines. Ideally, the placement of such cameras would aid in the review process because officials would no longer be solely reliant on network cameras.
Lewand noted there has been some movement toward embracing technology to improve the game, but he understands the committee's tendency to be cautious about it.
"As things like cameras on the sideline ... or on the end lines and the goal line continue to be explored, you'll see more technology adopted," Lewand said, "but I also think there's a desire to do that in a very thoughtful and deliberate fashion as opposed to running out to use the latest technology and deploy it quickly without a lot of thought as to what the ramifications of that are."
