Some Field Goals Could Be Subject to Replay Reviews in Future Seasons

The NFL's competition committee will study the issue this offseason of whether instant replay should be made available to review certain field goal attempts, a league spokesman said today.

The committee's consideration will come in reaction to the bizarre ending of the Cleveland Browns' triumph Sunday over the Baltimore Ravens. A tying field goal attempt by the Browns at the end of regulation initially was ruled no good even though the ball first struck an upright, then the curved support behind the crossbar before bouncing back onto the field in the end zone. But the officials spoke and changed the call, ruling the field goal good, and the Browns won in overtime.

Ravens Coach Brian Billick said Monday that the team would communicate its concerns about the play to the league office. League officials have said the call was correct and instant replay was not used to make it. There have been reports that the referee put on a headset on the sideline to consult with replay officials. But NFL officials have said that was merely to double-check whether the call was subject to an instant replay review.

Under NFL rules, field goals are not subject to replay reviews, in part because league officials don't believe video would be helpful for a kick that sails directly above an upright.

"The competition committee will look at whether replay should be able to review field goals if the kick hits something," Greg Aiello, the NFL's senior vice president of public relations, said today.

Game officials are instructed that a field goal is good if the kick strikes a camera mounted on the support bar behind the crossbar. That happened on a Buffalo Bills' field goal Sunday night against the New England Patriots, and the kick immediately was ruled good.

By Mark Maske |  November 20, 2007; 10:00 PM ET  | Category:  Browns , League , Ravens
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