NFL Adopts Expanded Instant Replay

CHARLOTTE (The Sports Xchange) - Expanded instant replay was approved at the NFL Owners meetings Tuesday with a focus on preventing administrative issues.

The changes are not the extensive overhaul of instant replay proposed by the Baltimore Ravens but the expansion of communication to correct mistakes related to the game clock, down and distance and penalty yardage represent new additions to what the NFL defines as reviewable. The adopted proposal was made by the league's competition committee.

Beginning with the 2016 season, the following plays are reviewable: any score, interception, fumble or backward pass recovered by an opponent or out of bounds, muffed scrimmage kick (punt). Initiating a challenge when not permitted to do so results in the loss of a timeout. If the team is out of timeouts, it will be penalized 15 yards.

Changes incorporate expanded powers of the game replay official.

All reviews are to be a maximum of one minute and per the league's statement "all reviewable aspects of the play may be examined and are subject to reversal, even if not identified by a coaches' challenge or if not the specific reason for a Replay Official's request for review."

The only penalty that is subject to review are those related to the number of player on the field at the snap, even when a foul is not called.

The key phrases such as "obvious physical evidence" required to overturn a call on the field remain. However, the NFL will use its remote officiating administrators to confer with game officials on reviewable plays including any "administrative items."