NFL NEWS

NFL to research adding goal-line cameras

The Sports Xchange

March 29, 2015 at 1:35 pm.

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL will start research and development on Monday into New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick’s idea to add cameras to the goal line to assist with replay, Albert Breer of NFL Media reported Sunday.

At last week’s owners meetings in Phoenix, Belichick reportedly criticized the NFL for not wanting to pay the cost of goal-line and sideline cameras. The extra cameras could give officials better replay angles and more accuracy of reviews.

Belichick and the Patriots proposed the rule change the last two years, but the rule wasn’t adopted. This time, the league tabled the proposal. Since 2011, all scoring plays have been subject to review.

According Breer, the league wants to determine the right technology and then how to best integrate the cameras into the replay system that will work in all 31 stadiums.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Belichick strongly voiced his displeasure in a closed-door meeting last week that included NFL head of officials Dean Blandino.

Belichick was angry that the league — with its billions of dollars a year in revenue — isn’t willing to pay to make the officiating better.

“We spend money to send the Pro Bowl to Brazil, we spend money to go overseas to London, but we can’t spend money to have four cameras in the end zone, four cameras to help determine the correct call in the end zone on certain plays?” Schefter reported that Belichick said.

New York Giants co-owner John Mara, a member of the Competition Committee, told Newsday last week there was insufficient support for the proposal to have fixed cameras installed at the goal lines and sidelines for all stadiums. He cited cost and inconsistent configurations of different stadiums.

When asked about the proposal last week at the AFC Coaches Breakfast, Belichick did not seem hopeful that it would pass.

“It’s disappointing every year we can’t afford that as a league,” Belichick said. “They brought that up as a concern. It was kind of surprising to hear that.”

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