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NFL outlines policy for Cowboys Stadium video boards

The Associated Press

The Cowboys suspended the huge high-definition video screens 90 feet above the field, five feet more than the NFL minimum.

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The Associated Press

Published: August 28, 2009

Updated: 08/28/2009 12:13 pm

ARLINGTON, Texas - Jerry Jones can keep his video boards hanging right where they are, at least for this season.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Friday clarified rules on punts that ricochet off the high-definition monitors hanging over most of the field at the new Cowboys Stadium. Perhaps the key piece of his ruling is that the guidelines cover only this season, an indication the league may force Jones to raise the boards before the 2010 season, which ends with the Super Bowl in his building.

The league clearly wouldn't want even the remote possibility of a championship decided by a ball hitting a TV screen within a punter's reach.

"We will continue to address the particular circumstances in Dallas, giving full consideration to the competitive, safety and fan experience issues involved," Goodell said in a statement. "The Cowboys have been fully cooperative as we have addressed this subject, and we will continue to work closely with the club on a longer term resolution."

Jones was not immediately available for comment.

The video boards are the signature item of the $1.15 billion stadium because of their clarity and size: 60 yards long, stretching from 20-yard line to 20-yard line. The problem is they are 90 feet above the field.

While that is five feet above the league's standard, the ease Tennessee punters had kicking balls into the boards before — and once during — last Saturday night's debut game indicates that standard might need revision.

It happens that Titans coach Jeff Fisher is head of the NFL's competition committee, meaning his group worked with the league office to figure out how to handle balls conking off the boards.

Jones has been staunchly against changes. He insists the boards aren't in the way when punters kick toward the sideline as they're supposed to do. Thus, Jones — and Cowboys punter Mat McBriar — say this has become a big issue because Titans punters intentionally kicked high and down the middle to try hitting the boards.

McBriar has yet to hit the boards and he insists "no one has told me not to hit it." He definitely has the leg to reach it — he topped 100 feet during a trial two years ago when Jones was deciding the height — but always aims his kicks away from the center of the field.

"It looks lower than it is just because of the size of it," McBriar said.

Fisher's complaint went beyond the height. He realized officials didn't even see the ball hitting the boards because they were all watching the action on the field; he threw his challenge flag to make sure they realized what had happened. The ruling was a do-over, but the clock was not reset.

The new rules — which apply to all stadiums even though it's only an issue at this one — address those concerns.

Downs will still be replayed "if a ball in play strikes a video board, guide wire, sky cam, or any other object," but now the game clock will be reset to the time when the first play was snapped. Any penalties during the wiped-out play won't count, except for personal fouls.

Also, if officials on the field don't see the ball hitting the board, the replay assistant can now initiate a booth review at any time, not just during the final two minutes when replay assistants can decide all reviews. If the replay assistant doesn't ask for a review, this is something a coach can challenge.

Former Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson was in the stadium Thursday.

"If there's anything wrong, it's that people are going to watch the video board and not the game," Johnson said. "It is so dominating, but I think it's so cool. I think it's great."

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