By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PALM BEACH, Fla. - Even though instant replay was approved for five more years, Bengals president Mike Brown holds out hope that one day it can be eliminated. The Bengals, Colts and Chiefs were the three dissenting votes in the 29-3 replay extension, which also included adding a third challenge per game for coaches who are successful with their first two.

Carolina's John Fox was the only NFL coach to successfully make two challenges in one game. "At least (five years) is better than having it on permanently," Brown said. "If it were on permanently, you'd have to have 24 votes to get it off. Now you need nine to get it off. At least it gives some chance."

TRUST EXTENDED: By a vote of 26-3-3, league owners approved a 15-year extension of the NFL Trust. It maintains the sharing of revenue from merchandise sales that was worth $4 million a team in 2003.

Dallas, Washington and Miami voted against the master agreement on business ventures. Oakland, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay abstained. Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said a nine-member committee would be created to study larger issues challenging the league's long-standing policy of revenue sharing.

SPEAKING OF DELAYS: NFL game officials are likely to call more defensive holding and pass interference penalties this season, said Mike Pereira, director of officiating. The "point of emphasis" for game officials will come after an 11-year single-season low in pass yardage.

"The (competition) committee looks for things that are good for the game, not individual players," Pereira said. "We want to allow receivers the right to run routes."

SAPPED: Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said the decision was his not to sign free agent defensive tackle Warren Sapp. Lewis confirmed Sapp's story that the Bengals tinkered with their offer and eventually pulled it off the table.

The rumor was Brown pulled the deal over Lewis' objection on March 19. Sapp agreed to a seven-year contract March 20 with Oakland. "Mike has the final say-so on everything because it's his football team," Lewis said. "It's an organization decision, so it's ultimately my decision, my yeah or nay on this deal. My nay."

DAILY DILLON BRIEFING: Lewis also fielded a dozen questions at the AFC Coaches Breakfast about disgruntled running back Corey Dillon and whether Dillon would be back with the Bengals. Asked if his team would be distracted by comments Dillon made two week's ago on national television, Lewis said, "I don't think our team really cares."

The Raiders continue to emerge as the team most interested in a trade for Dillon. Oakland coach Norv Turner, who likes to run his featured back 20-25 times a game, said current Raiders Tyrone Wheatley and Justin Fargas think they can fill the role.

But Turner, while careful not to mention Dillon by name, didn't rule him out. "If we got a great back, we're going to use him."

Denver coach Mike Shanahan did rule out a trade for Dillon, who has two seasons left on his five-year Bengals contract.

PLAYER NEWS: Former Bengal defensive tackle Oliver Gibson's contract in Buffalo is for two years. ... Former Broncos free agent defensive tackle Lional Dalton, who visited the Bengals, agreed to a two-year deal Tuesday with the Chiefs. ... The Bengals are believed to have renewed interest in cornerback Denard Walker, released Tuesday by the Vikings. Walker visited the Bengals last year as a free agent.

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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