PHOENIX -- NFL Europe is starting as planned, despite the war in Iraq.

The developmental league's players and coaches will leave for Germany, Spain, Netherlands and Scotland this week after the 32 NFL owners decided overwhelmingly Monday to proceed as usual.

"We're an American business in Europe,'' commissioner Paul Tagliabue said. "Like other American businesses, we have to continue on.''

The decision came on the first day of the NFL's annual meeting, which is expected to focus on proposals to change the overtime system and expand the playoffs from 12 teams to 14.

The competition committee, which recommends rules changes, split 4-4 on a move to change overtime and allow each team at least one possession. The committee was against the proposal by New England and Kansas City to expand the playoffs.

Tampa Bay general manager Rich McKay, co-chairman of the committee, said he favored the change in overtime and opposed the expansion of the playoffs. He noted that the league had agreed when it expanded to eight divisions for last season that teams had agreed to give the format at least two years.

"This is one and we haven't had any problems with it in the first year,'' McKay said.

He also noted that the league is slow to make major changes.

"Historically these are not rules that pass the first year they're proposed,'' he said. "Sometimes you have to let them percolate into the second year.''

The vote on those issues is expected Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning -- after plenty of debate.

But there wasn't much argument about NFL Europe, which starts play April 5. Its season ends in June.

The NFL had already discussed the situation with the six teams, which have been practicing in Florida, and were told that neither players nor coaches were too apprehensive about playing.

Three of the teams are based in Germany: the Frankfurt Galaxy, Rhein Fire and Berlin Thunder. The other three are the Barcelona Dragons, Amsterdam Admirals and Scottish Claymores.

Tagliabue said there was relatively little concern about the safety of Americans playing in those four countries.

"We've had the same security procedures in effect as we had for the NFL after Sept. 11,'' he said, referring to searches of fans entering stadiums and increased police presence. "There was a strong consensus that we play the season.''

The decision was not about money -- the league has lost money, not made it, in an effort to develop players. Many who have made it from NFL Europe to the big league are fringe or special teams players, although that league also produced two-time NFL MVP Kurt Warner.

The meetings began with Tagliabue's state of the league speech to the owners. He emphasized the importance of racial diversity in the league's hirings, including a new policy requiring every team to interview at least one minority candidate before hiring a head coach.

He said later that it was unlikely that there would be a decision at these meetings on what action to take against the Detroit Lions. They hired Steve Mariucci after saying that five black candidates declined interviews because they believed the team already had decided to hire the former San Francisco coach.

Pittsburgh owner Dan Rooney, chairman of the diversity committee, also said there was no consensus on what to recommend to the commissioner, who will make the final decision.

Tagliabue did say that if the league were to discipline the Lions, the team wouldn't lose a draft pick.

"Those are reserved for competitive issues,'' he said.