Jump to content

  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

Monday Night Double Header

Darth Biscuit

By Darth Biscuit,
in Carolina Panthers

Recommended Posts

Kevin Greene Newbie

Kevin Greene

Posted
Posted

ESPN "B" team justifies their assignment

Posted by Mike Florio on September 15, 2009 12:24 AM ET

Look, it would be easy to sit here and type (again) that the guys who work the second half of the season-opening Monday night twin bill on ESPN don't exude the same level of competence as the folks who handle the weekly MNF assignment.

But here's a tangible example of the gap between the folks who handled the early game and the trio who (as rumor has it) includes a radio tag-team that is being groomed to eventually move into two of the top slots on Monday nights.

Near the end of the first half of the nightcap between San Diego and Oakland, Raiders wideout Louis Murphy seemed to make a 19-yard touchdown pass. In real time, it looked to be a catch.

But then came news that the replay booth had called for a review, and every member of the broadcast team (and, presumably, the folks talking into their headsets) expressed a belief that the play would be upheld, even though after Murphy's feet hit the ground he fell to the turf, the ball hit the grass, and the ball moved.

While waiting for the ruling, they sounded like three guys sitting around someone's living room, reinforcing each other's inaccurate understanding of the rules while eating pretzels and drinking light beer.

"He's got two feet, he's gonna be OK," Steve Young said.

Though Mike Greenberg seemed to be focusing on the right thing -- whether the ball moved when it struck the ground -- the former NFL players in the booth apparently influenced him to agree.

"I'd be very surprised if they overturn this," Greenberg eventually said.

"I'd be stunned if they overturn it," Mike Golic added.

After more expressions of certainty, Young said that two feet down in the end zone with the ball ends the play.

But it gets better. They then accounted for the possibility that the rule requires possession to be maintained once the player hits the ground -- and they contended that possession was maintained even though multiple angles showed the ball clearly moving as it hit the ground.

So, of course, the call was overturned. And then they disagreed with the explanation from the guy who doesn't work only one NFL game per year, but 20 of them, possibly with playoffs.

"Look, I understand that it moved," Young said, "but he still controls it."

Golic then chimed in that Murphy's arm was still under the ball when it struck the ground and moved.

"When the ball moves, does it mean that you've lost control?" Young said. (Um, yes. It does.)

...
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • carolinanimal
      Bryce's Achilles Heel Is Not What You Think It Is

      By carolinanimal · Posted

      i think the difference is that we win when we minimize Bryce as part of the offense ala Trent dilfer. look at the games we win and he us always under 200 yards passing. 
    • *FreeFua*
      Other NFL Games Week 7

      By *FreeFua* · Posted

      Which is also why we talk about there being a lower ceiling for Bryce I think Bryce sees the game decently well already given the mess this offence has been for the better part of his career. His big WTF plays are typically him just dropping the damn ball Which leaves me wondering sometimes what does peak Bryce look like. Guys like Sam you’d watch in NY/Carolina and he’d have so many boneheaded plays that you were left thinking if he could just clean these up you’d have a solid QB. And now we’re finally seeing Sam in a good offence and he’s able to play with timing and within structure and those boneheaded plays are cut down to 2-3 times a game Bryce doesn’t have a ton of boneheaded plays (minus flat out dropping the ball) so I dunno. I think Bryce can be a solid QB. Put Bryce in Seattle or Tampa and they’re still winning a lot of games  Coaching and overall team matters so much. The only dude that I think could probably do the most with the least in this league would be Lamar 
    • kungfoodude
      Other NFL Games Week 7

      By kungfoodude · Posted

      They both struggle with that but Lawrence is a significantly better athlete and an INSANELY more physically gifted passer. He has very limited reasons to be struggling the way he has. I will say, when he came into the league I specifically remember an interview that he basically intimated that he would be okay if his life didn't involve football and I have always questioned if he was passionate enough to be elite from that moment onward.
×
×
  • Create New...