New England in overtime

[Bob78164]

New England screwed up on the overtime kickoff. I'm not talking about their decision not to receive. I'm talking about how they communicated it. They intended to choose to defend a particular end zone. But the first words out of the player's mouth were, "We'll kick . . . ." Once he said that, he had elected to kick, giving the Jets the opportunity to choose which goal they wanted to defend.

It's not the first time this mistake has been made. In the 1962 AFL championship game, Abner Haynes of the Dallas Texans won the toss. His coach, Hank Stram, had told him that the wind was more important than getting the ball first. So Haynes told the referee, "We'll kick toward the clock." That's how Houston ended up with both the ball and the wind to start overtime.

Here's video. The coin toss is shown starting at about the 1:40 mark.



Fortunately for Haynes, neither team scored in the first overtime, and Dallas ended up winning in the second overtime. I believe this is still the longest game ever played in the AFL or the NFL.

What I find amusing is that one of the commentators on the famous gaffe is Bill Belichick. --Bob

[Vandal]

The weather, particularly the wind, was not a factor in overtime. There was no advantage to defending either end.

Shitty defense, on the other hand, was quite an important factor.

BBs thinking (as I understand it) was to hold the Jets as they had the previous three drives, then win on a field goal (or even TD) since the depleted offense was likely going to get one chance at the most.

Best laid plans and all.

[Bob78164]

The weather, particularly the wind, was not a factor in overtime. There was no advantage to defending either end.

Neil Paine of fivethirtyeight.com thinks otherwise.

Belichick says he was playing for field position, so the wind, which reached 18 mph at times, was pretty clearly a factor.

--Bob

[mellytu74]

TODD BOWLES!!! TEMPLE MADE AND TEMPLE PROUD, BABY!!!!

Since neither Boonie nor I are enamored with (or have EVER been enamored with) Chip Kelly - Genius, we have plenty of post-season rooting options. Although it IS much tougher for Boonie, because he is a lifelong Eagles' fans. It is interesting to hear fans discuss CK-G on the radio.

[We were fans, mind you, but always more casual about the Eagles than the Phillies or Warriors/Sixer (and later, the Flyers). TLAF, for example, would root for the Packers because she loved Paul Hornung from his Notre Dame days. Ditto the Raiders and Darryl Lamonica. So, while we were Eagles fans, we always had back-up plans].

This year, we have a smorgasbord of rooting interests:

Denver's Brandon McManus (of Temple)
Washington's Terrence (Pot Roast) Knighton (of Temple) -- although I won't actually ROOT for the Washington NFL team, I would like Knighton to do well.
Kansas City's Andy Reid and Jeremy Maclin. Hahahahaha. Yes, it was time for Andy to go somewhere for a fresh start but, hahahaha. And, Chip, maybe ya shoudda returned Maclin's phone calls. Oh, and because Tamba Hali's name is so much fun to say.
Houston Texans (for Bix)
New York Jets Todd Bowles and Muhammad Wilkerson (both from Temple)*
Arizona's Bruce Arians (former Temple coach). And 97 year-old Carson Palmer. And Larry Fitzgerald.**

*Yes - I realize this is not yet a done deal. AND, if it's Pittsburgh, we root for the Rooney family because they are the anti-Lurie. Pitt plays for free at Heinz Field because Pitt is an asset to the city; Temple just signed an two-year extension of its current lease. For the new lease, Jeffrey Lurie wants $12 million up front from Temple to play at the Linc, plus $2 million per game. The newly elected Mayor of Philadelphia told Jeff Lurie he should be more like the Rooney family and the city's second- or third-largest employer (and its students) deserve better.

**I cannot, however, root for the Cardinals to win everything (as beloved as Bruce Arians is in the Temple community). Because of the Pottsville Maroons. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1925_NFL_ ... ontroversy.

[SportsFan68]

[We were fans, mind you, but always more casual about the Eagles than the Phillies or Warriors/Sixer (and later, the Flyers). TLAF, for example, would root for the Packers because she loved Paul Hornung from his Notre Dame days. Ditto the Raiders and Darryl Lamonica. So, while we were Eagles fans, we always had back-up plans].

Clem/Joey and I had a brief, good natured go-round about back up rooting plans. He insisted that you have one team, and that's it -- when your team goes out you become an interested bystander. I insist that you can have two teams, one for you and secondarily your husband's if your team goes out in the playoffs before his does. Same for him. This works quite well until we play each other in the AFC Championship.

Go Broncos!

[jarnon]

I cannot, however, root for the Cardinals to win everything (as beloved as Bruce Arians is in the Temple community). Because of the Pottsville Maroons. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1925_NFL_ ... ontroversy.

I never knew about that controversy. By coincidence, my uncle was involved in a similar controversy just 3 years later. He was the captain of the team that won the first Israel Cup in 1928. (It's called that even though, technically, Israel didn't exist until 1948. Sort of like Super Bowl I & II.) That's him sitting behind the trophies:



However, the second-place club appealed to the Israel Football Association, claiming that a player on my uncle's team wasn't registered. The appeal was accepted and the teams were ordered to share the cup. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1928_Palestine_Cup

[jarnon]

Since neither Boonie nor I are enamored with (or have EVER been enamored with) Chip Kelly - Genius, we have plenty of post-season rooting options. Although it IS much tougher for Boonie, because he is a lifelong Eagles' fans. It is interesting to hear fans discuss CK-G on the radio.

Now it's Chip Kelly - Unemployed Genius.

[mellytu74]

TODD BOWLES!!! TEMPLE MADE AND TEMPLE PROUD, BABY!!!!

Since neither Boonie nor I are enamored with (or have EVER been enamored with) Chip Kelly - Genius, we have plenty of post-season rooting options. Although it IS much tougher for Boonie, because he is a lifelong Eagles' fans. It is interesting to hear fans discuss CK-G on the radio.

[We were fans, mind you, but always more casual about the Eagles than the Phillies or Warriors/Sixer (and later, the Flyers). TLAF, for example, would root for the Packers because she loved Paul Hornung from his Notre Dame days. Ditto the Raiders and Darryl Lamonica. So, while we were Eagles fans, we always had back-up plans].

This year, we have a smorgasbord of rooting interests:

Denver's Brandon McManus (of Temple)
Washington's Terrence (Pot Roast) Knighton (of Temple) -- although I won't actually ROOT for the Washington NFL team, I would like Knighton to do well.
Kansas City's Andy Reid and Jeremy Maclin. Hahahahaha. Yes, it was time for Andy to go somewhere for a fresh start but, hahahaha. And, Chip, maybe ya shoudda returned Maclin's phone calls. Oh, and because Tamba Hali's name is so much fun to say.
Houston Texans (for Bix)
New York Jets Todd Bowles and Muhammad Wilkerson (both from Temple)*
Arizona's Bruce Arians (former Temple coach). And 97 year-old Carson Palmer. And Larry Fitzgerald.**

*Yes - I realize this is not yet a done deal. AND, if it's Pittsburgh, we root for the Rooney family because they are the anti-Lurie. Pitt plays for free at Heinz Field because Pitt is an asset to the city; Temple just signed an two-year extension of its current lease. For the new lease, Jeffrey Lurie wants $12 million up front from Temple to play at the Linc, plus $2 million per game. The newly elected Mayor of Philadelphia told Jeff Lurie he should be more like the Rooney family and the city's second- or third-largest employer (and its students) deserve better.

**I cannot, however, root for the Cardinals to win everything (as beloved as Bruce Arians is in the Temple community). Because of the Pottsville Maroons. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1925_NFL_ ... ontroversy.

Oh my!! I completely forgot one ....

Carolina - with ex-Eagle coaches Ron Rivera and Sean McDermott. And that Cam Newton is just so much fun to watch!

[mellytu74]

Since neither Boonie nor I are enamored with (or have EVER been enamored with) Chip Kelly - Genius, we have plenty of post-season rooting options. Although it IS much tougher for Boonie, because he is a lifelong Eagles' fans. It is interesting to hear fans discuss CK-G on the radio.

Now it's Chip Kelly - Unemployed Genius.

If I had known that posting about it here could do that, I would have done it ages ago!

[mellytu74]

I cannot, however, root for the Cardinals to win everything (as beloved as Bruce Arians is in the Temple community). Because of the Pottsville Maroons. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1925_NFL_ ... ontroversy.

I never knew about that controversy. By coincidence, my uncle was involved in a similar controversy just 3 years later. He was the captain of the team that won the first Israel Cup in 1928. (It's called that even though, technically, Israel didn't exist until 1948. Sort of like Super Bowl I & II.) That's him sitting behind the trophies:



However, the second-place club appealed to the Israel Football Association, claiming that a player on my uncle's team wasn't registered. The appeal was accepted and the teams were ordered to share the cup. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1928_Palestine_Cup

Interesting story, Jarnon.