The NFL announced on Friday that nothing will change in response to a Titans punt hitting the low-hanging video board in the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium last week: Any play on which a ball hits the board will continue to be treated as a "do-over," and the Cowboys will not be required to raise the board.
In other words, the league isn't doing anything except hoping this issue goes away -- and ignoring the fact that the "do-over" rule could create all kinds of problems.
This is the NFL, not backyard football, and do-overs are not a viable long-term solution to the problem of the Cowboys' video board, which at 90 feet above the field is easily within reach of a punted ball, and maybe even a thrown ball.
I guarantee the eight special teams coaches who will visit Dallas this season are trying to think of scenarios where intentionally hitting the video board with a punt could give their team a competitive advantage. I'm assuming the Cowboys won't do anything to try to get any kind of advantage, as that would be highly embarrassing for Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, and Jones is a man who doesn't like to be embarrassed. Then again, Jones is also a man who doesn't like to lose. If the Cowboys' coaches can think of a way that hitting the video board could help the team, maybe they'd have Jones' blessing to do it.
So what kind of competitive advantage could be gained?
One possibility is using an intentional do-over to set up a fake punt: A team planning a fake punt might try to make the Cowboys think they're really punting by first lining up its punting unit and telling the punter to hit the board -- then running a fake on the do-over play, when the Cowboys won't be expecting it. Another possibility is that a visiting team could use intentional do-overs after the offense goes three-and-out to give the defense more time to rest.
Personal fouls will still be enforced, so you can't just tell your punter to hit the board and tell the other 10 guys to take all the cheap shots they want. But even there, problems could exist: What if the ball hits the board and one of the gunners on the punt team sees it and stops -- but a player on the receiving team doesn't see it and drills the gunner with a hard block? Should that block be flagged as a late hit?
And we haven't even gotten to the problems with a thrown ball hitting the video board. ESPN's Adam Schefter had several posts on Twitter Friday that explored those possibilities: What if a Hail Mary gets knocked down by the video board? What if a quarterback drops back, scans the field, doesn't like what he sees and chucks the ball 90 feet in the air to force a do-over? Would that be intentional grounding? Or intentional scoreboarding?The bottom line is that the NFL and the Cowboys need to acknowledge they seriously screwed up: You simply can't have an NFL stadium with a giant obstruction hanging 90 feet over the playing field. Let's just hope they admit their mistake and raise the board before we see a game-changing do-over.
Follow me on Twitter @MichaelDavSmith.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Hey! NFL, Jerry Jones! Get that thing out of the way!
I like the idea of the quarterback hitting it. Look downfield, no open recievers, throw at the videoboard. Get a "do-over", no loss of down. Keep doing it until someone is open, take 30, 40 downs per set if necessary. 8 teams get to do this one game a year. Cowboys get to do this 8 games a year. No unfair advantage here? That Jerry is a sly one!
That scoreboard can show yet another season ending choke for the boys for all to see up close.
LOL, but this year it will be in HD...
Were all hoping for a losing season and that Jones goes in the tank.
Easy solution. Any time the punt hits the scoreboard it's a delay of game penalty against the home team. Then they'll raise the sucker.
and if a visiting teams pass hits it,pass interferance.If Romo hits it,delay of game. Jones will raise that stupid screen so fast it will create a breeze.what crap.you want to watch the cowgirls in HD save your ticket money and buy a plasma for your single wide. HTTR
Just more evidence that Jones and the 'Boys are losers.
A couple quotes from a blog post today:
"This is not a good combination for the ultra-precise NFL, which mandates everything from proper conduct after touchdowns to which body parts hitting the ground constitute a tackle to the appropriate way to wear socks."
"As (Jones and Dalrymple) stood on the sideline and watched, they smiled with seeming amusement. This was an odd reaction as you would expect their look to be more along the lines of a ghostly, wide-eyed stare and as if they had each just swallowed a football while witnessing their organization's colossal error in planning. It appeared that their conversation went something like this: ...."
http://www.imjustsayingphilly.com/2009/08/dallas-cowboys-massive-scoreboard.html
I have often said spending lots of money on something never replaces good sense. The Cowboys did not do their homework when they built this $1.15 billion mess. So far they are talking about is the screen. Someone needs to address the seats that have no view of the field or the screen. Good job Jerry what are going to do for the next stadium.
So WWLeake, what else are you people going to pick on in this new Stadium. Your comments about TV screens no longer have merit after the NFL ruled not to raise the screens. I myself wished they would have taken my suggestion ( raise the screens and then FINED anyone trying to hit them ). As for the seats with no view, being a Cowboy fan, I too Laughed that the 2 seats being blocked from viewing the entire field. I am sure Jerry will elimate those seats from being purchased, but I suggest he leaves them for VIPs and fans from the oppossing teams. Oh, I will also suggest to Jerry to give you Free popcorn and a very small IPod screen for your total viewing enjoyment while visiting our stadium. LOLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Well, you gotta figure some Dallas fan will defend the damned thing. There's always someone out there who will take the side of even the worst offender in society, and this has got to be one of the worst offenses in NFL society. . . .
Luv, why do you call Jones one of the worst Offenders? What has he done? If you are going to make an off the wall comment prove it. This new Stadium is offensive?? Why, because it is bigger and different than all the rest? Do you hate Jones because he gave people like Pacman, Tank and TO chances? These guys were drafted and played for other teams at first. The Cowboys are NOT the only organization that has ever taken chances on certain players. Worst offenses in NFL society, hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. I rather think of Jones as a Poineer, he has the guts to try something new to improve viewing pleasure. So there was a glitch with the Screens, at least now other owners will try to take the credit for doing it right after learning from this experience. Defending my Boys,damg straight! At least this Cowboy fan does not make fun or deragatory comments about other teams. If I have something to say, you can bet it's a fact.
The NFL should admit the mistake,change the rule and make them raise the damn thing
Every punter in the leaugue will be aiming at it!
It's a challenge. We all tried to hit the gondola in the superdome, but only Ray Guy could get it. I hit some suspension cables in some stadiums when I punted in college, but I was aimimg for them of course! I also punted a ball out onto the street and once into a snack bar behind the endzone just for fun.
I mean how else does a PUNTER get attention and get to show off.
If the NFL said 90 feet or whetever, Jones should have been on the safe side. And he does need to fix it when the season is over.
The cowboy scoreboard must have been another Steven Jones decision,Jerry's boy. Another one of those families like Feed the Children,Larry Jones (my kids come first), must be a relation. Steven Jones head of player personel is the one who brought in Cryin Leaf,Pack Man Jones, Terrel Owens, and other psychos and screwups.Of course Jerry daddy game him his money he never mad it.
Maybe, just raise the screen when it's evident someone is going to punt. Lower it when the play is over? Sounds pretty simple. Might cost a few thousand but it sure beats the situation their in.