Scoreboard Malfunction During Ravens Field Goal
by Richard Hill on Jan 25, 2012 2:14 AM EST
in New England Patriots News
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Apparently everyone is reporting that the scoreboard at Gillette Stadium malfunctioned during the end of the Patriots vs Ravens AFC Championship Game. According to a report by DeadSpin, the scoreboard was displaying the incorrect down. It appears as if kicker Billy Cundiff was in his mental preparation stages for his field goal attempt and his preparation involves a certain action for each down.
Prior to the malfunction, Patriots ATH Julian Edelman forced a fumble on an Anquan Boldin reception. The ball went out of bounds and, according to the rules, the ball was placed at the location of Boldin's fumble. Here's the official ruling:
A fumble that goes forward and out of bounds will return to the fumbling team at the spot of the fumble unless the ball goes out of bounds in the opponent’s end zone. In this case, it is a touchback.
Since the ball clearly did not go out of bounds, the ball should have been placed at the spot of the fumble: the 14 yard line. The Ravens needed to reach the 13 yard line in order to reach a new set of downs.
However, the scoreboard operators posted the incorrect down and the scoreboard read 1st and 10. Here's a screenshot from the All-22 Film, where coaches must show the scoreboard prior to showing the play:
As you can see, it clearly says 1st and 10. The Patriots operators messed up. Was this all a ploy by the Patriots organization to receive an unfair advantage? I don't think so. The markers on the field had the correct downs. While Cundiff used the scoreboard as reference for the down, the Patriots are either master psychologists or they just plain screwed up. I'm leaning towards "screwed up."
Oh, and they fixed the mistake. I don't have access to the All-22s from the 3rd down play, but they fixed the mistake by the 4th down:
So Cundiff was unintentionally mislead, in my opinion. The Ravens should have used their timeout if they were truly confused.
While I think this is a mess out of nothing, this is the proof that there was an actual issue with the scoreboard at Gillette. Hopefully an explanation can come from the Razor to explain the mistake.
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Scoreboard malfunction
didn’t cause Evans to drop his TD pass or Flacco to get flushed out of the pocket and throw an incomplete pass.
Shawn Johnson... she's a nice lady
No need for an explaination.
Just a pathetic excuse for someone who choked in the biggest moment of his life.
The coaches should know the down, the players should know the down, the assistants should know the down and even the water boys should know the downs. It is a fundamental part of the game that you are taught in Pop Warner.
His first mistake was looking at the scoreboard to find out info he clearly should have know.
My Twitter @totheights
An explanation would be nice.
Because they clearly did make a mistake. And when the teams can stand on a field 60 yards long, it’s hard for every player to see the sticks- especially when the kicker is trying to go through is routine. It’s understandable.
The reported downs should not have played a part in the result whatsoever. Any additional information should be considered controversial. Just a vacuum explanation for why the down was misstated on the scoreboard.
by Richard Hill on Jan 25, 2012 2:46 AM EST up reply actions
Forget the sticks
What about your coaches? What’s the point of having hundreds of assistants to the assistant to the assistant if they’re all staring at a scoreboard to keep track of what’s actually going on in the game?
Sorry, but I don’t buy it. I wasn’t aware the scoreboard operator’s work was supposed to be admissible in court or anything. I’ve seen so many errors on a scoreboard in my lifetime, from little league to the professional leagues. Lord knows how many times I’ve seen the operators during an NBA game award a made basket to the other team on accident.
You don’t see the opposing team come out after they lose the game and claim they didn’t attempt a 3 because they were down by 4—according to the scoreboard—when they should have been down by 2.
Can I Scream?
The fact that the board was run by a Patriots official.
I’m sure it’s a mistake. It would just be nice for them to clear the air.
The fact that the Ravens have a “kicker consultant” puts all of the blame on them. The Patriots aren’t at fault. Just saying that the Ravens aren’t making it up.
by Richard Hill on Jan 25, 2012 12:13 PM EST up reply actions
Seriously?
The fact that the board was run by a Patriots official.
Was that actually proven? I assumed scoreboards—so something like this wouldn’t happen—would be operated by an NFL official with no ties to either team.
Can I Scream?
Ummm
According to a lot of ESPN.com posters on the boards, a NFL official ran the scoreboards, at least for the playoffs.
Go Pats. Celtics. Red Sox. Bruins.
Brady. Pierce. Thomas. How you doing?
Ok you're right
Go Pats. Celtics. Red Sox. Bruins.
Brady. Pierce. Thomas. How you doing?
Richard, you seem top be accusing the Pats of doing something wrong
and yet, we have multiple people here saying the scoreboard in the playoffs is run by the NFL, and not the home team, so first of all, let;s get that cleared up if we can.
However, even if it was the Pats home people running the scoreboard, this very notion is absurd to me. The Ravens are grasping at straws and look pathetic. There have been so many rational posts here about the reason you have coaches, and assistants, down and distance markers, (which by the way, are not always accurate either), and the fact that everyone on the Pats side seemed to know the down. I’m a little incredulous that you are making an issue of this. I am not under the impression that players even look at the scoreboard, other than the occasional game clock, but how often do you see QB’s not look at it at all, and get called for delay as they take their time calling the next play. I could go on and on, I’ll just say I strongly disagree that this is even worthy of talking about.
And to be clear - it's not the Ravens organization,
but their kicking consultant Randy Brown who took the cowardly cheap shot, alluding to improprieties on the air.
Keep the faith!
I thought it was worth noting.
No, it didn’t have an affect on the game. Yes, everyone is talking about it. Yes, it pertains to the Patriots. Yes, these are the only pictures on the web of the downs in question.
I think it’s worth a post.
by Richard Hill on Jan 25, 2012 3:24 PM EST up reply actions
Harbaugh should have used his TO
If his kicker was so flustered. But of course, if Cundiff has missed that kick as well, people would say he pulled a Garett and iced his kicker. Either case, people are really making something out of nothing. Always looking for some dirt and drama when it concerns the Patriots. I still can’t believe the whole McD and Broncos thing got so big.
Don’t ever wrestle with a pig. You’ll both get dirty, but the pig will enjoy it.
1 Cor 13:13
This. They had a time out, terrible coaching job not to use it.
by frogfromthemud on Jan 25, 2012 9:18 AM EST up reply actions
Cundiff...
could have asked for a time out too if he felt his kick was being rushed. A scoreboard malfunction is no excuse for missing a chip shot field goal.
Either way, he missed it, and the Ravens and their fans have to deal with that fact. If the Ravens seriously want to blame the Patriots for missing and easy field goal, I say let them. If they blame us then they will never address their own lack of preparation and discipline, and they’ll keep coming up empty in big situations…and of course there will always be someone else to blame for it.
"If you know how to cheat, start now." - Earl Weaver
That would have made more sense, since he couldn't be accused of icing himself.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
Some people can learn from the mistakes of others, while some people need to pee on the electric fence themselves.
Belichick is looking for a new name for his boat: VI Rings sounds pretty good.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jan 25, 2012 11:38 AM EST up reply actions
The Patriots cheated!!
Just as all the other teams would say as an excuse. Nah. The Pats field just screwed up. Like you all said…Ravens could’ve used a timeout. Besides, this isn’t the first time Cundiff missed close-range field goal kicks…(weeks 1-5 games, Pittsburgh game, Jacksonville game, Chargers game, etc…)
Let’s admit that Cundiff choked, and everyone makes mistakes. I’d blame this on Harbaugh for not calling a timeout when he should have.
Cundiff was money from home...
…but was kicking closer to 50% in Away games.
by Richard Hill on Jan 25, 2012 3:39 AM EST up reply actions
It was my screams all the way from Hawaii that caused the scoreboard to malfunction.
I’ve also caused noise-meters in basketball arenas to move all by myself, so there is a precedent here. Sorry, Cundiff.
#WinItFourMyra
"There's no place like it, and it's ours." - Stephen King on Fenway Park
by 808BostonSportsFan on Jan 25, 2012 3:55 AM EST reply actions
I think we all were.
#WinItFourMyra
"There's no place like it, and it's ours." - Stephen King on Fenway Park
by 808BostonSportsFan on Jan 25, 2012 3:30 PM EST up reply actions
Everyone knew what down it was
John Harbaugh knew. The Ravens even have a Kicking Consultant on the sideline, Randy Brown, who knew what down it was. The Special Teams Coordinator on the sideline knew. The holder and snapper and the rest of the ST unit knew. Maybe the kicking consultant could have told his kicker what down it was, unless he was doing more important things than what his title suggests.
Notice that Randy Brown didn’t complain to the league about it either – he goes on a radio station in Philly to accuse the Patriots of cheating. The man didn’t do his job. The CBS cameras catch John Harbaugh giving him a shove on the sideline right before the Ravens decide to go for it on 4th down with just under 3 minutes left in the game.
If Brown had a legitimate concern, he should go to the league. If he made a mistake with his kicker that might have cost his team a chance for overtime, then he should own up to it and quit whining to the press.
Keep the faith!
Patriots dont control the scoreboard
The rules apparently are that for the playoff games etc, it is the NFL that controls the scoreboard and not the Patriots. So in this case, it would be an NFL employee that was responsible.
furthermore...
don’t they see the markers on the sideline? what the heck were the coaches doing?
not only that...
But they would be making the ridiculous accusation that a) the Patriots/NFL knew beforehand of Cundiff’s peculiar pre-kick rain-dance, b) knew that such a thing as a fresh new set of downs (the very purpose of an offends is to obtain this, no?) would throw his game off, and c) that the Pats rigged the fumble, and this game to make it so that the fate of the game rested on a last second field goal.
Its so ridiculous i canrlt even express it corlherently.
How could anyone possibly come up with a conspiracy such as this in a matter of seconds?
#Bradyismymancrush
by The Talented Mr. Dickey on Jan 25, 2012 9:56 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
spelling fails all over. dang touch screens.
#Bradyismymancrush
by The Talented Mr. Dickey on Jan 25, 2012 9:57 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
i hate when that happens
i also dislike it when it autocorrects me
Tedy Bruschi- "How do we feel about being AFC Champs?"
Team- "Aww Yeah!!!"
by freeland1787 on Jan 25, 2012 10:26 AM EST up reply actions
It's one area where Michael Felger nailed it
pointing out the fact that Patriots fans almost never have had to worry about end-of-game situations being botched like this. Belichick is consistently aware of the down, the time and the situation. Every Training Camp I’ve attended has included drills with the special teams units having to be ready and run onto the field, etc… This is so when it counts, it’s second-nature. Just like Sterling Moore explaining how he instinctively reached out to knock the ball away from Lee Evans. Do it enough in practice and it is one less thing to remember or think about during a game – it’s just done naturally.
Keep the faith!
The old adage rings true, once again
“Practice makes perfect.”
The amount of preparation this team displays each weekend is nothing short of incredible. You don’t notice it as much during the regular season; but in the playoffs, the small things are so magnified.
Can I Scream?
BB runs practices like a drill instructor and as a father figure simultaneously
He is someone who gets very intense (more so than tom brady) and will always have his players back
Tedy Bruschi- "How do we feel about being AFC Champs?"
Team- "Aww Yeah!!!"
by freeland1787 on Jan 25, 2012 12:55 PM EST up reply actions
Facts, scmacts...
it’s a big old conspiracy hatched by Bill Belichick in his bunker two miles under Gillette Stadium where they keep Hitler’s brain.
"If you know how to cheat, start now." - Earl Weaver
Hell, even Janet Jackson had a wardrobe malfunction
Accidentally of course. ;)
"I just build our guys up. If it's trash talking that I believe in our football team, then, yes, I agree with that statement. I'm the biggest trash talker there is." Rex Ryan
read this one..whitlock is an idiot
jason whitlock thinks the best teams lost on sunday…
Wow.
That’s the finest piece of loser apologetics, if I’ve ever read one. His basic point was, “It’s not about who wins or loses, but who has the most interesting, competitive season.” Ummm…..Earth to Jason – this is the NFL you are writing about. Winning isn’t just a thing, it’s the ONLY thing.
Can someone kindly point me toward the rock under which Jason has been living for the past 30 years so I can stake a “Do Not Disturb – Brain in Hibernation” sign by it?
whitlock at his finest
i know i’m biased, but doesn’t the better team get determined by the scoreboard?
even if you take his argument, i could see you arguing that the better team lost in the giants/9ers. the 49ers made mistakes that cost them the game.
but arguing that the better team lost in the pats game? baltimore made less mistakes and STILL lost. can you imagine if the pats made less mistakes? the pats tried to hand the ravens the game and they still couldn’t pull it out. puhh-leeze. keep rooting for the teams in the pro bowl, whitlock.
by jamiesinnott on Jan 25, 2012 9:34 AM EST up reply actions
He's just pissed because he can't reuse his Thanksgiving week articles.
Lazy bastard.
I'm not drunk, I'm......not drinking.
Without...
a couple of Pats miscues (Woodhead’s fumble, Brady’s 2nd pick) the game isn’t even close.
Of course you can’t erase those mistakes anymore than you can the Ravens’ mistakes. It’s not the first time a couple plays determined the outcome of a game, and it won’t be the last.
"If you know how to cheat, start now." - Earl Weaver
If the 49ers made mistakes that lost them the game, then they weren’t as good as the Giants who didn’t make mistakes.
Then they aren’t the better team.
Williams is part of that team. Cundiff is part of the Ravens. You can’t isolate them.
"These players, a lot of other people didn't believe in them, but they believe in themselves. And that is all that matters."- Bill Belichick
yes Whitlock is an idiot
and usually just writes things that are BS, Im from the KC area and know all about the stupid crap he tries to write, especially about the Chiefs
So when Billy Cundiff ends up in an insane asylum in Florida...
We are going to see “the scoreboard was wrong! The scoreboard was wrong!” scribbled all over his wall.
by bbismyhero on Jan 25, 2012 8:29 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Rough year for Cundiff
He was in the Pro Bowl last year, but this year he couldn’t hit jack. He had a 67% FG% from outside 30 yards (10/12) 40 yards (7/9) or 50 yards (1/6)
Well, this is unfortunate
While I don’t think it means Bo Didley in terms of execution (pros get paid a lot of money to filter out distractions), I believe it is yet another place for haters to hang their hats. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you… Scoreboard-Gate!!
Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.
The Patriots
or any team, for that matter, have nothing to do with the scoreboard. That is between the refs and the NFL crew assigned to work said scoreboard. Of course this won’t stop the haters from talking about how the refs were in on it, but that mishap is on the league, not the Pats.
Doesn't matter...
Ravens fans (many of them anyway) are sure the NFL conspires against them on a weekly basis anyway.
"If you know how to cheat, start now." - Earl Weaver
only the raiders can have that claim
they’ve been on the wrong side of some of the most controversial calls in history- although replay shows the refs were correct in both the tuck rule and immaculate reception
Tedy Bruschi- "How do we feel about being AFC Champs?"
Team- "Aww Yeah!!!"
by freeland1787 on Jan 25, 2012 12:56 PM EST up reply actions
And the wonderful tradition of the Ravens never losing a game continues
it’s either the refs, or the scoreboard, or the magic bullet. What a tiresome act
Let them spew out every excuse they can think of.
They lost. They screwed up and they can’t own up to it. Doesn’t matter. The more people says that the Pats shouldn’t be in the big game, the more bulletin board material Brady and Co. have and the more riled up the fans will be when it comes time for kickoff.
My family lives in St. Louis. I'm going to law school in New Orleans. I'm a Patriots fan. Something doesn't compute.
*say
My family lives in St. Louis. I'm going to law school in New Orleans. I'm a Patriots fan. Something doesn't compute.
by imaginarimari on Jan 25, 2012 10:00 AM EST up reply actions
The reason Harbaugh didn't call TO
is because he didn’t have the balls. If he calls Time Out and Cundiff misses, then he iced his own kicker and he takes all the heat and possibly loses his job. While I think he probably wouldn’t lose his job – he would take heat for a long time. I can almost guarantee the thought “I can’t ice my kicker” went through his mind. There is no other explanation for letting the guy take a rushed kick. Even Belichick noticed they were rushed and didn’t bother icing Cundiff because he figured a rushed kick would be an issue for the Ravens.
he thought the patriots would call TO
if harbaugh called TO- thats not icing the kicker as the kicker was literally running up there and had to start his kicking motion right as he got there
Tedy Bruschi- "How do we feel about being AFC Champs?"
Team- "Aww Yeah!!!"
by freeland1787 on Jan 25, 2012 10:29 AM EST up reply actions
Checkmate...
Bill Belichick was playing 3D Chess while Harbaugh was playing checkers.
"If you know how to cheat, start now." - Earl Weaver
by rebop on Jan 25, 2012 10:40 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
I understand he didnt want . . .
to follow in Jason Garretts shoes but you dont have to wait until everything is lined up to call the Time Out. Do it while everybody is walking on the field, or let them know before they leave the sidelines that “Hey guys get over here Im calling a TO and then we are going to line up for the field goal.”
by AverageJoeEveryman on Jan 25, 2012 11:38 AM EST up reply actions
i agree
the FG unit was on the field w/ plenty of time left on the play clock and his made a successful attempt on the practice kick
Tedy Bruschi- "How do we feel about being AFC Champs?"
Team- "Aww Yeah!!!"
by freeland1787 on Jan 25, 2012 12:57 PM EST up reply actions
Plus -
If Harbaugh had listened to his kicking consultant earlier, they wouldn’t have even been in that situation. Randy Brown wanted the Ravens to go for the field goal on 4th down with just under 3 minutes left, but Harbaugh (physically) disagreed with him. Wilfork pressured Flacco, who threw it away and the Patriots took over on downs. Brown is just pissed all over the place and can’t attack Harbaugh’s decision – or his kicker – so the Patriots are the ‘safe’ ones to blame, especially when it’s done in the cowardly manner he chose to do it.
Keep the faith!
For what it's worth
You mentioned watching Felger earlier (or did you listen to him lol), but I believe it was said on his radio show (don’t know if he or Mazz said it) that Cundiff is like 1 for 6 on FGs from 50+ yards. I probably would go for it, too. After all, it’s the Patriots D, right? ; )
Go Pats. Celtics. Red Sox. Bruins.
Brady. Pierce. Thomas. How you doing?
Right, it wasn't a gimme shot
and it’s one of those situations that you’ll never know what the outcome of the other choice would be. And I was listening to Felger in the car (the other station must have still been on a commercial break, lol)
Keep the faith!
Harbough
should have called the TO then when there was like 12 seconds on the clock and his kicker was just now running onto the field, that wouldn’t be icying him
If a coach starts making calls based on what he thinks others will think, what kind of coach is he?
Can I get some hot sauce for my doughnut?
Unemployed.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
Some people can learn from the mistakes of others, while some people need to pee on the electric fence themselves.
Belichick is looking for a new name for his boat: VI Rings sounds pretty good.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jan 27, 2012 11:45 AM EST up reply actions
With the amount of staff a regular NFL team has both on the field and in the skybox, I don’t think anyone can use the scoreboard as an excuse for not counting downs with a straight face. Come on.
by kozlodoev on Jan 25, 2012 10:41 AM EST reply actions 2 recs
Wonder if that kicker took the same flight home as the rest of the team.Ray Lewis would have
committed his 2nd murder in his lifetime.
John Harbaugh just put this whole issue to rest:
His Tweet to Jeff Zrebiac at the Baltimore Sun makes it clear:
“Any suggestion that the wrong down info was a deliberate effort to affect the outcome of the game is nonsense.”
Keep the faith!
Good for Harbaugh.
I’m sure he knew what down it was.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
Some people can learn from the mistakes of others, while some people need to pee on the electric fence themselves.
Belichick is looking for a new name for his boat: VI Rings sounds pretty good.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jan 25, 2012 7:11 PM EST up reply actions
I'm glad he came out with that statement too,
otherwise it seems as if he condones what his assistant is saying. Hope Randy Brown is out of shoving distance this time.
Keep the faith!
Was just going to post that
Just a bit more,…………..Ravens coach John Harbaugh said the following to the Ravens’ official website regarding the Gillette Stadium scoreboard:
"We knew what the down and distance were on our last series. The scoreboard was not a factor for us. Any suggestion that the wrong down information was a deliberate effort to affect the outcome of the game is nonsense."
Still the damage has been done for a few hundred thousand haters.
I completely defend Rich's thought process here
Rich – I was at the game and sit in the opposite end zone. I saw the Boldin play. And was surprised he was given a first down ( according to the annoucement in the stadium and the scoreboards in my line of sight). Of course, I couldnt see the sticks which are official. After the Evans drop and Moore pass breakup, I even commented to my friend we just need one more stop. Was shocked to see the Ravens FG team running out and looked up and 4th down was on the board. Wondered how I missed such an important down. The whole thing was lost in the euphoria of the miss.
I completely agree Cundiff erred and that lack of attention to detail cost the Ravens. I certainly don’t think it was premediated. But IT was a mistake and the Pats organization should admit they made a mistake on the scoreboard. That seems like the rational,
logical way to view it. Not defending the Patriots at all cost which it seems many of the pink hats on this message board are doing.
by McGarry on Jan 27, 2012 1:40 PM EST via mobile reply actions
I think most of us simply view it as a mistake rather than a plot.
nbradley07 who was also at the game said, in another thread, that he noticed they screwed up several times during the game.
I’ve seen scoreboard screw ups at professional baseball games and professional basketball games and Bill Belichick wasn’t coaching in them. It happens, but it doesn’t have to be a conspiracy.
I also don’t where a pink hat, thank you very much.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
Some people can learn from the mistakes of others, while some people need to pee on the electric fence themselves.
Belichick is looking for a new name for his boat: VI Rings sounds pretty good.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jan 27, 2012 4:07 PM EST up reply actions
Apparently this is a common event at most stadiums - not just here
but the scoreboard gets fixed usually by the next down. Why assume this was a huge deal when it wasn’t? Pats fans are defending their organization from an opposing ‘kicking consultant’ who accused them of cheating. The Krafts don’t need to apologize for anything.
Keep the faith!
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