ESPN Order Timeouts By Coaches On Field? (1 Viewer)

[SaintsInDome2006]

1. This is a corruption of the game. Not only should Del Rio have said "No", the league should prohibit this (of course in fact they're probably complicit).

2. Fisher embarrassed DeL Rio apparently.

FF games affected.

Betting lines - and bets - affected.

NFL scoring tallies and possible playoff position (maybe) affected.

The integrity of the game? Compromised.

>>>One of the biggest reasons why a weak Monday Night Football game can out-rate game three of the ALCS in New York: Fantasy football.

While Cliff Lee was dealing, fantasy owners across the country were hoping to squeeze a few more points out of Chris Johnson and Maurice Jones-Drew. Johnson's owners prayers were answered when Johnson broke free for a 35-yard touchdown on fourth down with under two minutes remaining.

That led to some (silly) questions about why Johnson was still in the game. Why were the Titans still trying to score?

Titans coach Jeff Fisher indicated that it was largely ESPN's fault. The network still needed more television timeouts and apparently asked both coaching staffs to take timeouts late.

"Jack [Del Rio] used his timeouts," Fisher said after the game via Terry McCormick of Titans Insider. "My understanding is they needed network timeouts, and that's why Jack used his timeouts. They came over and asked me to do it, but I said, 'I was hoping to get a first down and kneel on it.'"

Of course, you can also thank Del Rio for actually listening. Fisher was happy to end the game at 23-3, but Del Rio didn't let him.

"It's the first time I've heard of it," Fisher said about a network request for timeouts. "I just said I would have a hard time using them, because I'm ahead. Honestly, I have no issues with Jack or how he managed the end of that game. It's just what it was, and I don't think he would have an issue with me handing the ball off."<<<

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/...n-jack-del-rio/

 

[Chaka]

Fisher was joking.

 

[grtwhtsk]

If this is true then the Commissioner needs to step in. That is just wrong.

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

They weren't ordered to take time-out's. Del Rio is just not a good head coach.

 

[ttea]

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/th...ight-football/1

 

[Choke]

Fisher was joking.

Thats not something you joke about. He was covering up his previous statement with his joke comment..

 

[videoguy505]

I lost my fantasy game because of it. We have a position for "head coach" that gives points for wins, correct challenges, timeouts, promotions from the practice squad, etc.; and that last Del Rio timeout put the other guy .10 points over the top

 

[Masked Vigilante]

They weren't ordered to take time-out's. Del Rio is just not a good head coach.

Is Del Rio really a bad coach? I don't know too much about the Jaguars but they always seem to be hovering around .500. Which isn't bad considering the team isn't exactly overflowing with talent.

 

[Clutchfanatic]

It was like the Buffalo Wild Wings commercial.

 

[The Ref]

Next time any of you go to an NFL game look at the visitor sideline. You will see a guy with a clipboard wearing an orange glove and a florescent yellow hat. He is the 8th official. He manages the TV timeouts and is always on the side of the field that the back judge (the official in charge of the clock, second in the pecking order to the Referee).

The fact of the matter is there are Millions of dollars at stake and part of the TV contacts that ESPN and the like sign on with the NFL for call for "X amount" of ad opportunities in a game. If they don't allow for X amount of ad time the network can and will ask for money back, either in cash or by knocking down the next contract.

The NFL would never "make" the winning team to stop the clock in a blowout, but they might "ask" them too. It would "strongly suggest" the losing team to use it's timeouts and to "try and win".

By the way, you think that one of the reasons why the NFL is more pass happy now is due to "buts in seats". And that is true to an extent. But a passing/high scoring game tends to run longer and has many more opportunities for stoppage, a nice byproduct for the NFL.

 

[duaneok66]

there are more ways to lengthen the game - in fact, the NFL recently shortened games by starting the clock after the ball goes out of bounds (the clock stops til the ball is reset, then it starts). It only truly stops (until the next snap) for the last two minutes in the first half and the last five minutes of the game - of course, the fact that all these challenges add to stoppages probably helps make up some of that (games are still about 3-3 1/4 hours long) . . .

 

[CalBear]

there are more ways to lengthen the game - in fact, the NFL recently shortened games by starting the clock after the ball goes out of bounds (the clock stops til the ball is reset, then it starts). It only truly stops (until the next snap) for the last two minutes in the first half and the last five minutes of the game - of course, the fact that all these challenges add to stoppages probably helps make up some of that (games are still about 3-3 1/4 hours long) . . .

The NFL took that move because they wanted to fit in more commercials.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

It was like the Buffalo Wild Wings commercial.

 

[Chaka]

Fisher was joking.

Thats not something you joke about. He was covering up his previous statement with his joke comment..

He was joking.

 

[norgay]

1. This is a corruption of the game. Not only should Del Rio have said "No", the league should prohibit this (of course in fact they're probably complicit).2. Fisher embarrassed DeL Rio apparently.FF games affected.Betting lines - and bets - affected.NFL scoring tallies and possible playoff position (maybe) affected.The integrity of the game? Compromised.

Is this really a corruption of the game? Who really loses from this? A casual fan can turn the TV off without having to watch the last few garbage minutes. The players don't get hurt from extra timeouts. Seems to me like the only damage comes from a bunch of highly paid coaches and players having to stick around for an extra 15 minutes.It may affect FF and betting lines, but that's far different from actually corrupting the game.When it comes down to it, the only thing that takes a slight hit is the quality of the last 5 minutes of an NFL game that few people are likely paying attention to anyway since the game is already over for all intents and purposes when the extra timeouts are asked for. I don't think this is too big of a deal. There are far worse ways that TV has affected the purity of the game.

 

[Insein]

I lost my fantasy game because of it. We have a position for "head coach" that gives points for wins, correct challenges, timeouts, promotions from the practice squad, etc.; and that last Del Rio timeout put the other guy .10 points over the top

Wow thats a shame.

 

[Wreckincrew]

there are more ways to lengthen the game - in fact, the NFL recently shortened games by starting the clock after the ball goes out of bounds (the clock stops til the ball is reset, then it starts). It only truly stops (until the next snap) for the last two minutes in the first half and the last five minutes of the game - of course, the fact that all these challenges add to stoppages probably helps make up some of that (games are still about 3-3 1/4 hours long) . . .

And on every incomplete pass.

 

[duaneok66]

there are more ways to lengthen the game - in fact, the NFL recently shortened games by starting the clock after the ball goes out of bounds (the clock stops til the ball is reset, then it starts). It only truly stops (until the next snap) for the last two minutes in the first half and the last five minutes of the game - of course, the fact that all these challenges add to stoppages probably helps make up some of that (games are still about 3-3 1/4 hours long) . . .

And on every incomplete pass.

of course - I was only referencing plays where the player goes out of bounds . . .

 

[Stinkin Ref]

if a game is a blowout people are probably surfing at commercials anyway since they don't really care if they get back to the game in time or not.......

I will say I am kind of surprised this happens........don't think ESPN or any network should be in a coach's pocket like that and for all intent and purposes dictating the flow of the game in this manner by suggesting they take a timeout.......not cool.........I realize TV already dictates some of the flow, but asking coaches to call timeouts seems a little over the top........

 

[saintfool]

The fact of the matter is there are Millions of dollars at stake and part of the TV contacts that ESPN and the like sign on with the NFL for call for "X amount" of ad opportunities in a game. If they don't allow for X amount of ad time the network can and will ask for money back, either in cash or by knocking down the next contract.

with all due respect, that's a *really* unlikely scenario. advertisers just get their commercials pushed from "in-game" to "post-game". ratings for post game shows are minuscule compared to those in most games. media buyers buy air time within broadcasts with the understanding that the ratings for it will be X. if pushed from in- to post-game, advertisers will simply take a "make-good" from the network. the makegood is advertising space in a future broadcast; often in similar programming and shortly after the original ad aired . this is bad for networks because it take open inventory out of circulation for future sales. also, the networks (fox/cbs/abc-espn) have contracts with the NFL for broadcast rights. advertisers make deals with the networks to air the commercials within the broadcasts. consequently, the commercial advertisers really can't make demands to the NFL directly. they would complain to the networks who then may or may not take complaints to the nfl.:formerbroadcastmediabuyer:

 

[atcdav]

I read the article earlier this week. I am really shocked this event hasn't received more airtime, except for the fact it would embarrass the NFL and the Networks involved. I bet it happens all the time.

The article read the officials had used up their TV timeouts, they were 2 short. The went to Fisher and asked him to take a timeout, he declined stating he was trying to get a first down and take a knee. They then asked Del Rio, I guess he obliged, which led Fisher to insert Johnson.

I have heard of several FF games being decided with CJ's TD, too bad. I would really like to see this discussed on air.here is the article

Jeff Fisher was asked to call timeouts for MNF commercial breaks

Yahoo Sports ^ | 10/19/2010 | Doug Farrar

Posted on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 2:00:01 AM by iowamark

Our own Chris Chase wondered earlier Tuesday why Chris Johnson was in the game so late when the Tennessee Titans were beating up on the Jacksonville Jaguars on "Monday Night Football." You may have wondered why Jags head coach Jack Del Rio seemed insistent on prolonging the suffering in a 30-3 laugher...

"Jack used his timeouts," Fisher said. "My understanding is they needed network timeouts, and that's why Jack used his timeouts. They came over and asked me to do it, but I said, 'I was hoping to get a first down and kneel on it.'"..

""At the two-minute warning in every game in the fourth quarter, there are conversations that go by. There's conversations that take place at the two-minute warning before the first half. But there's conversations that take place, and it's the official's responsibility to give the head coach a status of commercials and TV timeouts," Fisher said. "Yesterday, I was told that they were two short. And they looked at me and smiled, and I said, 'Sorry, I can't help you.' Mike Carey came across and said, 'Here's the deal. We're two short.' And I said, 'Mike, I can't help you. I'm trying to get a first down and I'm gonna kneel on it.'""

McCormick told me that he did not know (nor did Fisher) whether Del Rio took his timeouts in accordance with Carey's request, or the league's specific need for TV timeouts.

According to several sources, the NFL is investingating ESPN's handling of the timeout issue.

Perhaps the most disconcerting thing about this story -- the part that made it so hard to believe at first -- is the idea of a television network, and the need for ad revenue, deciding the pace of a game...

 

[duaneok66]

I read the article earlier this week. I am really shocked this event hasn't received more airtime, except for the fact it would embarrass the NFL and the Networks involved. I bet it happens all the time.The article read the officials had used up their TV timeouts, they were 2 short. The went to Fisher and asked him to take a timeout, he declined stating he was trying to get a first down and take a knee. They then asked Del Rio, I guess he obliged, which led Fisher to insert Johnson. I have heard of several FF games being decided with CJ's TD, too bad. I would really like to see this discussed on air

Fisher shouldnt be let off the hook - he bascially admitted that it was the refs and not Del Rio that led to the timeout being called, so why take it out on the Jags??? Putting your MVP in makes no sense . . .

 

[Bojang0301]

ESPN has and will continue to overstep it's bounds as long as Goodell and the rest of the league enables them too. After all... we can't have a Disney audience watching monster hits and not seeing advertisements.