Did New England Cheat Again?

[Randle Pat McMurphy]

You decide?

Why Billy Cundiff was rushed on the fateful field goal try | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports


Why Billy Cundiff was rushed on the fateful field goal try


No one has provided more information on Billy Cundiff's miss than Stefan Fatsis, author of "A Few Seconds of Panic," a book about his brief stint as a backup kicker with the Denver Broncos in training camp. For Deadspin, Fatsis has talked with Cundiff and has his own uniquely qualified perspective on the yank.

To summarize — and you should go read the whole thing — Cundiff has a specific routine he follows when the Ravens get into field goal range. On first down, he does one thing. On second, something else. Third, something else. Unfortunately, the Patriots scoreboard had the down wrong, which threw Cundiff out of whack.

On Sunday, during what would be the Ravens' final set of downs, Cundiff completed his first-down prep and checked the scoreboard: second down. He ran through his routine and looked up at the scoreboard again: third down.

Then, suddenly, chaos on the sidelines.

Coaches were screaming—from the opposite end of the field to where Cundiff was thinking his third-down pre-kick kicker thoughts—for the field-goal unit. The play clock was ticking and Cundiff, as per normal, was back from the sideline and farther from the line of scrimmage than his teammates. As he was not expecting to go in yet, he had to run to get into position for a game-tying kick.

So there it is. The scoreboard was wrong, Cundiff was rushed, and his mechanics on the kick went goofy. I don't pass this along as any kind of an excuse for Cundiff — you can decide for yourself if his miss is excusable or something that even needs excusing — but it's an explanation.

Here's another question, though: Is it possible that the Patriots did this on purpose? Did they have their scoreboard operator display the wrong down, to mess with Cundiff's routine? Ravens kicking consultant Randy Brown is wondering that same thing. Via CBS Philly, Brown said to Angelo Cataldi on WIP in Baltimore, "I don't think you can rule anything out in New England, can you?"

It seems like a tremendous stretch to me. Since it's the Patriots, some level of dishonesty and underhandedness will be assumed, but I'll be surprised and more than a little impressed if it's somehow uncovered that they hatched a scheme with knowledge of Billy Cundiff's pre-kick routine and a scoreboard operator as a confederate.

I'm much more likely to believe it was an honest mistake. The Ravens thought they had a first down a few plays prior, when Anquan Boldin fumbled the ball out of bounds. They didn't. The ball was placed at the spot of the fumble, not the spot where it went out of bounds. The Ravens themselves were confused about the down, and it's far easier to believe that the scoreboard operator was, too.

[No_Sure_Thing]

honestly, if new england's psychological warfare department is so on the ball as to know the opposing kicker's pre-kick routine (and why the F does he need a routine anyway, why can't he just go out and kick the frigging ball?) and use it against him by manipulating the scoreboard then more power to them, they deserve to reap the rewards in that case. they call it home field advantage for a reason after all. if Balt had finished with the better record they wouldn't have had to worry about it.

and this is coming from someone who lost a little money on ravens ML (though I had more on the spread). and from someone who hates the patriots.

But I agree that it is just too far-fetched and diabolical to be believed. even for the patriots.

[Sweetleaf22]

Ravens Kicking Consultant Can't Rule Out New England Patriots Cheating In AFC Championship « CBS Philly

[Quiksilver]

Come on, you guys don't actually believe the stuff about the scoreboard do you?

I'm in Boston and have heard a good amount of the local radio stations. I don't know if any of you heard it, but in Belichick's post game press conf he alluded to the play clock and FG unit changing as a reason as why he didn't call a timeout to ice Cundiff. It's not Belichick's fault that Harbaugh should have called a timeout when there was a miscommunication among BALTIMORE's coaching staff/team. There are 53 dressed players in addition to the inactive/injured players, trainers, coaches, and other support staff on the sidelines. Even if the down was incorrect (purposely or not), you'd figure an NFL team in THE AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME could figure something like that out on their own.

This is the first time I've heard of this at all. In all the local media since Sunday the players, coaches, and the owner have all constantly talked about this season and its dedication to Kraft's deceased wife Myra. It would completely go against the sentiment they've expressed all season long.

GO PATS!

[pwherr]

You have got to be joking. Fuking stupid IMO

[Tiny tim]

Edit.

[Tiny tim]

Very stupid... Did cundiff miss the first down festivities... Second down... If he does a ritual he should have known the down...or does he just scoreboard watch to see what down it is.....

Bunch of window lickers... This is SPECIAL..

[Tiny tim]

Did WP start this stuff?

[Ex_Matt]

lol whatta joke.

Just fraudulent stories from a buncha losers trying to make themselves feel better.

[steaknife]

Baltimore had a timeout left. As soon as Harbough saw his kicker rushing out there to get ready for the field goal, he should of just taken a timeout. Instead he went out there rushed and missed the field goal. Thanks for playing see you next year Ravens and Billy Chokuff.

[JRSPATS]

[resteasy]

With a timeout this makes no sense.
I know people say Harbaugh should have called the timeout and yes, he's the head coach BUT it's the special teams coach that is responsible for that management. The special teams coach tells the head coach we're taking a timeout. It's how garret called the timeout in the dallas game.

Also, the placeholder can call the timeout and Cundiff himself can call a timeout.
Did the patriots manipulate all of them?
How the hell did they know this would happen that they planned all of this?
What moron believes this crap?

The whole patriots cheated thing is BS anyhow. Spygate itself was blown up. They could use that tape against the jets until they reviewed it. Even then they'd have to assume the signals don't change (often do) decipher them, game plan against the call, call that to their defense all in real time. THEN, and this is the big part, the team would have to execute the gameplan. That's football, the team that executes their gameplan is the better team.

[Windy City Irish]

so bitter.....get over it everyone

[FreakyD]

Originally Posted by No_Sure_Thing

honestly, if new england's psychological warfare department is so on the ball as to know the opposing kicker's pre-kick routine (and why the F does he need a routine anyway, why can't he just go out and kick the frigging ball?) and use it against him by manipulating the scoreboard then more power to them, they deserve to reap the rewards in that case. they call it home field advantage for a reason after all. if Balt had finished with the better record they wouldn't have had to worry about it.

Good thing it wasn't snowing a little or a LOT more, I'm sure they coulda found someone out from work release that would've been just waitng with a Snowplow or something equivalant, naaaa.... not in New England.

[Boris Karloff]

All kickers have a routine and are strict about it.