MySA Blog: Peter King's take on the video board flap

[Jon88]

Anyone with a basic understanding of the equations of motion could calculate that it only takes a punt with 4.75s hangtime to rise 90 feet. While that's a pretty good hangtime, I'd guess that a significant percentage of punts meet or exceed that hangtime.

Also, as seen in the game, a poorly struck punt may rise exceedingly high and easily hit the scoreboard.

Raising the scoreboard 20 feet would change the hangtime required to 5.25s, which would still pose the possibility of hitting the scoreboard, though it probably wouldn't be worth worrying about at that point.

They must have had a guy flipping burgers calculate how high it needs to hang.

 

[skicat1898]

it is easy to make it a delay of game... It is something the punter does not have to do.... Back him him up 5 yards and make him do it again,,, either his coach or his gunners are gonna tell him,, don't do it...

There are many rules that don't make sense in this game.... Like clocking the ball to stop the clock,,, should be intentional grounding but it isn't.

The Jerrytron base is 90',,, that is 10' higher than the league requirement of 80'...... Just because you can hit it doesn't mean you should.

The penalty would apply to all stadiums because they all have the cable hung camera so it would be a league wide rule.

 

[CATCH17]

A little bit, yeah. Though it's nice when the action is away from you.

I still don't know why they even cut it close at all. You'd never notice 20 feet as huge as that thing is. My only guess is that Jerry wanted it as close as possible to the field-level suite holders who of course are paying a ton of money.

So overall did you like it or is it just way to much?

 

[WoodysGirl]

Jerry's never been a fan of hangtime punters

August 24, 2009 11:55 AM


Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

The fact that a free-agent rookie punter for the Titans booted a ball off the super-sized video board at Cowboys Stadium on Friday quickly became one of the biggest stories in the league. The fact that Peter King led his Monday Morning Quarterback column with a punting story over Brett Favre's debut with the Vikings is pretty remarkable in itself.

Jones is one of the most respected owners in the league, but I'm afraid folks on the NFL's competition committee aren't going to give him the benefit of the doubt. I thought the following anecdote from Colts general manager Bill Polian was pretty telling:

"The irony is that our stadium architect (at new Lucas Oil Stadium) wanted to hang the video boards the same way in our stadium," Polian told King. "So we put a metal beam about 90 feet above the ground and had our punter at the time, Hunter Smith, punt the ball up there trying to hit it. He hit it the majority of the time. That's why we put our replay boards on the wall."

The message is clear: If Hunter Smith can reach the 90-foot-high scoreboard, something's wrong. I've read several stories suggesting that Jones should be embarrassed by what happened Friday. Why didn't he do his homework on how high punters kick the ball?

Well, my opinion is that Jones knew this was going to happen. And the man's shameless, which makes it tough to embarrass him. With this controversy, his new stadium has been part of the news cycle for three days now. Fans and reporters alike are fascinated by the implications of having a scoreboard that's in the field of play.

It's like Jones owns a miniature golf course -- and he can't have enough windmills. He had a sly grin on his face Friday as he explained how normal NFL punts shouldn't hit the enormous scoreboard. But I think he had to know this would happen.

The Red Sox have the Green Monster, the Cowboys now have the Blue HD Monster. When Jones dropped the phrase "entertainment value" on me late Friday evening, he wasn't talking about how great the screen looked. He envisions a situation in which punters have to take the scoreboard into account and make sure they kick around it.

In a lot of ways, rookie punter A.J. Trapasso did Jones a huge favor. He gave Friday's debut a memorable sideshow. In the end, I think Jones will be forced to raise the video board about 20 feet. A Cowboys player told me Friday night that he'd heard the Cowboys were already raising the scoreboard in October to make room for U2's giant stage. ESPN's Chris Mortensen backed that scenario up with his report Sunday.

If the Cowboys can raise the scoreboard for Bono, they should extend Jeff Feagles the same courtesy.

 

[sonnyboy]

I've heard that too, but what's all the $2 million talk? Was that just Mort talking crap?

This is my question. Which is it?


Why do we have to read all these idiotic articles trying to paint Jones as an ***.
"What a moron, he builds a billion dollar stadium and can't get the score board right."

Most if not all fail to mention that the league has a rule for overhanging structures that specifies 80 feet as the minimum height.
And that our board currently hangs a full 10 feet above that height.

OMT- I think the board should be raised 10-20 feet if only to move it a little further from the fans line of sight of the field.
I'd really like to read some opinions from fans there Frdiay night on this issue.

 

[BrassCowboy]

It really is a non-issue. The fact that it can be moved makes it no big deal. Now if it was immovable, I could see the outcry, but what it boils down to is a bunch of jealous owners and league officials finding something to make themselves feel better because they wish this beautiful palace was theirs. OK, haters, the videoboard is too low. What else you got? What's that, nothing? That's what I thought.

this is the most truth I have seen in a post in all that I have read concerning our scoreboard. Nice post, and deadon accurate.

:worthy2: :worthy2: :worthy2:

 

[kmd24]

Actually, most punts in the NFL are in the 4.3-4.7 hangtime range (I am actually nerdy enough to clock hangtime of punts in the NFL). Scifres is really the only guy that can punt one without trying to down it inside the 10 and get 5.0+ seconds of hangtime and still knock it about 45 yards...that's why he gets a ton of fair catches, is a nuisance for punt returners and is the best punter I have personally seen without question. McBriar's good punts usually get right around 4.7 seconds of hangtime.




YAKUZA

I should clarify that by "significant percentage," I mean as few as 5% of all punts. The stadium will see 80 or so punts throughout the course of the season, which would lead to the scoreboard being hit several times.

Raising the scoreboard 20 feet would still put hitting it within the realm of possibility, but make it highly unlikely.

I'm starting to agree with the idea that this is an attention-garnering ploy by JJ. I wouldn't be surprised if they raise it just enough to get it out of play but still keep things interesting.

 

[LeonDixson]

Blame the NFL League Office. And they should foot the bill if it is raised.




YAKUZA

That's exactly what I was thinking. They approved the plans so if they now order it to be changed, let them endure the cost.

 

[LeonDixson]

As I said on the other thread, there is more to this. They were talking about it on the radio.

Jerry is mad and will make them change the rules about how low things can be hung. The problem is almost every other NFL stadium has things that would have to be moved too. They are smaller and never got hit but it would cost millions to make the changes. One that they were talking about has support stuctures that low and would have to have a major overhaul. They also said those cameras on wires that give the 3d view would be too low and have to go.

Also they said Jerry got the competition people and the commish to OK it before it went up.

Thanks for posting that, Bungarian. Good stuff.

 

[BrassCowboy]

I think what's real embarrasing in the league and no critics ever mention it and it makes an impact in games AND can cause injuries is the stadiums that serve as a baseball stadium as well and the dirt infield is in play. It looks like crap and plays like crap, but that's okay in the eyes of Cowboys critics.
[YAKUZA

yes, this should be not allowed. Watching that raiders game a couple weeks ago, was like what the ****... damn dirt field.

 

[Hoofbite]

How are you going to make it a delay of game penalty? To suit one stadium?

No kidding.

While were making BS penalties, I want a rule in place that penalizes teams 15 yards for gaining a 1st down on the Dallas Cowboys.

 

[theogt]

I can totally see Jerry praying the thing would be hit.

 

[DallasEast]

As I said on the other thread, there is more to this. They were talking about it on the radio.

Jerry is mad and will make them change the rules about how low things can be hung. The problem is almost every other NFL stadium has things that would have to be moved too. They are smaller and never got hit but it would cost millions to make the changes. One that they were talking about has support stuctures that low and would have to have a major overhaul. They also said those cameras on wires that give the 3d view would be too low and have to go.

Also they said Jerry got the competition people and the commish to OK it before it went up.

ray: Poetic justice. Please please please let this happen.

 

[Hoofbite]

As I said on the other thread, there is more to this. They were talking about it on the radio.

Jerry is mad and will make them change the rules about how low things can be hung. The problem is almost every other NFL stadium has things that would have to be moved too. They are smaller and never got hit but it would cost millions to make the changes. One that they were talking about has support stuctures that low and would have to have a major overhaul. They also said those cameras on wires that give the 3d view would be too low and have to go.

Also they said Jerry got the competition people and the commish to OK it before it went up.

What stadiums exactly?

Washington
New York Giants
Philidelphia

Carolina
Tampa Bay

Seattle - The way their roof is set up, nothing could hang from it so they don't have to worry.
Arizona Cardinals - Their roof is like 200 feet above the field and the trusses holding it are like 120.
49ers
Rams - Their setup has like 140 of room

Packers
Bears
Vikings - Domed but all things that are hanging are on the outside of the playing field.

Kansas City
Oakland
San Diego
Denver

New England
Buffalo
Miami
New york Jets

Pittsburgh
Baltimore
Cleveland
Cincinnati

Houston - Pretty much the same as Seattle. The way their roof opens nothing can hang from it.
Jacksonville
Tennessee

The teams in bold play outdoors. Some of those others are ones that look to have no problems with things over the field.

I guess I just don't see it.