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October 10, 2009
I’m a bit surprised that this took this long to hit the press, but I’m not surprised that it did. In fact, several commenters in the open thread this past Sunday voiced the same issue:
Shayne Graham’s overtime field goal was wide right.
After having one blocked earlier in the game, and getting stuffed on what would have been the game-winning extra point, Graham appeared to push the game-winning field goal right despite the referees signaling that it was good.
Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan wouldn’t go as far as to question the officiating, but the devil was in the details.
“You can watch the tape,” Ryan said Friday. “I’m not saying anything, but man, maybe the posts were crooked. Look at it.”
“I don’t want to get fined,” Ryan said. “I pay enough money already on the house I don’t even live in California. I don’t want to make this a big story, but I was disappointed. Of course, I’m not expert. That’s why I’m saying maybe somebody else should look at it.”
You can’t fault Ryan for feeling disappointed when his defensive unit made considerable improvement over weeks past and still left with a loss. Truth be told, many of the individuals I was with when watching the game also thought it was wide right. Without an birds eye view, it is tough to tell exactly where the ball was when it passed the crossbar.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2S7XG36nDM&feature=player_embedded]
Scoring corrections are typically due on Wednesday following the games, and even then it is done on minor statistics like yardage and tackles. Even if the league did look at this issue, there would not be much aside from a “we’re sorry” that could be done. And if that were to happen, it would likely make the loss that much worse.
38 Comments
I think the FG was ultimately good but VERY close obviously. I’m only shocked because there seem to be no other angles of the kick; especially the common one giving us a view that the Refs have from under the goalposts.
I think the FG is no good if his kick is 1 yard longer though..
Kinda looks like you see the yellow of the right goal post in front of the ball. I thougt it was wide to begin with, too. Oh, well.
improves our draft pick! the fact that we lost is a win in my book!
We needed that tie for playoff seeding
I, too, thought the kick was wide, and was suprised that we didn’t get a better view of it (didn’t the NFL put in cameras around the goal posts to clear up FG issues?)
I’m not sure anyone would be more excited about this team if it was 0-3-1, so I suppose it’s better to be “thankful” for the higher draft positioning this will give the Browns?
Maybe I need to get my eyes checked but it looked good to me. Now, if the posts would have been 5 yards further away it would have missed. But, it sure looks like it crossed the plane between the posts before continuing to hook into the net.
all of the players on the field, both Bengals and Browns alike, seemed to agree it was good. i was surprised how quickly the Bengals started celebrating, so it must have been more obvious from their angle than it was from ours.
I jumped out of my chair and yelled that it was no good. I can’t believe we can’t get a better angle on this. The Browns offense didn’t make enough plays in overtime to win this game and I think a lot of it had to do with the vanilla play calling in OT.
Better angle in this vid. The FG was clearly good.
http://www.bengals.com/media-lounge/videos/CIN-CLE-Highlights-Grahams-game-winner-10409/fb969ef9-314a-449f-9f9d-b41d52927f98
From this video (admittedly limited in resolution and perspective), its pretty obvious its a missed FG: http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/2356/missedfg.jpg
A higher quality picture would be need to be sure.
i watched the game in a browns backers bar in Boston and the place went crazy for a second cause we all thought it was wide too
I was sitting right behind the goal posts on Sunday. I knew it was close, but it looked good to me. The camera makes it look much more suspicious, but live I didn’t question it at all.
I was with some friends and we all jumped up in celebration, thinking he missed it.
But I looked at the video and just kept clicking 5:25 over and over, and if you stare closely at the top of the right post, it almost looks like the balls is spinning enough that it’s hard to see… but I think it might have crept it, especially considering the Browns turned around right after it went through, even the guys motioning “no good.”
But hey, a loss, a tie? Same thing, this isn’t soccer.
@jewpants–where is the Browns backers bar in Boston?
Can we post pictures on the comments section? I just slowed down the footage on my computer and took snapshots…it is NO GOOD…..you can see the yellow in front of the ball……
eh…..maybe it will just upset us getting the #1 pick….
I’m glad I wasn’t the only one thinking it was wide. That’s one hell of an illusion. David Copperfield, move over.
I thought it was wide too, but the referee was standing right under the upright. He had a better view than all of us. Gotta go with the ref.
Funny how we all come creeping out of the woodwork.
my initial reaction was also no good.
As far as the player’s reactions – I think the defense had given up at that point – they played a great game and to lose like that hurts. not to mention, the BEST that could have come from that field goal being a miss was a TIE, which isn’t much better than a loss.
Add me to the chorus of those who was watching on tv and thought he missed it. As they were signing off, CBS did show some alternate angles, specifically one that looked to be from the sideline. From that perspective it looked like it was kicked over, but just barely inside the right post.
I thought it was definitely WIDE RIGHT. I jumped up in excitement, then I noticed they called it GOOD. I was like seriously?!?!?!? But then I realized it’s just the Browns… winning 1 game this season really doesn’t make a difference when your 0-16 or 0-15-1.
Honestly, the best evidence for me, since we have a crappy view, is who appears to be Eric Wright, 24, at the end of the play. He is aligned with that upright on the left end and is waving off the field goal as it approaches the uprights. Then as it goes through, he throws his hands to his helmet in despair. It could be a reaction to the refs, but I assume he’s watching the ball. And you would assume that he would have some beef with the refs if or would continue waving it off he felt it was wide.
In fact, Wright read it as through. He throws his hands to his helmet in disappointment well before the refs signal ‘Good.’
@13 ZackinBoston the bar is Connor Larkin’s it’s between the symphony and art museum (how civilized) its really an irish pub on Huntington Ave. take green E line to Northeastern Univ.
Every Sunday is great, all browns fans, even a webster slaughter jerseys
Yay, Connor Larkins. Decent Rueben if I remember right. And solid Buffalo chicken sandwich.
I immediately was celebrating because i thought it was wide. I still am questionable watching this video. I cant really tell if the ball gets on the inside or not. But ultimately, theres like 2 seconds left after the FG that even if it was wide they would move back 7 yards and try again. Its not a huge deal in the end, because no chance for a win… but man i thought that was wide.
bobby,
don’t think you can try another field goal once you’ve attempted one, regardless what down it is.
I originally thought it was wide, but the refs under the goalpost have the best view. They are looking straight up at the ball and get a great view. I do believe that they should have reviewed it because it was very close.
Let’s assume the attempt is indeed wide. There are 5 seconds left on the clock when the kick crossed the end line. Assuming 1 play at best and that one from 60+ yard away, would the NFL, in all their interest in being fair and accurate (yes, that’s heavy sarcasm), reverse the call of their officials despite the affirmation of their call earlier this week? Clearly compelling visual evidence exists and the topic is getting coverage, albeit on the blogosphere, so addressing it is necessary.
Where am I going, you ask? At best this is a tie instead of a loss and as a fan looking for something to build on, I’ll take it. Maybe its too early to play the role of spolier, but I see no reason to award Cincy a W when it truly wasn’t earned. Chances that anything happening are remote at best, but we can all agree that a thorough explanation is required.
I am not certain, but I always thought that people kicked FGs one 2nd or 3rd down in OT because if they missed they still had more chances, just the LOS gets moved back 7 yards.
The only thing that shocked me, I thought and still think it’s no good, is that the officials didn’t review it. Something that close, I think I’d take a second to review, especially if the game is decided by it.
The announcers made it sound like it was drilled right down the middle.
Agree it looks like a miss.
@bobby, I think they do that in case:
-it gets blocked, in which case they might be allowed to retry but I don’t remember/think so
-if it’s in OT and they’re confident in the distance, no reason to run another play at risk of a fumble or any other bad outcome to get closer when a FG wins it. If they do have a bad outcome like a bad snap or something on the attempt, then they have another chance to kick it or, if it’s a penalty, a chance to run another play
I’m almost certain that a missed FG cannot be retried just because it’s not 4th down.
Alex/Bobby – FG’s can be redone if the ball does not cross the line of scrimmage on the original try and there are downs remaining.
The field goal was good. I will not say it wasn’t close but it was good. go on the bengals website. wait for the front view angle. It is go and is at an angle that makes it look like it was no good. check it out.
i dont know if it is just because it is a highlight video but the announcers said he made it before the refs signaled that it was good
ok, well thanks for clarification then guys.
[…] have to address the media as regularly as he has done in Cleveland. Ryan has already indirectly questioned the official’s call from last week on the Bengals game winning field goal. The debate yesterday revolved around […]