Dustin from Kansas City, MO
Wes, do you have any thoughts on special teams? Only kidding. I agree with you that we’ve beaten that horse well beyond death. So, here’s a nice change of pace for you. You’ve covered tons of games over the years. Is there one moment you’ve witnessed that, for whatever reason, doesn’t get talked about enough, but you will never forget?
There are many. Jayrone Elliott earning his “Shakespeare” moniker after being virtually unblockable against Seattle in 2015. Robert Tonyan catching a 54-yard touchdown against the Seahawks in 2018. Davante Adams’ first career 100-yard receiving game against New England in 2014. It not only was a seminal moment in Adams’ career but also a catalyst for Green Bay pulling out a hard-fought 26-21 win. It marked the Patriots’ final loss that season. Kyler Fackrell’s two three-sack games in 2018 rank high on the list, too.
Marc from Hamburg, Germany
Hi Wes and II, I am not totally up to date so please forgive me if this has been brought up already. I really never understood how fans could say things like ‘this is just unacceptable’. Why not just accept that the game of football is managed, coached and played by human beings like you and me (a tad more knowledge when it comes to the game and more athletic maybe) and accept they make mistakes. Plus, the other guys get paid, too. Just accept it already, that’s part of life and part of football.
You’re not wrong. Honestly, I think that’s what makes football is great. But the Catch-22 is you only get one shot. There are no mulligans. There is no best-of-seven series. You have one opportunity to win the down. That fact enhances the drama but also can generate strong reactions from fans.
Wes, we have always counted down in American sports whereas World Cup futbol counted up. In addition, the World Cup officials would add “plus 5” minutes at the end of a half, not seconds or microseconds. I found this entirely refreshing. Was there anything about this World Cup our football can learn from?
How an efficient video assistant referee system can improve the game. Replay doesn’t need to be as complicated as the NFL makes it.
Good morning, Wes. How about a rules clarification today? If the QB scrambles out of the pocket, crosses the line of scrimmage and then gives himself up by sliding down, is the ball marked where 1) the slide began, 2) where the slide ended, or 3) where he was actually first touched down by a defender? Thanks.
The ball is placed wherever the quarterback’s body first contacts the ground.
Cary from Sioux Falls, SD
Wes, I used to have the same disdain for soccer as many of your readers, but then both my daughters became referees, and I learned the rules from them. Now I watch soccer with the same appreciation as any other sport. And when my brother-in-law complained about a 3-2 game, I told him to pretend a goal is worth 7 points instead of 1. Now it’s a 21-14 game! Feel better?
I have an appreciation for soccer having played it every summer as a kid. But I also grew up a pro wrestling fan who needs a storyline or something to pull me into the action.
I’m sensing a lot of smugness around the third-place game at the World Cup, so I feel the need to offer another perspective. Mauricio Pochettino, coach of the USMNT, said that he needed to overcome the loser mentality of American sports. What he had in mind is the practice of rewarding losing teams with the highest draft picks. By contrast, in European soccer leagues, the worst teams are relegated to a lower league. It’s like losers in America get a big, shiny participation trophy, but better.
The U.S. could use a couple high draft picks. I wanna advance to the quarterfinals before departure time.
Jennifer from Middleton, WI
Hey Wes, for the record this came in response to your answer about our beloved Aaron Rodgers on the 18th hole. You know that noise one makes when you hear or see something that’s so good you can barely stand it? It starts with an awe but ends with an ugh but with a hard back of throat kah? Usually coincides with a head tilt back or eye close. Try it out… how does one attempt to convey that in writing? How do you spell it? I was going to simply give you my response to the perfect answer but how?
I don’t know if there’s one single word (or sound) to describe what you’re feeling, but that kind summation was more than enough. Appreciate you, Jennifer.
It appears that Spoff did it again with the Devonte Wyatt signing. Any idea when his next vacation is so we can get Tucker Kraft extended?
Now that you mention it, Spoff is scheduled to be out a few days at the end of August. Stay tuned, I guess.