Fake Punt When Leading By 30? Pete Carroll Apologizes For Running Up Score
No one expected the Seattle Seahawks to stop trying during their blowout win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday but was it really necessary to run a fake punt when leading by 30 points? Head coach Pete Carroll apologized for the trick play and said that he should have called it off.
According to Carroll, he didn’t exactly call for the fake punt. The play was called on the field after the Seahawks recognized a vulnerable formation. Carroll said it was an “automatic play” but noted that he should have stepped in to call it off.
“I feel bad about this. We looked for it every time we were going to punt, and it was just there. I should have stopped it in the sense that it looked bad. It was an automatic for us and I didn’t do it … It just happened – we’re trying to make first downs and (I) let it go … It’s unfortunate that it comes across like we’re doing something wrong there. That’s my fault, totally, for not stopping it from happening.”
The Seahawks were facing a fourth and four when they ran their fake punt. Running back Michael Robinson took the snap and was able to run for 29 yards. The Seahawks would then go on to add a field goal on their way to a 50-17 victory.
The recent criticism comes just a week after the Seahawks beat the Arizona Cardinals 58-0. Carroll pulled some of his starters during that game but still threw the ball down field.
After the Cardinals game, Carroll said:
“Any of the throws we threw in the fourth quarter, Matt just needed to throw the ball around some. We did a little bit of everything. Quick game. A couple naked [bootlegs] to just get him out of the pocket, just to give him a chance to get some time. Hopefully, everyone understands that.”
Do you think that running a fake punt when your leading by 30 is bad sportsmanship? Do you think Pete Carroll was right to apologize?
Tags : fake punt, fake punt pete carroll, fake punt when leading by 30, Pete Carroll, poor sportsmanship, seahawks fake punt
Posted: December 17, 2012
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Dec 17, 2012
Good grief, TWICE in this article you call it a "fake point?" I get typos and slip-ups, but you have to really mean to screw that up if you do it twice in two paragraphs. Edit your stuff with a little journalistic integrity.
Dec 17, 2012
He's kind of a count.
Dec 17, 2012
Its a game, your paid to win. I don't think coach should apologize. Other team should work on getting better.
Dec 17, 2012
this is the pross, not a pee-wee leauge game where we are worried about the losers feelings.
Dec 17, 2012
he should have put in his second and third string players to get more play time and experience like what base ball and basket ball teams do all the time. Then he wouldn't be in that position to apologize for anything.
Dec 17, 2012
In professional football, there's no such thing as running up the score. The game is four quarters, and if I can't stop you from scoring points, that's all on me. Throw for three more TDs against my team in the fourth quarter, you won't hear me whining about it.
Dec 17, 2012
Agreed, Matt. That's pathetic.
Dec 17, 2012
You play to win the game! You better keep playing, if you "shut it down" you might get beat. I'd rather the headline be that I ran up the score than I let a team that I was beating by 30 point's come back and win.
Dec 17, 2012
The Patriots do it all the time. It is bad sportsmanship. I understand it's the pros BUT what are they showing our kids that watch the game? Lead by example.
Dec 17, 2012
Cmon man this is pro foot ball !
Dec 17, 2012
I thought professional sports was about playing your best and giving it all you got.
Dec 17, 2012
AWWWW Pretty soon all the Pro teams will get a trophy. Don't want anyone's feelings getting hurt.
Dec 17, 2012
I'm sure none of the Bills cried after the game, not Seahawks fan but you gotta admit they puttin' up big numbers!
Dec 17, 2012
If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen… Great call coach! No apologies at all….
Dec 17, 2012
I think Pete Carroll forgot he was in the NFL now and was trying to move up in the BCS. As a Bills fan though the fake punt was about the 10th most embarrassing thing about this game.
Dec 17, 2012
This wouldn't have been an issue if the runner had failed to make a first down.
Dec 17, 2012
there was no reason to apologize. They faked a punt. they had nothing to loose and wanted to try out their special teams in a real game situation.
Dec 17, 2012
where??
Dec 17, 2012
If you don't want the opposing team running up the score, stop them.
Dec 17, 2012
ask new englamd , down 28 and came back to tie.. no lead is safe.
Dec 17, 2012
anyone that has played football competitively knows that you risk injury if you slow down or start to play at a different speed. I'ts like asking a boxer not to punch as hard. You go full speed and you play your game until the opponent stops you. End of story. This is pro football where athletes are paid silly amounts of money – they can buy something to relieve the pain from having their asses kicked!
Dec 18, 2012
good job picking out bad grammar. Just remember though that when your good at something theirs a 1000 people better and when your better then them theirs one left whose better then you!
Dec 18, 2012
I'm a Bills fan. They deserved that fake punt. They "Punted" by showing the formation they had. They assumed the Seahawks would just punt it back to them.
Dec 18, 2012
Did Pete bet the OVER?
Dec 18, 2012
Just another classless act from a classless coach.
Dec 18, 2012
he seen an oppertunity to do something that is not an all the time thing, go for it you practice it now try it in the game. some times it works and others it don't. if it would of fail what would you be saying now, why didn't he kick the ball. people, its a game. its not where you win or loose but how you played it, good call coach.
Dec 18, 2012
This will come back to bite him in the ass.
Dec 18, 2012
This will come back to bite him in the ass. I'm surprised a Bills player didn't pull out a gun and put a couple of rounds into his head! After all, they ARE NFL players!
Dec 18, 2012
Anyone remember when the AZ cardinals were winning against the Bears by 31 at the end of the third and the bears came back and won on defense! That's why! The Bears later went on to go to the super bowl that year. About 6 years ago or something like that.
Dec 18, 2012
Umm… Isn't the point of the game to score points????
Dec 18, 2012
Yeah everybody's so macho. Wait until it happens to your team. No bitching allowed then d-bags. Carroll's an a-hole as always.
Dec 18, 2012
Yeah everybody's so macho. Wait until it happens to your team. No bitching allowed then d-bags. Carroll's an a-hole as always.
Dec 18, 2012
still, the guy is an arsehole and always has been. Karma has bit him time and time again and it will again.
Dec 18, 2012
It's the coach's job to manage the game and the player's job to execute their role 100% every play. Pete was probably just enjoying the lead and the player did what they were coached to do. I'm sure the Bills staff was understanding of the situation once it was explained.
Dec 18, 2012
Agree totally. No excuse. Looks like both the author and editor were drunk on the job here….
Dec 18, 2012
Look at Sunday nights game. 49's let up and almost lost the game.
Dec 18, 2012
Running the score up? Guess it may be an issue if we were talking PEEWEE football? Everyone needs to get over this BS…there is so much more to worry about in life! The coach is a WIMP, by the way, for apologizing…GROW A COUPLE AND SUPPORT YOUR TEAM!
Dec 18, 2012
This is the F%#&*%@G NFL, not High School Football. Everyone doesn't win. Get over it!
Dec 18, 2012
Its the NFL and he shouldnt apologize for shit. The opponet needs to apologize for being an embarresment.