Two NFL players decided to go against their coach’s orders in Week 8 of the football season, each with different results for their teams, not to mention gamblers.
Seattle Seahawks punter Michael Dickson was a hero to teammates, while Green Bay Packers kick returner Ty Montgomery might be getting released for his ill-advised freelancing.
Both rogue plays could have possibly affected the spreads in the game. In the Seattle game, the Seahawks had a 28-14 lead with just over two minutes left against the Detroit Lions. The ball was on their own one-yard line on 4th and 8, and the plan was for Dickson to fake the punt on the back of the end zone, take some time off the clock, and then take a safety. The Seahawks would then get a free kick from the 20-yard line.
Except Dickson had his own play. He ran up the right sideline after seeing a large opening and got the first down. The play allowed the Seahawks to run out the clock and preserve the victory.
“We’ve been drawing that up for months, waiting for the chance,” Seattle Coach Pete Carroll said sarcastically, of Dickson’s play. “No, that’s not what it was. That was us taking a safety. And that was a really terrific competitor, seeing the moment and seizing it. I thought Mike was smiling as he turned the corner.”
Dickson also got a new nickname from his teammates, who now call him, “Big Balls Dickson.”
Montgomery Decision Backfires
Green Bay was not so fortunate. With the Packers in a see-saw battle with the undefeated Rams, they were down by two points with 2:09 remaining, one timeout and the two-minute warning. Coach Mike McCarthy instructed Montgomery to field the kick off and take a knee if the ball went into the end zone.
Montgomery had other ideas, bringing the ball out from a yard deep and promptly getting tackled at the 20 yard line and fumbling. The Rams were able to run out the clock and win the game.
Many anonymous players ripped Montgomery after the game for his decision. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was not shy about how disappointed he was at the outcome.
“And then to have it end the way it did,” Rodgers said. “Obviously, it’s frustrating.”
Definition of Bad Beat?
Many of the Rams backers were bemoaning a bad beat they thought they received on Sunday. It sparked a debate on what is a bad beat. Many said it didn’t qualify because the Rams never covered the spread, thus there wasn’t a bad beat.
Los Angeles was a 7-point favorite and had trailed part of the game, finally going up by two points late in the fourth quarter. After Montgomery’s fumble Todd Gurley had a chance to put more points on the board and give Rams backers a win.
On 3rd and 10, the Rams running back got a pitch and ran to the left side, finding a hole and looked like he had a path to the end zone. Instead, though, he pulled up at the 5-yard line and allowed a Packer player to tackle him. It allowed the Rams to run out the clock.
Had he been stopped short of the first down, the Rams would’ve had to kick another field goal, which would’ve helped over bettors, too, as that line was set at 58. They needed a touchdown or a field goal.
Gamblers were incensed and took to social media to criticize the All Pro for his decision. Gurley replied on NFL.com, saying he didn’t regret the play.
“Man, forget fantasy and forget Vegas today,” Gurley said. “We got the win, so that’s all that matters.”