Dallas Cowboys Scoreboard Controversy
Will Changes Be Made Before Opening Day?
It appears that the Titans have exposed a major flaw in the new stadium, but Cowboys owner Jerry Jones doesn’t think it’s an issue.
Cowboys Owner Will Not Budge
Jones has no plan to alter the screen, as the NFL signed off on the 160 foot long, 90 foot high video board. Jones told ESPN.com that he believes someone has to be trying to hit the screen in order to do so. Cowboys punter Mat McBriar has apparently never come close to hitting the giant board.
Titans coach Jeff Fisher threw the red challenge flag after the punt hit the scoreboard but was told that it was not a challengeable play. Fisher also serves as Co-Chair of the NFL’s Competition Committee.
Trapasso and veteran punter Craig Hentrich were able to hit the board in warm-ups and were surprised at how engineers, architects and owners failed to anticipate this would be an issue. Hentrich told ESPN.com, “I hit it probably a dozen times in pregame… I don’t know what the people were thinking. I guess they should have tested things out before they put that thing in place.”
NFL Elects to Keep Board Where It Is
The NFL elected to keep the board as it is, despite calls from the Competition Committee to have it moved. Commissioner Roger Goodell sent a memo to all of the NFL teams explaining that if a punt hits the board or any other object, the down will be replayed, just as the rule states.
League Amends Replay Rules
The league has since amended the replay rules in light of the scoreboard issues. The rules now allow a replay official to stop play at any time during a game if it is believed that a punted ball has struck the scoreboard. Normally the replay official has the final say only in the last two minutes of each half.
If a down is replayed, the game clock will be reset to the time remaining when the snap occurred and all penalties will be disregarded. Coaches will be able to use the replay challenge if they believe the board has been hit by a punt.
League Did Not Do Their Job
The league has recently conducted more comprehensive research, and the Cowboys have reportedly been fully cooperative. NFL Vice President of Operations, Ray Anderson, has admitted that the league did not do an appropriate job in researching the minimum height requirement to avoid the problem that has now become so apparent. Jones has agreed to move a Mitsubishi ad at the base of the scoreboard before the Cowboys home opener.
The scoreboard will be raised and disconnected for the U2 concert on October 12th in order to make room for their stage.
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