To a large percentage of football fans, the NFL has never been about whether your team wins or loses but whether it covers.
The growth of fantasy football has sliced an even larger percentage of the fan base that is less about the sanctity of victory and defeat and more about an extension to the competition. It is often advantageous, for instance, that a fantasy team’s quarterback plays from behind in his real game, because it typically leads to more passing yards.
The league has always publicly feigned a stiff arm to such a notion.
“I don’t want to talk about gambling,” Broncos tight end Tony Scheffler said. “It’s kind of an unspoken rule around here that you leave the two alone.”
But even the league would be acknowledging where its bread is buttered if an incorrect call that took away a Troy Polamalu touchdown instigates a replay rule change.
By now, most fans have seen the end of the Steelers-Chargers game last week. Certainly, 100 percent of the fans who placed a wager on the game, or had the Steelers’ defense on their fantasy team, saw the play.
“Every week someone from the stands yells something,” said Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler, who has mostly been a fantasy dream this year. “It’s just huge now. There’s so many fantasy clubs out there. It’s big money.”
With the Steelers leading 11-10 and only a few seconds remaining, the Chargers tried a series of laterals in hopes someone could escape for a length-of-the-field score.
Instead, Polamalu picked up the ball after an attempted lateral and took it in for a score. The play was reviewed, however, and for some reason overruled. No touchdown. No big deal to the outcome. Touchdown or no touchdown, the Steelers won and the Chargers lost.
Only the Chargers were a three-point underdog. With the correct call, the Steelers cover. The incorrect call meant the winning bets were those placed on the Chargers. This became such a very big deal, not even the NFL could look away.
The league sent out a statement acknowledging the call was blown. Commissioner Roger Goodell then said he would look into altering the replay system, so it can be reviewed a second time, in time for the playoffs.
The reward might be increasing the probability of a correct call for the playoffs. The impetus of such a change, though, can’t be denied.
“Vegas,” Broncos cornerback Dre Bly said. “There’s a lot of money at stake when you’re talking about professional sports. The under-over or whatever it is, that’s why officiating is so important. They have a tough job and when they go to the replay booth, it still can be tough. But you would think when they go to the replay booth they could get the call right. People don’t understand that this world is affected by the calls an official makes. A good call, bad call, the whole world is affected by it.”
Hey, the mortgage crisis had to start somewhere.
When a tie means victory.
In the same week a tie became a major conversation topic, one of the most memorable ties in football history celebrated its 40-year anniversary.
The NFL was abuzz not by the 13-13 tie between Philadelphia and Cincinnati last Sunday, but by Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb admitting he didn’t realize until afterward that a game could end without a winner.
Forty years ago, a tie in “The Game” was considered triumphant. As the famous headline in the Crimson student newspaper read, “Harvard beats Yale 29-29.”
Harvard had scored 16 points in the final 42 seconds. The headline was delivered to the copy editor by photographer Tim Carlson, who is now living in Louisville and is a writer and photographer for a triathlon website. Carlson was shooting the Crimson faithful that had stormed the field when he was approached by a delirious student who said, “Harvard beats Yale!”
“It didn’t spring from my brain full-blown like an idea from the head of Zeus,” said Carlson, who was 19 then. “Rather I was a humble carrier who encountered a crazed fan at the end of that miracle finish and had the wit not to forget it and relay it to our city desk.”
Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com
On the hot seat
Tomlinson needs to raise his game
Who. LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, Chargers
When. 6:15 p.m. tonight vs. Indianapolis
Why.With the Chargers losing outside linebacker Shawne Merriman to season-ending injury, Tomlinson picked a bad year to have a career-worst season. In seven previous seasons, he averaged 1,521 yards. He is the two-time defending NFL rushing leader. He ranks 13th now and is on pace for career-worst 1,098 yards. Yes, L.T. was bothered by turf toe early, but this is Week 12. He must have a big game against the Colts, and the Bolts must win to stay in the playoff hunt.
Rise and fall
Buccaneers on the move
ON THE RISE
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Efficient Jeff Garcia has 74.0 completion percent, 594 yards in past two wins.
2. Indianapolis Colts. Peyton Manning in past three games: 7 TDs, 0 picks, 814 yards, 104.0 rating.
3. Broncos. QB Jay Cutler in past two games: 4 TDs, 1 pick, 663 yards, 107.3 rating.
LOSING MOMENTUM
1. Washington Redskins. Averaging just 8.0 points past two games as Jason Campbell has 59.9 rating.
2. Philadelphia Eagles. Donovan McNabb has four picks, 47.8 completion percent in past two games.
3. Buffalo Bills. Gun-shy Trent Edwards has 3 TDs, 8 picks, 61.7 rating during four-game skid.
Rookie watch
Improving reception
Who. Dustin Keller, TE, N.Y. Jets
When. 11 a.m. today at undefeated Tennessee
Why. Not only was the former Purdue star the first tight end drafted at No. 30 overall, Keller was taken before any other receiver. Keller was Brett Favre’s favorite target the past two weeks. After recording just 13 catches for 147 yards in first eight games, Keller has 14 catches for 194 yards in last two, both victories. The Jets were criticized on draft day for trading up six spots to nab Keller, because the consensus was he wasn’t a first-round talent. But he has played like a top-15 pick the past two games.
At issue
Hey, it’s simple: Eliminate ties
What. A tie
Background. Last week, the Bengals-Eagles game finished 13-13, only the second NFL tie in 11 years. It also was just the 16th tie in the 35 seasons since the NFL added an overtime-quarter, first-score-wins system. Eagles QB Donovan McNabb became a target for criticism by admitting he didn’t know a game could end in a tie.
Klis’ take. At the root of McNabb’s ignorance is the disbelief any game in the 21st century could end without a winner. Let’s eliminate all confusion. No more ties. Play not to sudden death, but until a team wins. Even the NHL, in which ties used to be commonplace, finally figured out all games shall have a winner. The NFL will never go for the college red-zone system. Nor is it likely to tweak the rules so each team receives the ball at least once in overtime. My plan is simple: If the game is still tied after the fifth quarter, play on. And keep playing until a team scores. As for the added injury risk: Ask the players, after five quarters of settling nothing, what they would prefer.
