August 11, 2009

Incredible Fake Punt Wasted on Hall of Fame Game: At the NFL Hall of Fame game Sunday, Houston Oilers punter AJ Trapasso executed a fake punt to perfection against the Buffalo Bills, including a fake reverse handoff and a statue of liberty trick worthy of Boise State. See the video. The game also had a last-second intentional safety that messed with the gambling line.

posted by rcade to football at 02:06 PM - 11 comments

If you're gambling on preseason football, I think you deserve to lose.

posted by TheQatarian at 02:19 PM on August 11, 2009

I bet that anyone who bets serious money on preseason games is pretty much a fool...
On edit, what Q said.

posted by mjkredliner at 02:20 PM on August 11, 2009

Amen to that. I don't gamble on sports -- though I would if it was legal -- but I've always figured that betting on preseason games is a sign your gambling problem has gotten out of hand.

posted by rcade at 02:35 PM on August 11, 2009

I don't gamble on sports -- though I would if it was legal --

Ever been to Vegas?

posted by BornIcon at 03:17 PM on August 11, 2009

An incredible fake punt caught on video by professional athletes rocks even if it is in a pre-season game.

posted by Joey Michaels at 04:04 PM on August 11, 2009

The appeal of gambling with actual money has always been lost on me. But to each their own. I am certain that the appeal of good whisky and jazz is lost on most other people.

Personally I find the use of the fake punt a bright move this early in the pre-season. It will mess with the opposing teams' special teams coaches all year long. And just when they think it's safe to go back in the water, ba-blazzo! Fake punt-arooney.

posted by THX-1138 at 04:06 PM on August 11, 2009

That's what I think, THX. Just one more thing for the opposition to think about.

posted by jmd82 at 04:52 PM on August 11, 2009

1st TD of the season was scored by a 2nd string punter. Disaster looms.

posted by bdaddy at 08:01 PM on August 11, 2009

Whether Titans or Oilers, when this team plays the Bills, it's fair to say that the gloves are off and anything goes, whether the game counts or not.

This higher level of cosmic disorder may have begun with the huge Bills playoff win over the Oilers back in the day, where they came from 30+ points down to win in OT. I can still see the look of dazed disbelief on Warren Moon's face.

Then there was the Music City Miracle with Frank Wycheck and Co., doing the winning cross field razzle dazzle on the final play of the game. To the complete befuddlement of Wade Phillips (what else is new?).

Pulling a fake punt in the HOF game makes sense as the latest big moment in the continuation of the zany Bills v. Titans/Oilers trick or treat tradition.

The intentional safety may even have been partly a nod to the safety that was rung up in the Miracle game.

posted by beaverboard at 10:24 PM on August 11, 2009

I thought the fake punt was fun to watch, I was kind of shocked to see it in the preseason. I think if this were a regular season game, it might not have worked as well as it did. I think they were on the 40 yard line, the opposing special teams might have been looking for it if this were a regular season game. But it was well executed thanks to bad pursuit by the would be tacklers.

posted by sgtcookzane at 10:49 PM on August 11, 2009

The intentional safety may even have been partly a nod to the safety that was rung up in the Miracle game.

In that case they should've included an illegal forward pass in their package, too.

posted by inigo2 at 07:55 AM on August 12, 2009

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