After his Tennessee Titans shredded the Jacksonville Jaguars 30-3 last night in Jacksonville, Titans Coach Jeff Fisher was asked during a postgame press conference why he wasn’t more proactive in running out the clock at the end of the game.
(Video of Fisher comments: Joking?)
In his response Fisher claimed, with what appeared to be a straight face, that ESPN had asked both teams at the end of the game to take their timeouts in order to allow the network to air more commercial spots.
Fisher:
“(Jaguars Coach) Jack (Del Rio) used his timeouts. My understanding is they (ESPN) needed network timeouts, and that’s why Jack used his timeouts. They came over and asked me to do it, but I said, ‘I was hoping to get a first down and kneel on it.’
“You can check with Jack. I believe that they asked them to use them. It’s the first time I’ve heard of it. I just said I would have a hard time using them, because I’m ahead. Honestly, I have no issues with Jack or how he managed the end of that game.”
Del Rio took back-to-back timeouts after the two-minute warning with his Jags down 23-3. Del Rio has yet to comment why he took the timeouts but is scheduled to meet the media again tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Fisher has reportedly backtracked on his seemingly serious stance.
Gene Frenette of the FLORIDA TIMES-UNION in Jacksonville Tweeted Tuesday:
ESPN did not ask coaches to take timeouts. Fisher said that in jest, according to our reporter who was in production trucks.
Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com - via Doug Farrar of FootballOutsiders.com - also reported Fisher’s about-face on the subject.
Fisher confirmed those reports in an interview on WIP-AM in Philadelphia Monday afternoon - at least about himself - when he was asked if ESPN contacted him about timeouts.
“No, ESPN didn’t. Basically what happens at two-minute warning, the NFL gives you the status of TV, and with commercials they said we’re two behind.
“When I was asked about coach Del Rio’s use of time outs at the end of the game, I mentioned in the press conference later that they may have connected the dots, or it may have been Jack giving the QB some more time to figure out another play.
“ESPN never came to me and said to call a timeout.”
What we learned today: Jeff Fisher’s wit apparently is so dry you can test for land speed records on it.
When contacted today about Fisher’s initial remarks, ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz told me that the network “did not ask either team to take a timeout.” Daniel Kaplan of SPORTSBUSINESS Journal also noted another similarly official ESPN response on the topic: “ESPN did not directly or indirectly ask the coaches to take a timeout.”
But why then did Del Rio burn two timeouts late in the game with his team down 23-3? Whatever the reason, we’ll soon find out from the Jags coach.
So was this a case of art imitating life?
I don’t know if I’ll ever be convinced that it wasn’t.
3:34 pm on October 19th, 2010
It wouldn’t surprise me, there was a ton of commercials in the last 2 mintues of game time.
3:41 pm on October 19th, 2010
F espn.
3:42 pm on October 19th, 2010
what difference does it make if he used the time outs or not? if you thought the game was going on too long and dragging why don’t you just stop watching it?
3:56 pm on October 19th, 2010
the very reason i no longer watch football. i am old enough to remember when a one hour game took one and one half hours to play and that was with a 20 min half time show. now 3 1/2 to 4 hours. you watch commercials and maybe get a little football inbetween.
4:00 pm on October 19th, 2010
what a sham
4:04 pm on October 19th, 2010
I wouldn’t be suprised at all. I was at the NYJ - Vikings game. Crazy rain and lightning. We were not allowed in our seats. Game delayed due to lightning. 45 minutes into delay we were told to return to our seats with the rain and lighnting continuing at crazy rates. I can only guess the network decided it was losing too much money.
4:05 pm on October 19th, 2010
As a nashvillian and having watched Jeff Fisher on his show and in the locker room I can tell you he could pull this off as a joke. He can say a lot without ever cracking a smile but if you look at his eyes you know he is kidding as there is a look in them that gives him away. So who knows—only Jeff and Jack and it really doesn’t matter. Game OVER
4:18 pm on October 19th, 2010
It’s a shame that it’s blatantly obvious how much ‘control’ these large entities have over the game. The deny it, lie about it, and act downright oblivous to it… but it’s a fact. They are in business to produce a highly polished, ultra entertaining product that excites and amazes.
Well my friends that doesn’t always happen according to plan and by chance.. they have to ‘tweak’ the script a lot more often than not.
I feel I’ve ranted on the wrong subject. Back on topic: ESPN essentially ’stole’ money from its sponsors by forcing the game to run longer (i.e. more commecial breaks), which equals more ad revenue. simple as that.
4:34 pm on October 19th, 2010
Who Cares, Turn the Channle when a Commercial comes on! I learned this years ago from the one & Only “The Egg” ! (My dad)
4:54 pm on October 19th, 2010
I don’t watch commerials anyway. I record the game and wait about 20 minutes after the start to watch. This way I can fast forward all the commercials. usualy by the end of the game I have caught up with live tv.
5:16 pm on October 19th, 2010
If you want a real conspiracy theory, Chris Johnson is trying to set the NFL rushing record and got a 35 yard touchdown run after those timeouts and the 2 minute warning. Seriously, the game was out of reach and people had tuned out anyway, so if it was done it was a pointless gesture. Lets look at that 35 yard run with Tennessee up 23-3 and Chris Johnson is still on the field in what was now mop up duty?
5:57 pm on October 19th, 2010
the timeouts were obviously called to ensure Chris Johnson effed up fantasy leagues across the country.
6:02 pm on October 19th, 2010
Game was over and I was in la-la land long before this anyway.
6:03 pm on October 19th, 2010
That makes sense, I mean we do really need more adverts!
6:36 pm on October 19th, 2010
I agree with tracey (mainly because the photo “she” has posted is hot). There aren’t enough commercials/adverts in my life. Not even close.
10:53 am on October 20th, 2010
ESPN denies asking them to take timeouts. That’s correct and true as ESPN didn’t ASK them, they TOLD them to take timeouts.
When people say ESPN is the most powerful force in sports, it’s examples like this that show what they mean.
1:31 pm on October 20th, 2010
My DVR is laughing at their two timeouts!
5:28 pm on October 20th, 2010
How F’in old are you Bob? Are you talking about watching Red Grange play live before TV was invented?
Bob wrote
the very reason i no longer watch football. i am old enough to remember when a one hour game took one and one half hours to play and that was with a 20 min half time show. now 3 1/2 to 4 hours. you watch commercials and maybe get a little football inbetween
8:15 pm on October 20th, 2010
Did you guys actually watch the game until the 4th quarter?
1:03 am on October 21st, 2010
ITS NOTHING COMPARED TO THE LAST MINUTE OF A BASKETBALL GAME
2:55 pm on October 21st, 2010
I’m with Frank on this one, DVR has made evening games much easier to watch. I set them up to record and start watching 60+ mins after kickoff. Then I can skip all the commercials and most of halftime too. One of many reasons that DVR is awesome. =D