Veteran New York Times sports columnist George Vecsey has seen plenty of boneheaded calls by coaches over the years.
But none beats the decision by Seattle Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll not to run the ball with Marshawn Lynch just a yard from the end zone, but pass it instead — leading to a game-ending interception.
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"I've never seen a worse call come in from the sideline," Vecsey said Monday on "The Steve Malzberg Show" on Newsmax TV — a day after the New England Patriots beat the Seahawks, 28-24, to win Super Bowl XLIX.
"This one was just never a good idea from whoever thought it up to the time that Pete Carroll sent it in."
Lynch, arguably the NFL's best running back, was three feet from the winning touchdown, but Carroll opted to have quarterback Russell Wilson pass the ball. Wilson fired toward receiver Ricardo Lockette, but Patriots defensive back Malcolm Butler intercepted.
Vecsey — author of
"Eight World Cups: My Journey through the Beauty and Dark Side of Soccer", published by MacMillan — said Carroll's call is so far out of the stratosphere, that nothing even comes close.
"I can't come up with anything even comparable," he said.
"Carroll was a great guy coming through the Jets … on the other hand, somebody pointed out last night … that, actually Carroll's the guy that ran the dirty program at USC if you want to talk about dirty laundry."
He was referring to how the California university's football team was hit by the NCAA with a two-year bowl ban, four years' probation, loss of scholarships and forfeits of an entire year's games.
The punishments came for improper benefits given to Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush — something that allegedly happened on Carroll's watch.
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