Seattle’s hopes of counteracting New England’s innovative offensive schemes at Super Bowl XLIX will be aided by the introduction of a new hand-signal for game officials, according to Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll.
The Patriots have deployed players who would normally be eligible to catch passes as ineligible receivers to great effect so far in this year’s playoffs, confusing opposing defenders during their wins over Baltimore and Indianapolis.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh became so frustrated by the tactic during his team’s divisional playoff defeat that he wound up incurring a penalty for walking onto the field to confront the game referee, and subsequently criticised officials for not making it clearer to his players when a Patriot receiver or running back was ineligible.
After watching the tape of those both games, Carroll felt it was necessary to contact the league for clarity on how this information would be conveyed. “They came back with a very clear response,” said Carroll at his Thursday press conference. “When a player with an ineligible number will be eligible, that’s the same [process as before].
“But when [a player with] an eligible number is now ineligible, they’re going to make new a declaration to the players on the field, so that you’ll clearly identify that. I know the league is absolutely committed to getting that right and doing that well. [The Patriots] have brought that to the forefront, because they’ve been using some stuff like that lately.”
Asked what the gesture would look like, Carroll gave a physical demonstration, stepping out from behind his podium and waving two hands across one another – in a similar motion to an incomplete pass – at knee height, before pointing at a hypothetical receiver.
Caroll added that his team had worked extensively on countering the tactic. “We’ve been preparing for it every day, because we don’t want to be caught in a mishandling on our end,” he said. “So it’s really on us to see it – the officials do what they do – but we still have to find it, because it could happen like it did to the Colts. So we’re very much in tune with it. It’s just been a part of the preparation, so it’s not a big deal to us now.”
Next up at the podium after Carroll was cornerback Richard Sherman, who was asked about the impending birth of his first child. The player is expecting a son with his girlfriend, Ashley Moss, in the next few days, but has refused to be drawn on what he will do if the boy arrives on Sunday.
He reacted with surprise on Thursday to one reporter’s suggestion that this was a topic of national debate, only to be reminded that New York Mets player Daniel Murphy had been criticised by some leading commentators for missing the start of the Major League Baseball season on paternity leave.
“Well, our focus is on the game right now,” replied Sherman. “He’s not supposed to come on Sunday, obviously if that changes, it changes. But I think he’s going to be a disciplined young man and stay in there until after the game. He’s going to do his father his first favour and stay in there for another week or two.
“But I’ve thought about the possibility of him coming during the game, or him coming before the game, and we have things in place in case that happens, and you know, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there … I would not like to miss the birth of my first son, my first kid, but thankfully, and hopefully, and God willing we won’t have to cross that bridge.”
Asked specifically if he knew what he would do if the baby arrived on Sunday, Sherman replied. “I do. I can’t let you know. I guess we’ll find out if he comes on Sunday.”
Sherman was more comfortable discussing the subject of whether his son would be allowed to play football when he grew up, in light of growing concern around head injuries. “Oh, 100%,” said Sherman. “100%. Football will be probably one of the first or second sports he plays along with baseball, soccer and all the other sports. A lot of people talk about the negative aspects of football, and there are many. But there are also a lot of positives.”
