‘Burn a timeout’ phrase officially on fire among media
AHH, football! Who ya like in the FanDuelDraftKings game? Put the ball on the ground, pick up your cash! Won’t be at work, today; I have a bye. Takin’ the kids to the RedZone; we’re gonna burn some timeouts.
All right, true freshmen, let’s try to get through this together. RedZone. Say a team has thirdand8 from their opponent’s 25, but reach, oh, the 18, then try a field goal. Does that count as a RedZone possession?
Despite TV’s enormous emphasis on RedZone stats, we’ll never know. Wanna know why? Because no one knows!
If the team wants to kick a short field goal to win or tie before the clock expires, or just before the half, does it count against their RedZone TD percentage? Yes!
Thus, these enlightening stats are both omnipresent and worthless.
A few years ago, someone said a team in confusion had to “burn a timeout,” as in wasting one. Good use of “burn.” But then nearly everyone started to say it — for all timeouts!
ESPN’s Brock Huard last week provided the latest proof that nonsense has a better chance to stick than sense. Temple coach Matt Rhule, before the Owls punted to Penn State, let the firsthalf clock run to 3 seconds then called time. It made strong, strategic sense.
Huard: “He’s going to burn his last timeout.”
Plenty more where they came from! Hey, don’t expect gapintegrity unless you leverage the linebacker then highpoint the ball with a backshoulder catch. Verticality! ➤ While NBC’s Al Michael’s tried to sound slick near the end of SteelersPatriots, no one with a bet needed to be told what was going on.
➤ Pirates Joakim Soria and Tony Watson each earned a hold Wednesday. Soria set ’em down in order then, by the book, was pulled for Watson, who allowed three hits, a walk, two earned runs.
➤ Phoenix Suns are adding a black uniform. Yep, total eclipse of the Suns.
➤ Coming soon from Steiner: The Jason PierrePaul Stiches and Gauze Wrap Collection, with limited edition lefthanded autograph. Reader Willie Luncheonette brings word that vials of Wilmer Flores GameCried Tears are sold out.