Chiefs Attacking kneeldowns: good football or bad sportsmanship?

**Rain Man** · 01:23 PM

I was getting annoyed on the Chiefs' last possession, the one where we had the ball on our own five with a minute left and were just doing kneeldowns.

On every kneeldown, the Patriots would create a big pileup by diving into our linemen.

It annoyed me because it's not going to work 999 times out of 1000. The general protocol of football is that if a team is kneeling down you let them do it because the game is essentially over. It's tradition, and it's generally frowned upon to do otherwise. (See Tom Nalen diving into Igor Olshansky's knees as an example.)

The Patriots were crashing hard into our linemen on every one of those kneeldowns even though Patrick was pulling off some of the greatest kneeldowns I've ever seen. Did you notice that? He was down in a split second and moving back. He may be the most talented kneeldown quarterback I've ever seen.

Having said all of that, the game ain't over until the final gun goes off, or Brady's bedtime, whichever comes first. If diving into the line works 1 time out of 1000, that's one extra game you're going to win. So it's good practice to do it from a pure win-loss perspective.

It makes me think that there should be a rule change to automatically take the clock down at the end of the game and the defending team can stop it by taking time outs, since kneeldowns are for the most part boring from a game perspective. Why should the league risk the knees of a Patriots player flying into them on a play that's essentially meaningless.

But back to the point. Was it good football that that Patriots were attacking our kneeldowns or bad sportsmanship?

Poll coming if I can keep Donta Hightower from diving into it.

Eleazar · 12-09-2019, 01:19 PM

Bad sportsmanship. Can injure someone and never works. Wasn't even a thing until that loser Schiano brought it to the NFL, was it?

Prison Bitch · 12-09-2019, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eleazar

Bad sportsmanship. Can injure someone and never works. Wasn't even a thing until that loser Schiano brought it to the NFL, was it?

This is all that needs to be said. ITS. NEVER. WORKED.

Anyone defending this idiotic behavior needs to read the above statement over and over until it sinks in.

Btw we had this argument about Gay State jumping over the line when they lost to UCLA in the Alamo Bowl. Of course, their fans here defended it cause....um, Bill Snyder or something.

eDave · 12-09-2019, 01:21 PM

It's a dick move.

Prison Bitch · 12-09-2019, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eDave

It's a dick move.

Put it this way: suppose Pat faked a kneel down, and suddenly threw it to a wide open TE who released off the line,who sprints downfield alone and scored a cheap TD. How would their players react? Would their fans boo?

To even ask the question is to answer it.

Yehoodi · 12-09-2019, 03:05 PM

I can understand both sides of the coin. I would lean towards not activity playing the kneel down.

My guess would be that when it gets to this point in a game the defense would tell the offense, "hey we are not going to try" and so folks know they are not going to try. Then at times will let them know, we need to try this time around.

farmerchief · 12-09-2019, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Put it this way: suppose Pat faked a kneel down, and suddenly threw it to a wide open TE who released off the line,who sprints downfield alone and scored a cheap TD. How would their players react? Would their fans boo?

To even ask the question is to answer it.

I would give all the Patriot players a free run and hit at all of our players, including coaches, if that happened!

**Buehler445** · 12-09-2019, 01:21 PM

I wasn’t thrilled with it. I understand it but I wish they wouldn’t have done it. There is far higher probability of injury than a fumble. But I get it.

I do wonder what the narrative would have been if the roles were reversed. Would there be great whaling and gnashing of teeth at the slight chance that Brady would sustain an injury? I’m guessing at least one assface would roll that out there.

**HayWire** · 12-09-2019, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buehler445

I wasn’t thrilled with it. I understand it but I wish they wouldn’t have done it. There is far higher probability of injury than a fumble. But I get it.

I do wonder what the narrative would have been if the roles were reversed. Would there be great whaling and gnashing of teeth at the slight chance that Brady would sustain an injury? I’m guessing at least one assface would roll that out there.

This. A botched snap and they have the ball on the 5. Would have bothered me more if it was the other end of the field. I think it's more "how" they do I rather than if. Trying to blow them off the line like a normal play, fine. Going after cheap shots and knees, not cool

**ptlyon** · 12-09-2019, 01:21 PM

RM - you're questioning why the Pats would try to injure their opponent?

You're smarter than this!

**DaFace** · 12-09-2019, 01:22 PM

Didn't someone run a fake out of a kneel-down position not too long ago? It was before halftime rather than just ending the game, but still.

In general, I'm fine with teams playing every down like it's a real play.

**Buehler445** · 12-09-2019, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

Didn't someone run a fake out of a kneel-down position not too long ago? It was before halftime rather than just ending the game, but still.

In general, I'm fine with teams playing every down like it's a real play.

Cheatriots did it to Miami like twice.

Rapistberger tried and failed on a fake spike to stop the clock then blamed it on Haley.

Mr. Plow · 12-09-2019, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

Didn't someone run a fake out of a kneel-down position not too long ago? It was before halftime rather than just ending the game, but still.

In general, I'm fine with teams playing every down like it's a real play.

I may be making this up, but I'm thinking the Ravens tried it yesterday at half.

**Rain Man** · 12-09-2019, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow

I may be making this up, but I'm thinking the Ravens tried it yesterday at half.

If I was a coach I'd do it at halftime. Why not?

Mr. Plow · 12-09-2019, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

If I was a coach I'd do it at halftime. Why not?

No reason not to. Could catch them off guard and get a score out of it. Worst case would be an accidental fumble returned for a TD.

View Poll Results: Attacking kneeldowns in the victory formation. What's your opinion?
Football is a 60-minute game. If it gives you a chance to win, you obviously do it.	18	15.65%
You should do it to try to win, but the injury risk may outweigh the reward.	6	5.22%
I'm neutral. I'm usually in the bathroom when the kneeldowns occur anyway.	2	1.74%
I'll deal with it if someone does it, because the game's not over. But it's kind of stupid.	20	17.39%
It's poor sportsmanship. Class up and acknowledge that you've lost.	64	55.65%
Kneeldowns shouldn't happen anyway. Keep attacking because scoring is the eighth or ninth tiebreaker for the playoffs.	5	4.35%
Voters: 115. You may not vote on this poll

12-09-2019, 01:18 PM	Topic Starter
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3278491 VARSITY	Attacking kneeldowns: good football or bad sportsmanship? I was getting annoyed on the Chiefs' last possession, the one where we had the ball on our own five with a minute left and were just doing kneeldowns. On every kneeldown, the Patriots would create a big pileup by diving into our linemen. It annoyed me because it's not going to work 999 times out of 1000. The general protocol of football is that if a team is kneeling down you let them do it because the game is essentially over. It's tradition, and it's generally frowned upon to do otherwise. (See Tom Nalen diving into Igor Olshansky's knees as an example.) The Patriots were crashing hard into our linemen on every one of those kneeldowns even though Patrick was pulling off some of the greatest kneeldowns I've ever seen. Did you notice that? He was down in a split second and moving back. He may be the most talented kneeldown quarterback I've ever seen. Having said all of that, the game ain't over until the final gun goes off, or Brady's bedtime, whichever comes first. If diving into the line works 1 time out of 1000, that's one extra game you're going to win. So it's good practice to do it from a pure win-loss perspective. It makes me think that there should be a rule change to automatically take the clock down at the end of the game and the defending team can stop it by taking time outs, since kneeldowns are for the most part boring from a game perspective. Why should the league risk the knees of a Patriots player flying into them on a play that's essentially meaningless. But back to the point. Was it good football that that Patriots were attacking our kneeldowns or bad sportsmanship? Poll coming if I can keep Donta Hightower from diving into it. Last edited by Rain Man; 12-09-2019 at 01:23 PM..
Posts: 141,479

12-09-2019, 01:19 PM	#2
Eleazar Beyond the Rapids Join Date: May 2003 Location: Langley, VA Casino cash: $-370000	Bad sportsmanship. Can injure someone and never works. Wasn't even a thing until that loser Schiano brought it to the NFL, was it?
Posts: 80,659

12-09-2019, 01:21 PM	#4
eDave Banned Join Date: Jan 2013 Casino cash: $9998560	It's a dick move.
Posts: 53,803

12-09-2019, 03:05 PM	#6
Yehoodi Starter Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Massachusetts Casino cash: $10000400	I can understand both sides of the coin. I would lean towards not activity playing the kneel down. My guess would be that when it gets to this point in a game the defense would tell the offense, "hey we are not going to try" and so folks know they are not going to try. Then at times will let them know, we need to try this time around.
Posts: 510

12-09-2019, 01:21 PM	#8
Buehler445 Supporter Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Scott City KS Casino cash: $2274734	I wasn’t thrilled with it. I understand it but I wish they wouldn’t have done it. There is far higher probability of injury than a fumble. But I get it. I do wonder what the narrative would have been if the roles were reversed. Would there be great whaling and gnashing of teeth at the slight chance that Brady would sustain an injury? I’m guessing at least one assface would roll that out there.
Posts: 56,800

12-09-2019, 01:21 PM	#10
ptlyon Bono & Grbac wasn't enough Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Sioux City, IA Casino cash: $13063829	RM - you're questioning why the Pats would try to injure their opponent? You're smarter than this! __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Advertise here: $19.99 a month
Posts: 33,611

12-09-2019, 01:22 PM	#11
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $1986899	Didn't someone run a fake out of a kneel-down position not too long ago? It was before halftime rather than just ending the game, but still. In general, I'm fine with teams playing every down like it's a real play.
Posts: 51,812