Re: Obscure trivia
Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2023 3:22 pm
Here's how the NY Times explained the "found" 9 yards in its 12/22/72 issue:
The 9 yards for Morris came on a disputed play late in the second period when the Dolphins were playing the Buffalo Bills here Oct. 22. On the play, Miami's quarterback, Earl Morrall, lobbed a pass toward Morris behind the line of scrimmage. The throw was tipped and a Buffalo player fell on the ball. Morris never got possession.
Miami claimed the ball was an incomplete forward pass, but officials ruled that it was a lateral and awarded the ball to Buffalo. Statisticians charged Morris with a 9‐yard loss on a rushing attempt.
“We have been informed by the commissioner's office, which reviewed films and statistics of the game, that the play was incorrectly scored,” said a Dolphin spokesman. “The commissioner's office has ruled that the lost yardage should have been charged to Morrall as fumble yardage and not charged to Morris.”
Morris went all‐out in the final game of the season against Baltimore last Sunday to get his 1,000‐yard season. He entered the game needing 95 yards, but got only 56 in 23 rushing attempts. Twice he had to be helped off the field in the fourth period with a painful ankle sprain. [That's wrong---PFR shows Morris gaining 86 yds on 26 carries]
The 9 yards for Morris came on a disputed play late in the second period when the Dolphins were playing the Buffalo Bills here Oct. 22. On the play, Miami's quarterback, Earl Morrall, lobbed a pass toward Morris behind the line of scrimmage. The throw was tipped and a Buffalo player fell on the ball. Morris never got possession.
Miami claimed the ball was an incomplete forward pass, but officials ruled that it was a lateral and awarded the ball to Buffalo. Statisticians charged Morris with a 9‐yard loss on a rushing attempt.
“We have been informed by the commissioner's office, which reviewed films and statistics of the game, that the play was incorrectly scored,” said a Dolphin spokesman. “The commissioner's office has ruled that the lost yardage should have been charged to Morrall as fumble yardage and not charged to Morris.”
Morris went all‐out in the final game of the season against Baltimore last Sunday to get his 1,000‐yard season. He entered the game needing 95 yards, but got only 56 in 23 rushing attempts. Twice he had to be helped off the field in the fourth period with a painful ankle sprain. [That's wrong---PFR shows Morris gaining 86 yds on 26 carries]