1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

The Conspiracy Theory Surrounding The Seahawks’ Last Play

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by MrClean, Feb 3, 2015.

  1. MrClean

    MrClean Inglourious Basterd Club Member

    The Conspiracy Theory Surrounding The Seahawks’ Last Play

    [​IMG]

    Conspiracy theories abound in US history, a way to explain the unexplainable in a nation with massive gaps in wealth and power. How could a lone gunman kill the President of the United States? Who put a drifter like James Earl Ray in position to kill Dr. Martin Luther King? Or the conspiracy theory of our century, one that has been entertained by the person at the heart of this article, Seattle Seahawks Pete Carroll, how did the Towers fall? (Please save the e-mails. I am not passing judgment on any of the above theories. Only pointing out that they all have found purchase.)

    Sports, where antitrust exemptions, a compliant media and authoritarian structures don’t exactly encourage open discussion, conspiracy theories have always been nourished. Well, one is certainly emerging after last night’s shocking end to Super Bowl 49, as the Seahawks gave away a game that looked comfortably in their grasp. With the outcome in their hands in the closing seconds, on second down from the one yard line and trailing by four points against the New England Patriots, Seattle coach Pete Carroll chose to throw a three-foot slant over the middle instead of handing it to their power runner extraordinaire Marshawn Lynch. It was, of course, intercepted, the first time a pass from the one-yard line had been intercepted all season in any game.

    In the stunning aftermath, after that unfathomable decision, conspiracy theories sprouted like Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors. I’m not talking about Twitter-theories from deep-thinking eggs, or any cris de coeur from devastated Seahawks fans. I’m talking about people inside Seattle’s own locker room. I’m talking about texts I received from mainstream writers who don’t want to deal with the backlash that would come with writing it up.

    The theory goes something like this. Russell Wilson is your young clean-cut God-fearing media-perfect quarterback. If one was creating a superstar face to market for the twenty-first century, chances are they would look, sound and basically be Russell Wilson. He’s Derek Jeter with a Bible, someone who comes across like he has never spoken out of turn in his entire life. Marshawn Lynch is… Marshawn Lynch, and if you haven’t figured out what that means after the past two weeks, then you haven’t been paying attention.

    The theory goes that there were major financial, public relations and football reasons for Russell Wilson and not Lynch to be the one who ends the game in glory. If he throws that touchdown for the victory, Wilson is almost certainly the Super Bowl MVP. He gets the commercial. He gets to stand with the commissioner. And oh, by the way, he also gets his new contract, one that will fasten his prime, at only 26 years old, to the Seattle franchise. Marshawn Lynch is also due a new contract. Marshawn Lynch, had he punched that ball over the goal line, would probably get to be the one handed the MVP trophy. Marshawn Lynch also maybe gets on the mic to say Lord knows what.

    Marshawn Lynch is in addition playing for a new contract and will certainly get one after an awesome, iconic season. But unlike Wilson, Marshawn Lynch turns 29 this off-season, that time when the ability of running backs tends to fall off the cliff. In Seattle’s own recent history, they saw their MVP running back Shaun Alexander go seemingly overnight from superstar to someone who could barely run the ball, a football equivalent of milk left on the radiator.

    The conspiracy theory lies in the fact that Seahawks coach Pete Carroll believed that the last yard the Seahawks needed for that Super Bowl victory was a gimme and, all things being equal, much better to have the iconic Super Bowl moment go to Russell Wilson than to Marshawn Lynch. Coaches setting certain favored players up for glory is as old as football itself. In addition, the politics of race, respectability, public relations and what’s in the best interest of a $2 billion corporation all played into this. That’s the theory.

    I contacted someone inside that locker room and they said to me as if on repeat: “Can’t believe it. We all saw it. They wanted it to be Russ. They didn’t want Marshawn to be the hero.”

    Mike Silver for the NFL network reported on these “mutterings” as well, writing that he wanted to “refrain from lending any legitimacy to the conspiracy theory which one anonymous player was willing to broach: That Carroll somehow had a vested interest in making Wilson, rather than Lynch, the hero, and thus insisted on putting the ball in the quarterback’s hands with an entire season on the line. ‘That’s what it looked like,’ the unnamed player said, but I’d be willing to bet that he merely muttered it out of frustration, and that it was a fleeting thought.”

    Appreciate Mike for reporting it, but it’s not a fleeting thought. People in the Seattle locker room are saying it. People in the sports media are texting it to me. Only a few people are writing about it. But the fact that people on the inside are even thinking it, in a locker room that earlier this season, as Mike Freeman reported, was roiled by these very kinds of divisions, makes it story enough.

    But does it hold actual weight? Would Pete Carroll risk the Super Bowl for public relations? Who the hell knows? Some mitigating factors in Carroll’s corner: Marshawn Lynch is a beast mode of awesomeness, but was actually one for five on the season when rushing from the one-yard line. In other words, it was not an automatic for Lynch to score that touchdown. If he fails, the Hawks have to burn that last time out and probably then have to pass it anyway. Factor in that Pete Carroll may have been thinking about a somewhat similar scenario when, coaching at USC in 2006 for a national championship, he ran the ball and failed. Given that Carroll himself was basically in a state of post-traumatic stress after the game and didn’t really explain much of anything, it may be a long time before we ever know what he was thinking. But in a locker room like Seattle’s where they truly do feel like it’s them against a world and an NFL power structure that wants to put them down, this is one theory that we can expect to find purchase in the months ahead. Tragically, it all overshadows a terrific comeback by the New England Patriots and a game for the ages, a game that reminds us why, despite every scandal, every NFL corporate crime and all the incompetence that swirls around Roger Goodell’s leadership, the sport still reigns supreme.


    http://www.thenation.com/blog/196697/conspiracy-theory-surrounding-seahawks-last-play
     
  2. JMHPhin

    JMHPhin Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    7,684
    3,323
    113
    Nov 27, 2007
    Ohio
    Man I don't put anything past the nfl. Hate that to be true but the argument makes more sense than the actual play call did.


    Can't believe that call still, did they allow Philbin to make that play call?
     
    dolphin25 likes this.
  3. finfansince72

    finfansince72 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    13,843
    10,283
    113
    Dec 18, 2007
    Columbia, South Carolina
    I think Carroll just got cocky, he really thought that nothing could go wrong. When you look at Seattle's run in the playoffs it was just like every bit of luck was on their side. They were completing bombs off of a guys foot, getting onside kicks, everything was clicking, he just got cocky and got burned. I do think if there was time to think about it and go with Wilson over Lynch they would rather Wilson get the MVP but I don't think there was enough time to be getting play calls from the league or to even think about this stuff.
     
    dolphin25 likes this.
  4. Tannephins

    Tannephins Banned

    1,818
    572
    0
    Dec 23, 2014
    ...as well as an exceptional play by a rookie UDFA, who was coached to recognize the formation and anticipate the throw.
     
    Piston Honda, dolphin25 and Disnardo like this.
  5. LiferYank

    LiferYank New Member

    3,088
    765
    0
    Oct 1, 2012
    I actually buy the trying to make Wilson the hero bit but it doesnt explain the call. He was running around the Pats all day and he couldnt get 1 yard? Why the hell would you throw a slant of all things at the goal line? I just dont get it.. I cant think of a single reason to call that play... not a one.
     
    djphinfan and dolphin25 like this.
  6. LiferYank

    LiferYank New Member

    3,088
    765
    0
    Oct 1, 2012
    Are you suggesting they somehow heard the play call?
     
  7. normaldude

    normaldude Active Member

    225
    204
    43
    Oct 13, 2009
    If they wanted to let Russell Wilson score, they could have done..

    a) QB sneak.

    b) Play-action fake to Lynch, then QB roll-out, and throw the ball out of the endzone if nobody is open (or run for the pylon).

    c) Play-action fake to Lynch, then fade pass to 6'5" Chris Matthews.

    All of those plays make more sense than what they actually did (no play-action fake to Lynch, and then just throw the ball into traffic).
     
    bakedmatt, firedan, Bpk and 3 others like this.
  8. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

    51,932
    63,009
    113
    Apr 24, 2012
    Troy, Virginia
    If the main bulk of the article is true, which makes sense, its not a conspiracy. Its wanting to win a certain way. Nothing wrong with that. The call was too risky, IMO, regardless. I'd have run a roll out with Wilson and let him have the choice to pass into the corner or run it in.
     
    dolphin25 likes this.
  9. Fin-Omenal

    Fin-Omenal Initiated

    36,936
    10,264
    0
    Mar 25, 2008
    Thee...Ohio State University
    I doubt all that went through Pete or Darell's mind in that small window of time. But people have to have drama in their lives.
     
    ElNino and Piston Honda like this.
  10. normaldude

    normaldude Active Member

    225
    204
    43
    Oct 13, 2009
    I think this is actually the best explanation.

    In 2006 National Title game (USC vs Texas), Pete Carroll faced an important short-yardage situation, the defense stacked the line, Pete Carroll chose to run the ball, failed, and lost the game.

    Fast forward to 2015, important short-yardage situation in the Super Bowl, the Patriots stack the line, this time Pete Carroll decides to pass..
     
  11. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

    12,162
    5,057
    113
    Nov 25, 2007
    Lets keep it simple and call it the Madden Curse! Sherman now needs tommy john sugery, might miss games next season, and they lost on the final play of the Super Bowl. Damn Madden! You are one cruel SOB.
     
    dolphin25 likes this.
  12. roy_miami

    roy_miami Well-Known Member

    1,385
    560
    113
    Oct 11, 2013
    I wouldn't call it a conspiracy but I do think that perhaps subconsciously there could be some truth to the decision. Think about this; had he completed that pass he would have had the 4th highest passer rating in a Super Bowl of all time and there would have been no question who the mvp would have been. Again, I don't think it was a concsious decision in any way, shape or form, but you can't deny it looks a lot better for the team and Carroll's legacy if Wilson completes that pass.
     
    dolphin25 likes this.
  13. brandon27

    brandon27 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    45,652
    19,304
    113
    Dec 3, 2007
    Windsor, ON. CANADA
    I don't see any way this story, or theory would be plausible. I think Carrol just actually thought, they know we're going to run, lets try a pick play here with a quick slant and see what we can do. I saw somewhere that Bevel criticized Lockette for not being aggressive enough in his route. I thought his route looked a bit lazy myself, like he was completely oblivious that the CB may not have been caught up in the pick, he just got completely shocked that someone made a play, instead of the play design actually rubbing his man out of the play. I guess that's what happens though when you have nobody's as WR's on your roster. Really, if not for a ridiculously good play by Butler, it was an easy 7. I still don't agree with the call, I would have ran Lynch down there all damn day. Or a little read option, or if you really wanted to pass, a rollout. What bothers me, that's just a great play by Butler, that's just not being talked about enough IMO. We see teams run that play all day on Sundays and it almost always works. Hell, it's basically Denver's entire passing offense in a nutshell, the concept anyways.

    I don't for a second though think Pete Carrol stood on the sidelines and went... Hmm.. I don't want Lynch to be the MVP and say something stupid, or say nothing at all, etc, etc. I could maybe see Pete saying to himself... I trust Russel Wilson to make a good, smart play here. There was nothing wrong with the throw. It was just a better defensive play. I'd trust Wilson in that situation all damn day too. However, I'd also trust Lynch. With time left on the clock, and the way he runs though, I still would have given it to Lynch again.

    I like conspiracy theories. I like to read about them, simply because some of the alternate view points are interesting, and when they involve governments I'm always open to reading the information because I don't trust governments. I don't trust the NFL head office either, but I highly doubt they wanted Pete to make Wilson the hero, and I highly doubt the Seahawks would tell Pete Carrol to make Wilson the hero, and I doube Pete Carrol would rather Wilson be the here at the risk a Superbowl win, a second consecutive Super Bowl win. So this one... I just can't buy into.
     
    Colmax, Bpk and Piston Honda like this.
  14. Tannephins

    Tannephins Banned

    1,818
    572
    0
    Dec 23, 2014
    I think Pete Carroll's desire to be one of the only head coaches in history to win two Super Bowls in a row would've overridden any desire on his part to have one or the other player be the "hero."

    Does anyone honestly believe that a public relations concern for the team would've kept Carroll from making the call that would've given him the highest probability of becoming a consecutive Super Bowl-winning head coach? Ridiculous.
     
    dolphin25 likes this.
  15. JimToss

    JimToss Thank You Chad Pennington

    2,938
    2,410
    113
    Oct 11, 2009
    Delaware
    If this was true, then why did they give Marshawn the carry on the 6 yard line? He could have scored and ended it there. Almost did.
     
    Rocky Raccoon and Bpk like this.
  16. shamegame13

    shamegame13 Madison & Surtain

    3,451
    903
    113
    Dec 15, 2014
    Cheaters just got rewarded, I wouldnt put anything past the NFL at this point.
     
  17. Tone_E

    Tone_E Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    13,777
    7,574
    113
    Dec 8, 2007
    This article is just a vehicle for everyone to feel better about themselves, whether they wanted SEA to win, or NE to lose.
     
  18. MS4life

    MS4life New Member

    7
    2
    0
    Feb 23, 2012
    By definition. That is not a conspiracy theory. Wanting a certain person to score a TD over another is not a conspiracy theory, whether it is a good call or not. Conspiracy theory would be Russell Wilson throwing that interception on purpose.
     
  19. Onehondo

    Onehondo Senior Member Club Member

    2,671
    879
    113
    Dec 20, 2007
    Chesapeake, Virginia
    I don't believe it was a conspiracy, just a dumb call. They just didn't want to do the obvious and decided to be clever and ended up being the losers. By trying to be clever they missed a chance to be consecutive Super Bowl winners.
     
  20. jw3102

    jw3102 season ticket holder

    7,760
    3,486
    113
    Sep 4, 2010
    Maui, Hawaii
    I am not someone who buys into conspiracy theories. I accept Carroll's explanation of why he made the call.

    I just think it was a bad play call that turned into a terrible play call once the Patriots DB intercepted the ball.
     
  21. jdang307

    jdang307 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    39,159
    21,798
    113
    Nov 29, 2007
    San Diego
    The playcall wasn't that bad guys. It just failed miserably.

    Lynch ranks 30th out of 39 players with at least 10 carries from the 1 yard line in the past 5 years.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...ynch-isnt-exactly-money-from-the-1-yard-line/

    Keep in mind, with 4 downs, they likely need to call one pass to use all 4 downs. Marshawn was 1 for 5 this year from the 1. Lockette was free for a TD. Butler made an amazing play.
     
    McLovin likes this.
  22. McLovin

    McLovin Resident Pats fan.

    9,775
    5,149
    113
    May 7, 2008
    North Cacalaka
    Browner was just as impressive in the play as was Butler.
     
  23. Piston Honda

    Piston Honda Well-Known Member

    7,853
    8,088
    113
    Sep 23, 2014
    Moral of the story: Sometimes it's better to be a little queasy :shifty:.
     
    Rocky Raccoon, Tone_E and Fin D like this.
  24. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    111,652
    67,546
    113
    Dec 20, 2007
    Im on the side it was a brain fart call regardless of what the numbers show..but, for argument sake ok, don't ryun lynch on 2nd and 1, well, I would say if your not going to run that play, then surely do not run a slant in close quarters..

    to many risk factors involved..height of the qb...traffic... poor receiver option...If your running a slant at the one of course any corner who has half a brain knows that as soon as he recognizes pass, he should jump the route with no fear..cause all he has to go is one yard to score and if he gets behind you there are no consequence, so jump away..

    These situations have to be already scripted on the chart, and to go with a feel call against all odds, was foolish...
     
    Hiruma78 likes this.
  25. jdang307

    jdang307 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    39,159
    21,798
    113
    Nov 29, 2007
    San Diego
    I would have ran read option.
     
  26. Dolphins1Beatles

    Dolphins1Beatles Ziggy Stardust

    4,749
    1,940
    113
    Oct 9, 2009
    New York
    I don't buy it...but it was such a stupid call it almost makes sense. So i'm not surprised people are trying to figure out just what they were thinking. There are people who never watch football going "Why didn't they run it"? They turned what should have been one of the easiest and least complicated calls in NFL history into something terrible.

    Even if he were having a bad game, its the Super Bowl, put the ball in the hands of your best player. At the 1, either run with Lynch or fake and run with Wilson or something. Or both, they had time to get a few plays off.
     
    Bpk likes this.
  27. Fin-Omenal

    Fin-Omenal Initiated

    36,936
    10,264
    0
    Mar 25, 2008
    Thee...Ohio State University
    Obviously Pete is racist, wants to give all the praise to Wilson and not Lynch.
     
    Bpk, Aqua4Ever04 and Agua like this.
  28. JMHPhin

    JMHPhin Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    7,684
    3,323
    113
    Nov 27, 2007
    Ohio
    Don't need drama lol, just stating imo that argument makes more sense than that play call . That play was the dumbest I have ever seen given the circumstances, the rb you have the qb who when runs is hard to bring down, you call a quick slant from the 1. Stupid
     
  29. JMHPhin

    JMHPhin Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    7,684
    3,323
    113
    Nov 27, 2007
    Ohio
    This makes sense at least, anticipated NE to stack against lynch give the option to Wilson to keep it around the end
     
  30. Fin-Omenal

    Fin-Omenal Initiated

    36,936
    10,264
    0
    Mar 25, 2008
    Thee...Ohio State University
    If its me I throw it up and let Luke Wilson do work. But thats just me
     
  31. McLovin

    McLovin Resident Pats fan.

    9,775
    5,149
    113
    May 7, 2008
    North Cacalaka
    I agree with the play call. :shifty:
     
    Bpk likes this.
  32. brandon27

    brandon27 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    45,652
    19,304
    113
    Dec 3, 2007
    Windsor, ON. CANADA
    I was surprised Luke didn't get a look all game. Mistake IMO. Not just saying that because he's a hometown kid, but he's made big plays this year, especially in the playoffs for them. He was just left there to do alot of blocking.
     
  33. Sceeto

    Sceeto Well-Known Member

    13,501
    6,246
    113
    Oct 13, 2008
    New York
    It was the CIA who made that play call.
     
  34. FuturePhins

    FuturePhins New Member

    4
    0
    0
    Feb 3, 2015
    Yeah I don't think "that" was really the conspiracy.

    I do believe the cheatriots/NFL got away with some stuff but Carrol not wanting Lynch to punch it in seems a bit weak. Not saying it couldn't of happened but there are more plausible real conspiracies than that.
     
  35. ElNino

    ElNino Well-Known Member

    1,535
    255
    83
    Aug 5, 2013
    Norfolk VA
    Right....the 3 wide formation vs goal line D explanation can't be true....
     
  36. Bpk

    Bpk Premium Member Luxury Box

    Should have had your balanced O in there, not a 3WR personnel grouping. That's on the coaches.
     
  37. MonstBlitz

    MonstBlitz Nobody's Fart Catcher

    21,176
    10,130
    113
    Jan 14, 2008
    Hornell, NY
    Leading up to the game my friends and I were talking about how funny it would be if Marshawn Lynch won MVP. Funny for us. An embarrassment for the league. Wouldn't surprise me if there's some truth behind it.
     
  38. JMHPhin

    JMHPhin Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    7,684
    3,323
    113
    Nov 27, 2007
    Ohio
    I would run Lynch from the 1 period with a timeout left. If I had to pass then that isnt a bad play at but I would do it from a roll out pass option getting Wilson on the move holding deep end zone coverage a split second. If they hold shallow the n throw corner high for Wilson, if they hold coverage let Wilson run

    Worst case you call timeout and regroup.

    Buy still don't believe pats stop lynch from the 1 especially if they go off tackle which Ne would not be guarding or they leave the gut open
     
  39. Tannephins

    Tannephins Banned

    1,818
    572
    0
    Dec 23, 2014
    The bigger issue for the league by far is in having its Super Bowl winner be a team currently under investigation for cheating.
     
  40. McLovin

    McLovin Resident Pats fan.

    9,775
    5,149
    113
    May 7, 2008
    North Cacalaka
    why not? you have a league MVP that admittingly does the same thing?
     

Share This Page