Have you seen replays to bear that out? I'd like to see them.
I don't have one now, but I'll get them from some of my little newsie buddies like Myron, The Planet or Hillgrove. (By the way did you see post #'s 67, and 69? - read Boswell's entire article on the Steeler/Patriot playoff game)
I played some professional baseball back about 35 years ago, and for some reason I follow a ball well. Remember Brown's lateral in the playoff game with the Patriots and Steelers? We had our punt blocked at a crucial time in the game and Brown goes smokin' down the field with the ball. He gets to just short of the 50 and sees he's going to get smacked and he laterals the ball to another Patriot, Harris. Since Brown was moving at such speed, as he lateraled the ball (thinking directly sideways - which is cool) it went about a yard forward OVER the 50 yard line before it was caught by Harris. I've seen this play in slow-mo 100 times (and I've read the lateral rules about 10 times).
You've probably thrown an old apple core or an orange (or a beer can) out of a car as you have been going forward on the road. If you would go back to check where you first let go of that orange, etc. and where it landed, it would show a distinct forward motion depending on the speed of the car. I know you, P, from all your brilliant and funny posts - you understand that.
But yesterday's play was different, the first "lateraler" was stationary.
To be honest, I actually missed the first shovel or lateral when it first happened. It happened so fast. I thought that it was just a quick shovel pass (one pass not two), but of course there were two. El, when interviewed afterward, said it was like playing basketball - the quick touch pass (that Chevy Troutman is so great at doing).
I gotta make a few phone calls now, I didn't tape that game, but either you know someone who did, or I'll get a good copy of it. We got away with one, we were lucky. And, on 'LUCK' here's Don Shula:
"Sure, luck means a lot in football. Not having a good quarterback is bad luck." LOL!
******
I'll let you know later about a replay of the game.
p.s. There was one 'still sober' caller into the post-game show yesterday on the Steeler F.M. station who noticed the double forward passes. All the guys on the radio had no idea what he was talking about, so you are far from alone. But when I saw the one (AND ONLY ONE) replay of the play directly after the TD, I felt the first shovel pass (lateral) was slightly forward. Like you, I can't wait to see it again.