That play never works
 

by Joe Kay / Associated Press
wwltv.com
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 8:26 AM


CINCINNATI -- The Saints have a name for the ruse. They call it "No-Brainer Freeze."

Perfect description for the last-minute deception that got their latest win.

New Orleans enticed the Bengals to jump offside in the closing seconds Sunday, giving the Saints a chance to win in regulation. Drew Brees threw a 3-yard touchdown pass on the next play for a 34-30 victory that extended the defending Super Bowl champions' late-season surge.

One play immediately became part of football lore in both cities.

"It comes down to them jumping offside," Brees said. "Who knows what would have happened if the game went to OT?"

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i think it was ballsy

I don't think it was ballsy at all.If they don't jump offsides we get a delay of game go back 5 yards kick the field goal and go to overtime.Bigs thanks to the Bengals for jumping offsides.Who knows what happens if it went to overtime.

Maybe not ballsy, but it was smart. The Saints NEVER give up under Payton.

Never say Never! There is always someone with more muscle than brains. There is always someone who's not paying attention during film sessions. There is always someone that's trigger happy and willing to get headlined one way or the other. I'm just glad it was them and not us...that time...and the referees weren't in cahoots.

I thought it to be one of those "priceless" moments. Glad Ocho has to give his $$ to New Orleans, maybe he can ask Sims to help out.

was it Nicks or Bushrod who jumped? Shouldn't he be getting some credit? No way they call the off-side if the O-line stays put

Even better question- if it is a 'dummy' play, why would the O-line EVER move?

I think the O-line moving is part of the play.That way the refs have to throw the flag.I do think Nicks deserves credit for jumping as soon as the guy was across the line.

That would be Nicks, reacted off the defense. Making sure the refs had to call it

I'm sure all the lineman were instructed to jump as soon as they saw someone move.

“It’s really a no-brainer freeze. We were trying to draw them offside. If they move substantially, then we can react. This happened a few weeks ago. The only difference was it wasn’t just a no-brainer freeze. If we felt there was a clear movement, then the worst thing that could have happened is we move back five yards and kick the field goal. Drew Brees did a great job with the snap count and tried to create the illusion we were going for it, when really we’re just going to let the time run out. I wasn’t going to take a timeout, but I was comfortable backing up five yards from there.”

I just can't believe they fell for it.

How many times did the exact same thing happen to the Saints in the "Old Days". We had a team beat and snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Buddy D made a career of pointing it out!! As someone pointed out how many times were we leading against Joe Montana and the 49ers only to watch him march the length of the field to win it!!!

It is SOOOOOO GOOOOOOOD to SEE IT HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE!!!

Maybe that's why Buddy died... he could feel his "bread and butter" was going to slip away///

I'm wondering if lack of confidence in Garrett Hartley -- even for sure bets -- entered into the decision to call this play in the first place.

It worked !! Saints win.

That crap doesn't even work in college. It summed up the Bengals season too, no attention to details. Then to top it off, letting the clock run off 10 seconds before the TO. You might as well just pat the Saints on the back before the kickoff. I'm glad we won but that kinda stuff won't happen if we get back to the playofffs.

The funny part, that makes this play work is the eagerness of Carl Sims # 96 of the Defense ( BTW Thanks Carl!!!). Interesting is the rule though change that has been made here because it is Nicks movement that makes it a penalty. If Nicks doesn't move then Sims isn't guilty and can return to his stance for the appending play or timeout.

Still, Drew is money for the heightened voice snap count and suttle flinch ( Brilliant!!) Also, I dont no if anybody saw it but Drew didn't like the run play that was called. He kill, kill called to the pass and looks like Colston's defender was lifeless and didn't even bump leaving him wide open to finish it.

It did with brees, I don't know if you noticed his lobbying skills before that play, sorta like in the Miami game last year. And I don't think anyone was more pissed with Hartley missing in Atlanta than Brees was. He pretty much did everything to get us that W and Hartley F%&6ed it up. Don't think you will see Hartley get any chances with the game on the line unless it is necessary.

Yep, if the D comes across, but doesn't make contact, and gets reset before the snap, there is no penalty. The O lineman has to jump when the D lineman comes across in order to get the flag.

Saints win!

No as he was willing to take the 5 yards and allow Hartley to kick the FG if we couldn't get them to jump.