Time Outs Just before the Snap Have Got To Go

In last night's Sunday Night Game between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants, like every other game that comes down to a field goal, Wade Phillips waited until the last possible second to use a time out in order to freeze Giant's kicker Lawrence Tynes. 

Now I'm not against freezing the kicker, even though I don't really think it works, but what I am against is waiting until that last possible second. Why? Because the play still gets ran.  The players don't hear that whistle and they go about the play as if nothing has happened.

This means you have men upwards of 200 pounds rushing in trying to block a field goal attempt. When you run a play like this at the end of a game, especially one as emotionally charged as the stadium opener in Dallas (well Arlington), you've got guys giving their all to block that kick.

If someone gets hurt on a play, well that's football, but if someone gets hurt for no reason, as in what could have happened when the time out was called just before the snap, well that is close to being unsporting.

The freezing part was moot because Tynes made both kicks (in fact the practice seemed to help because the second try looked much better than the first), but what would Wade Philips have felt if a guy like DeMarcus Ware or Terrence Newman had been hurt on either play?

For every play you run in a game, as emotionally and physically charged as football, you run the risk of injury, so why up those risks with useless plays that don't count?

I don't think they should out law freezing the kicker, but there should be something done about last second time outs from the sideline. Sadly, like all obvious rule changes, nothing will happen until a star gets hurt...which is very unfortunate.

Until next time Loyal Reader, take care.