Football Wyche: The NFL Tried To Nix The No Huddle Offense In The 80's

listopencil · 11:05 PM

The no-huddle offense has become a staple of the NFL in 2013, but Sam Wyche, who introduced the system to the league in the 1980s, has revealed that the NFL tried to stop it when he was coaching the Cincinnati Bengals.

Wyche, whose Bengals used the no-huddle during the 1988 season to reach the AFC Championship Game against the Buffalo Bills, told Newsday that then-commissioner Pete Rozelle told him two hours before that game that his team would be penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct if it ran the hurry-up.

"We'd been using it for five years, that's all we used all season long, we had the No. 1 offense in football, that's all we practiced all week long, that's how we got to the AFC championship," Wyche said. "And then two hours before he said, 'You can't use that.'"

Wyche said the league had previously informed then-Bengals owner Paul Brown and NBC, which was televising the game, of its plans. Wyche was to be one of the last to know, but one of NBC's commentators, who Wyche said was a former teammate of his but didn't identify by name, informed him that the NFL wanted to end the no-huddle, so he was prepared when he got Rozelle's message.

"I immediately told the NFL delegate along with the referee who was in the office there with me and [now-Bengals owner] Mike Brown, I said 'Go get Pete Rozelle on the phone right now because I want to tell him that he's interfering with the competitive balance of this game, and if we get penalized and lose this ballgame, the first thing I'm bringing up in the press conference is this conversation and there are a lot of gamblers out there who aren't going to be very happy.'

"It wasn't 20 seconds before he came back, he left the room and came back, I'm not exaggerating, I bet it wasn't 20 seconds. 'Uh, commissioner says go ahead and use the no-huddle, no problem,'" Wyche said.

The Bengals won the AFC title game 21-10 to reach Super Bowl XXIII, where they lost to the San Francisco 49ers 20-16.

listopencil · 10-07-2013, 07:21 PM

I don't know why there seems to be an extra video trying to play in the OP. I tried to delete it, but no luck. The video that actually plays is the one I wanted to post; Polian's response to Wyche's statements.

chiefzilla1501 · 10-07-2013, 07:22 PM

I actually hate what offenses like Chip Kelly's are doing to the game, but I don't see any reason to ban it.

**BigRedChief** · 10-07-2013, 07:58 PM

They actually did penalize teams for crowds being too loud. That really happened.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 10-07-2013, 09:01 PM

Super Bowl XXIII was the first game I ever watched. I wanted the Bengals to win. That one game is a microcosm of my football fandom.

**notorious** · 10-07-2013, 09:04 PM

Frazod's thread from last year comes to mind when I hear shit like this.

I don't want to believe it, but JFC.

Brock · 10-07-2013, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

They actually did penalize teams for crowds being too loud. That really happened.

Actually no, it didn't.

listopencil · 10-07-2013, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brock

Actually no, it didn't.

I know the penalty existed at one time but I don't know if it was ever used.

RINGLEADER · 10-07-2013, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

They actually did penalize teams for crowds being too loud. That really happened.

I was at Arrowhead several times when we were "warned" not to make so much noise. All I remember is that it made everyone scream louder!

RINGLEADER · 10-07-2013, 11:03 PM

From 1989:

http://articles.latimes.com/1989-03-...inter-meetings

RINGLEADER · 10-07-2013, 11:09 PM

Yikes! It's still a penalty on the books!

http://www.nfl.com/rulebook/penaltysummaries

I also like the 15-yard penalty and forfeiture of coin toss if you don't show up on time!

10-07-2013, 07:09 PM
listopencil Immanentize The Eschaton Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: In Partibus Infidelium Casino cash: $-1054120	Wyche: The NFL Tried To Nix The No Huddle Offense In The 80's The no-huddle offense has become a staple of the NFL in 2013, but Sam Wyche, who introduced the system to the league in the 1980s, has revealed that the NFL tried to stop it when he was coaching the Cincinnati Bengals. Wyche, whose Bengals used the no-huddle during the 1988 season to reach the AFC Championship Game against the Buffalo Bills, told Newsday that then-commissioner Pete Rozelle told him two hours before that game that his team would be penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct if it ran the hurry-up. "We'd been using it for five years, that's all we used all season long, we had the No. 1 offense in football, that's all we practiced all week long, that's how we got to the AFC championship," Wyche said. "And then two hours before he said, 'You can't use that.'" Wyche said the league had previously informed then-Bengals owner Paul Brown and NBC, which was televising the game, of its plans. Wyche was to be one of the last to know, but one of NBC's commentators, who Wyche said was a former teammate of his but didn't identify by name, informed him that the NFL wanted to end the no-huddle, so he was prepared when he got Rozelle's message. "I immediately told the NFL delegate along with the referee who was in the office there with me and [now-Bengals owner] Mike Brown, I said 'Go get Pete Rozelle on the phone right now because I want to tell him that he's interfering with the competitive balance of this game, and if we get penalized and lose this ballgame, the first thing I'm bringing up in the press conference is this conversation and there are a lot of gamblers out there who aren't going to be very happy.' "It wasn't 20 seconds before he came back, he left the room and came back, I'm not exaggerating, I bet it wasn't 20 seconds. 'Uh, commissioner says go ahead and use the no-huddle, no problem,'" Wyche said. The Bengals won the AFC title game 21-10 to reach Super Bowl XXIII, where they lost to the San Francisco 49ers 20-16. Last edited by Phobia; 10-07-2013 at 11:05 PM..
Posts: 56,879

10-07-2013, 07:21 PM	#2
listopencil Immanentize The Eschaton Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: In Partibus Infidelium Casino cash: $-1054120	I don't know why there seems to be an extra video trying to play in the OP. I tried to delete it, but no luck. The video that actually plays is the one I wanted to post; Polian's response to Wyche's statements. __________________ *While you live, shine. Have no grief at all. Life exists only for a short while and time demands its toll.*
Posts: 56,879

10-07-2013, 07:22 PM	#3
chiefzilla1501 In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2008 Casino cash: $-1755503	I actually hate what offenses like Chip Kelly's are doing to the game, but I don't see any reason to ban it.
Posts: 51,663

10-07-2013, 07:58 PM	#4
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $-781038 VARSITY	They actually did penalize teams for crowds being too loud. That really happened. __________________ Mahomes is not a game manager. Release the Kraken.
Posts: 81,332

10-07-2013, 09:01 PM	#5
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $7139572	Super Bowl XXIII was the first game I ever watched. I wanted the Bengals to win. That one game is a microcosm of my football fandom. __________________ "When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln
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10-07-2013, 09:04 PM	#6
notorious Supporter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Who knows? Casino cash: $-964116	Frazod's thread from last year comes to mind when I hear shit like this. I don't want to believe it, but JFC.
Posts: 88,587

10-07-2013, 11:03 PM	#10
RINGLEADER In Search of a Life Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Confusion, USA Casino cash: $8070503	From 1989: http://articles.latimes.com/1989-03-...inter-meetings
Posts: 48,491

10-07-2013, 11:09 PM	#11
RINGLEADER In Search of a Life Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Confusion, USA Casino cash: $8070503	Yikes! It's still a penalty on the books! http://www.nfl.com/rulebook/penaltysummaries I also like the 15-yard penalty and forfeiture of coin toss if you don't show up on time!
Posts: 48,491