First Call: People hated NBC’s camera angle for Steelers-Titans game
Monday’s “First Call” is filled with hatred of the NBC camera angle during the Steelers game Sunday night. Antonio Brown’s Helmetgate may be coming to an end. And a sad sidebar to Andrew Luck’s retirement.
Scrap that idea
Steelers fans had one universal critique of the team’s 18-6 win in Nashville Sunday night.
It had nothing to do with pass protection, or the secondary, or special teams.
No. It had to do with the broadcast. What was with that dippy camera angle NBC was using?
Ben ➡️ @TeamJuJu
You might be seeing this a lot this year.pic.twitter.com/VF00Sx6lqI
— SNF on NBC (@SNFonNBC) August 26, 2019
The NFL experimented with “SkyCam” as a main camera view during a Steelers-Titans game back in 2017, too. That didn’t go over well.
But reaction that night was better than what I saw in response to the sideline “All-22” attempt Sunday.
It was shaky. It felt flat and too far away. It was really hard to see the numbers on the players. And the width of the pan seemed to make it hard for the camera operator to keep up with the play.
Hey, aside from that, no complaints.
No, I’m kidding. There were tons of complaints
Terrible. Like having the worst seats at a stadium.
— Joey in DC (@JoeyInDC) August 26, 2019
The camera angle is terrible! You have to wait for the replay to actually see the ball! Hubby got fed up and switched to the Chiefs game on NFL Network.
— Amy Porter (@AmyPorter71) August 26, 2019
What! Turning off ‘dem Stillers for the Chiefs?! It wasn’t THAT bad.
It's just what I always wanted, the ability to watch Steelers football with the feeling i'm riding a ski lift.
— Kako (@Kako13473885) August 26, 2019
— Kraigger Claus (@kraigger_claus) August 26, 2019
We need a glowing football.
— TheDannyMann (@TheDannyMann) August 26, 2019
Yes. We do need “glow ball.” We also need to bring back the robots fighting with each other on the score bug.
It looks like my grandma is holding one of those shoulder cameras from the 80’s/90’s....
— Frank Laspin (@QuiteFrankly724) August 26, 2019
— James Staten (@OsuStaten) August 26, 2019
I agree with that last one especially. Not only does the telescope tell the story. I felt like I was seasick on a ship the whole time.
Helmetgate over?
The saga over Antonio Brown’s helmet may be over.
The Oakland Raiders wide receiver lost his second helmet grievance against the league over the weekend. The former Steeler had been fighting to get a helmet of his liking to wear during practices and games.
But the league was blocking him from using the same helmet he had used for his whole career because it fell out of safety compliance.
However, as is often the case with Brown, he may have complained his way into a profit. You know, just like he did to get out of Pittsburgh and into a new contract in Oakland.
Now, ProFootballTalk.com reports that Brown has manufacturers vying to create a specific helmet within NFL compliance for him to wear. Then Brown would endorse the headgear.
So business continues to boom. Just so long as A.B. wasn’t planning on endorsing French cryotherapy.
Brown was having fun with the issue on social media.
Mr.Outrageous #DontTellmewhatICaintDo pic.twitter.com/fiSljHmfDg
— AB (@AB84) August 25, 2019
That Antonio. What a funny guy.
Dearest Mother
The biggest sports story of the weekend was clearly the retirement of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck.
Sadly, this means the end of the wildly popular “Capt. Andrew Luck” parody Twitter account.
Established in 2015, the account — with 537,000 followers — portrays Luck as a Civil War soldier writing letters to his mother in the language of the era, but with football themes.
Now that Luck is retiring, here is the goodbye tweet.
Dearest mother —
The quill has never felt more heavy. I have made the decision to holster my sidearm permanently. I shall battle no more. The decision is difficult, but, as the hogs taught me, I must be true to myself. I am coming home to care for you and the farm.
— Andrew— Capt. Andrew Luck (@CaptAndrewLuck) August 25, 2019
I wonder if “Dearest Mother” is okay with this decision. I heard she had the Colts at +10.5 wins on the season on a ticket at Rivers Casino. She may not want him back on the farm.
Since I brought it up
Speaking of Luck and gambling, it appears at least one gaming outlet is giving a break to those who bet money on Luck to win MVP.
Although this would certainly be graded as a loss, @SuperBookUSA has decided to refund all Andrew Luck for MVP bets, according to @golfodds. https://t.co/18vMk7rom9
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) August 26, 2019
That’s a nice gesture. Although, of course, the assumption is that those who gambled in the first place will just turn around and bet that money on someone else now.
And it’s not like SuperBook is losing a ton of money here.
Refunding Luck for MVP tickets cost the @SuperBookUSA “a couple thousand dollars.” The sportsbook took 44 bets on it, says @golfodds.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) August 26, 2019
Yeah. I think they’ll be OK.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
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