December 23, 2025 • 36 mins
GENE STERATORE (CBS Rules Analyst) Well, we have to start with the biggest question of all- about that 2-pt conversion in the Thursday Night game. Gene explains the ruling and the questions about the rule itself. Was that ineligible man downfield-call bogus or legit? Can both be true? The ending of the Steelers-Lions game was wild- was the OPI call correct and what happened to the ref’s explanation? Gene’s thoughts on the DK drama. :30- EVERETT FITZHUGH (KAN play-by-play) The Kraken have won two in a row and have a back-to-back game in LA tonight to try and make it three in a row? What has changed in these last two games? The Kraken traded Mason Marchment over the weekend- was he a problem for the team? No info on Dunn injury- more expected later this morning. :45- Checking the confidence meter- how confident are we feeling about the Seahawks chances at the #1 seed in the NFC?
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's time for Checking Buck's weekly visit with former NFL
officials Jeene Sterotor, brought to you by bmwle looking for
a new or used BMW or something else even, come
check us out at Bmwcattle, conveniently located between I five
and I ninety near the stadiums Now with gene Sterotor.
Here's Checking Buck.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Ah. Well, this is the time, and unfortunately or fortunately
for us, we get this in before Christmas starts around here.
So happy happy holidays. Merry Christmas, Jane. How you doing in?
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Happy holidays? Bucky? And I'm doing pretty well, guys. How
are you doing?
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Oh? I'm doing great. Ashley, I think is doing well.
We got a downhill stretch here on this Tuesday, and
then we get the next couple of days off, so
pretty excited about that. I'm real quick before we get
into any of the stuff, the stuff that we actually
bring you on for. I did see on your Twitter
page a little Kermit the Frog maybe looking in a mirror?
(01:02):
Is this cryptic? Are you? Are you pulling an old
man Rivers? Are you coming out of retirement? Is that
what I'm reading into?
Speaker 3 (01:09):
You know? We had the four to twenty five game
with the Steelers and the Lions, and I'm watching Aaron
Rodgers and reminiscing a little to those days. And then
getting home last night with my lovely wife watching and
explaining to her, you know that he's really not that old,
you know, and she was kind of agreeing with me,
which was really awesome. And so I talked with my
(01:29):
funnel hands of social media portion of my business and
we had a nice talk and he goes, I think
I've got the right one to send out tonight. So
it was really more of a joke, Bucky. But you know,
you never know.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
I never know.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
You never say never, right.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
I think you could pull it off. I think you could.
I don't know if you want to. It's probably nice
sitting right about this time of year, sitting up in
a booth, you know, just having everyone, So I like, Geane,
what do you think? And you can just basically throw
your buddies under the bus, or you can you can
enlighten us to something or you and then you just
sit back down your chair, maybe Gabria, hut Coco, all
that kind of stuff. I think that sounds a lot
(02:05):
more comfy. You've earned it. Now you get to ride
off into the sunset.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
You know, if if they create the segue that's like,
you know, has a heater or something and I can
zoom around without having to run, maybe I would consider that,
you know what I mean. But at this point, I
think you're right. I do like the chair there in
the studio.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
I can picture that. I mean, maybe it's something like
a souped up little rascal, you know what I mean. Like,
you know, you don't want to be in the little
tiny thing, but you know something that like looks cool
and tough, but you just like lean in a direction
and it just rolls you over that way. Or maybe
like you're hanging from that sky cam right, but you
control it and you're just like hovering over everyone, like
the Overlord.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
It felt like I was on a high wire a
lot of my career, actually, you know, when you are repping.
So maybe that is opplicable, Buck, I think I like that.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Yeah, all right, you know what we got to get too.
We got to get to some of these topics and obviously,
you know, we we typically will find one or two
some where along the lines. In the Seahawks game Boy,
we didn't have to look very far. Fourth down two
point conversion attempt not that. So this wasn't the final
one that ended up winning the game, but that one
that they ended up throwing it. Darnald throws it off
(03:14):
the helmet basically, and then it bounces forward towards the
end zone and Sharboney goes and picks it up. I mean,
typically the angles they showed us, it looked like, yes,
it probably was heading backwards. If you think if he
threw it right to the receiver, which was Sharbony, it
was the intended receiver, then it was definitely backwards. I
thought it maybe was he was going to have to
(03:35):
reach towards the line of scrimmag or towards the goal
line to get that ball. It wasn't a cut and
dry that it was a backwards pass. Did you think
they got that right? How could they end up making
that call? And then can you explain all of the
weird stuff that goes into it considering there's a whistle blown,
and how and the heck they come up with that?
Did they get it right?
Speaker 3 (03:55):
Well? Yeah, you know, at the end of the day,
they did get this right. And remember too, that a
path and I think Terry mccaullay did a great job
in real time. Those are an easy place to try
to break down and explain to the public and a
quick fashion had I really give him kudos for that.
A parallel pass is also considered a backward pass. So
when we get into man that looks just like right,
(04:17):
you know, dead down the line by rule, that also
is a backward pass. So many layers to this. On
fourth down, on tries inside of two minutes, if it's
a fumble or rule to fumble, only the fumbler can advance.
A backward pass is different, So this is a backward pass,
so anyone can recover this or advancement in front of
(04:39):
where the backward pass is initiated. That was the one
one element to it, the other piece of this really
and it's the officiating place where you want to hope
that as these technological additions by replay or now can
get involved and kind of get it right. And how
does that affect the officials on the field to referee
a play like that in real time in the best
(05:01):
way they can understanding that there may be this other
element that can take place after the actual play is finalized.
Those are really difficult things to try to learn because
these are new innovations that have happened in the last
few years, and they've countered everything that officials, most officials,
especially old ones like me, that didn't have replay situations
(05:23):
like this. It's the ability in those types of plays
where your reaction on the field, or your gut reaction
is if you think, you know that's a forward pass,
bowl the whistles incomplete. Back in the old days, that's
what we did, and our kind of quote on that was,
you know what, you've got to sell the call well
in these situations quick pass fumble on a quarterback. Is
the runner down by contact before the ball comes loose?
(05:45):
Is it a forward or backward pass? In this scenario,
your gut may tell you, well, that feels a little forward.
But because of what we have in addition to those things, now,
you want that whistle to stay out of the play,
right Because players are coached to play through a whistle
because they can't see whether a play is down or
not they're playing through the whistle. Officials are trained to
(06:07):
say that whistles don't necessarily have to kill plays. If
you think it's forward progress, give them another step or two,
then blow your whistle. So there's a weird dynamic in
there where where officials don't want to blow the whistle
too quick, but players are going to play through the whistle.
And this kind of went in the other direction where
I think the official reacted a little too quickly with
(06:27):
his or her whistle, and then you have to go
into that other little space, which is in the immediate
continuing action after the play has been ruled over. If
something happens, then immediately after that we can put that
into the play. Even though the whistle blew or they
ruled them down, or those situations took place. All of
(06:48):
those elements took place at that moment. And Charboneau doesn't
look like he's diving on the football right like he
thinks it's a backward passer, and I think he casually
goes over and he kind of picks the ball up,
and quite honestly, really again in this nerdy referee world,
had he picked that football up at the half yard
line and walked into the end zone, that would not
(07:12):
have counted because you don't get the advancement there. So
the fact that he literally was kind of just in
the end zone and the ball just was over the
goal line when he possessed it in the immediate continuing action.
After all the reviewing and all of that, they get
that football where he possessed it, which happened to be
in the end zone in this case. So again a
(07:32):
lot and I know I probably was way longer than
Brad Allen was explaining it in real time, but they're
just is that many layers to that play, But at
the end of the day, they got it right.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
I think the interesting thing that I've been seeing though,
is not even that the Rams fans are mad that
they got it right or that it happened, but that
the rule exists in the first place. Like that's what
I've been seeing everyone complain about them, that rule is
even there in the first place.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
Yeah, right, as to see it. And again some of
this is my age and being an old school guy.
I really enjoyed the fact that we didn't have a
lot of replayed types of scenarios back then because it
was a way more uncomfortable place to be, where, look,
if your decision in real time is your decision, and
you're going to live with that decision. As uncomfortable as
(08:20):
that was. As I grew in my career, I realized
that that was kind of what I was addicted to
is being put in that situation. So when we watch
games and we say, yeah, there's a human condition in
all of this, but not in these scenarios, because now
we can go away from the whole action in the
game and the human reactions and what was the result
(08:41):
of those decisions, and we can bring technology in and
reviews in and angles in and change it. It does
feel a little different, right, But look, the stakeholders in
every level of football and a lot of other sports,
basketball as well. No, the decisions they've made are that
every play that we can get right based on the
(09:01):
technological advancements we have, we want to put those in
the game now. Because the standard for officiating, unfortunately is perfection,
and anything below that standard in many cases for the
general public is kind of like quite unacceptable. So where
do you go. Do you allow the officials to be
human and miss things, or do we strive for this
(09:22):
ultimate perfection that maybe at the expense of the flow
of the game or the game itself. And so I
can understand it, you know, from a lot of different avenues,
and you want to get it right at the end
of the day as well. So that's why, and that's
above my pay grade us and I leave that up
to those those that decide what they want to do
with the game.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
You know, well, because of you, I expect perfection, and
so if others can't follow a suit, that's on them.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
And even when I let you doubt, Buffy, you're going
to be tympathetic and sympathetic, I appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
You let me down perfectly, is what it did. You
perfectly let me down. Yeah, exactly, all right, man. Well,
in that game, obviously that goes down to the wire.
I mean, a crazy comeback by the Seahawks in order
to come back from down six. I mean, it's the
biggest comeback in Seahawks history. Multiple things had to go
their way, and yet the one we just talked about
(10:17):
was towards the end of the game. There was one
early in the game that basically is a four point
swing where the Rams get a touchdown and it gets
called back because of an algeb man downfield. The commentators
were thinking that shouldn't necessarily have been the case there
did see it look like the defensive alignment just kind
of pulled him across, like they're bumping into each other
(10:39):
and then he kind of pulled him beyond one yard?
Is that should that have been an elgebavan downfield? Was
it letter of the law? Yes? But shouldn't have been?
Or did they get that one right as well?
Speaker 3 (10:50):
You know that that this play's got a little more
to it. I hate to sound like I'm long winded
on some of these, but these plays do have a
lot of elements to them. First and foremost, and eligible.
If you are an interior linement and eligible by your position,
and you go more than one yard beyond the line
of scrimmage without engaging directly with a defensive player that's
in front of you, you just move more than a
(11:12):
yard down the field at the time the ball is
released from the quarterback's hand, then it's an in eligible
player downfield. With technology, if officials throw a flag on
that play, replay then can review that play because there's
a flag on the ground, kind of an ineligible downfield
penalty hanging, and then replay will relook at it, look
(11:34):
at that player and say, yes, he was more than
a yard down it is a file for an eligible downfield,
or no, he wasn't pick it up. So we see
that happen a little more with this penalty, and because
of RPOs and the way the game has changed, there's
more of those scenarios happening now in the last few
years of the game. I think that's why they probably
(11:55):
implemented an assist there if a flag's on the ground.
But then you that other element, as you said, and
this is where it becomes a little more gray. If
an offensive lineman, let's say, in this case, I believe
it was a right guard, has a defensive player directly
in front of him, and right at the snap, he
blocks that player and drives him without disengaging four yards
(12:16):
down the field and never disengages in the ball leaves
a quarterback's hands, it is not an eligible player downfield
because he engaged him within a yard and maintained that
contact throughout the course of the player until the quarterback
released the ball. This one was really unique because there
was engagement, as you said, like that. Now there's this
(12:38):
shedding kind of right of the defensive player that I
don't know if that's where the subjectivity comes, and I
would assume more than likely from upstairs or in collaboration
with officials on the field, that was he at a
yard and thrown to two yards? Did they not seek
that engagement was enough to say that that's the reason
(12:59):
why he was beyond Did he'd disengage after a chip?
And yeah, there's a little shed, But then the offensive
player took himself and know they're down the field under
his own volition. Those are again some subjective elements in
that piece. And now they came out with that play.
But because of these little windows, that's why the talking
heads that look at this say I can see this
(13:21):
go one way, I can see this go the other way.
So then I think when we get into those spaces,
do we go back and now to this other principle
we have, Well, okay, we can't really decide definitively one
way or the other. What did they say on the field, Well,
they said he was downfield ineligible. Then let's go with
the ruling on the field. So there's a little bit
of layer in there. That was a hard play and
(13:43):
one I think you could debate on either end. So
it's kind of difficult for me to say black and
white yes or no. But I think that's the process
that took place there. It didn't seem like coach mctay
and I think they did do a quick little shot
of the coaches, which they usually do when there's are
controversial play because it's kind of good to see the reaction. Right,
it seemed as he kind of accepted it right, or
(14:06):
at least as moving to the next one for the moment.
He didn't see him as I rate as you may
expect if he thought it was egregiously missed. But there's
a lot of layers to that play as well.
Speaker 4 (14:15):
But so Gene, one of the games that are the
game I think that had the wildest ending obviously was
that Detroit Steelers game and the touchdown that was negated
by an OPI and then when the ref came out
and he was like rolling on the field as a
touchdown but it doesn't count. There's a lot of people
out there being like, well that wasn't OPI. It looked
to me like it was definitely OPI. I mean he
(14:36):
pushed off. Yes, there was some flopping, but did they
get that whole thing right?
Speaker 3 (14:41):
I thought the last OPI was a good call. I
thought Sam Brown did come out. I think he just
at the top of his route. Listen. I think that
the safety may have been Jalen Ramsey. If I recall
names correctly in this scenario, right the way that I
referee when I was a downfield official early in my career,
was it defensive backstone embellish those types of plays that
(15:03):
much in that situation, right, Like, it's not They're not
going to do the soccer flop a second into the play,
because I can't guarantee that if I try to flop
or embellish this, there's going to be a flag. I
got to make this play. This is the football game.
These are people's seasons happening right now. So the fact
that Ramsey did go backward in that fashion that he
did at the contact on that that tells me that
(15:25):
there was enough displacement there to material effect that defensive
safety in any illegal fashion to create enough separation and
a quickly time ball to get it. So I agree
with the OPI call there without a doubt. I thought
there was forward progress quite honestly. I thought Saint Brown
was driven back a little further than you would allow
(15:45):
someone to be driven back before he lateraled to Golf,
who then took it into the end zone. So there
was a lot of layers there. Now, look, if they
called forward progress on Saint Brown after the catch. The
irony of that play would have been that Carl Scheffers
would have then had to announce, because this was fourth down,
that their ruling on the field would have been that
(16:08):
Saint Brown did not make the end zone and progress
was called and they would have declined the offensive pass
interference then because the result of the play would have
been a turnover on downs, right, So then you would
have had to put two seconds back on the clock
or three the Steelers would have had to take a
knee and the game would have ended that way. But
(16:29):
because they ruled that that wasn't progress and the end
of the play was GoF diving into the end zone
when the clock was at zero. Now you're going to
use the offensive foul in that scenario when time expires
in a game and there is a foul by the offense,
excepting that penalty basically ends the game. And Chef kind
(16:52):
of did do what we used to call back in
the day, slam in the audience, right, Like if I
had a few of those where your role touchdown on
the field and you come back and realize he fumbled
the ball at the half yard line. There wasn't a
clear recovery in the end zone. The home team thinks it's,
you know, it is a touchdown, and you say after review,
(17:12):
you know, the ruling on the field is or the
ruling on the field was touched down. The crowd cheers,
and then you bring in the dreaded word, however, and say,
but because of this, this, and this, it isn't a touchdown,
which is kind of what chef did there. So that'll
be a discussion, I'm sure with the leg on. Let's
make sure we wear these things right so we don't
(17:33):
take people to one level of the motion and then
bring them way way down to another level of emotion
in a scenario like that.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
Yeah, there were a lot of crazy plays this last weekend,
for sure.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
That's funny. You guys actually have the slam the crowd
that there was an actual term for it. Yeah, that
was that was a crowd. A crowd.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
We're fifteen years ago to Bucky. Yeah, it was a
while back. Now update myself.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
Yeah, yeah, I'm with you, though. I think that they
got that right either way that they call it. I mean,
he catches the ball at the one and ends up
lateraling it at like the six or seven. I was
surprised I mean that the Steelers, as he lateraled it,
were already celebrating that they had stopped him and won
the game before Goff even grabbed it and dove in.
So I'm with you, I think they got that right
real quick, Gino, or as quick as you want to be.
(18:21):
I don't really care about the time clock because I'm
filling in here, so what are they going to do?
But in just that DK Metcalf situation, I don't think
there's anything as an official that you're responsible for. There
there's no flag, so you can't kick him out of
the game. But just overarching thoughts on that situation, I
feel like fans are more in boldened now than they
ever have been of saying things. And yet my personal
(18:45):
stance as a former professional athlete is you just got
to kind of wear it, you know, it's kind of
part of the gig. You don't get to swing on
people regardless of what they say to you.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
I'm with you, man, I may look at I was
arrest okay, So I never really lived in that world
except when we came back after the negotiations and people
actually did care about the officials for that window of
time when we were locked out and then came back
and appreciated us. I have lived a lot of my
career in those stages where there were tons of things
(19:17):
that you would hope you'd never have to hear, and
quite honestly and never think people would say to you
that you just had to leave alone. And you know,
that's just as you said, Bucky. You were on that stage,
you realized that, And truthfully, I think what happens too is,
unfortunately in our climate and culture, it's this shock me,
(19:41):
clickbait kind of what can I say to really get
someone's attention now, whether it's a tweet or whether it's
a verbal thing. People used to say things when I
was really young in the stands that were not great.
But then you'd see a lot of people in the
stands kind of look at that person like, dude, I'm
here to enjoy a game. I've got my kids with
me or something. Right. I think we've got a little
(20:01):
more aggressive in those fashions, or maybe because of the
toxic nature and certain things. Collectively, I hope we don't
become numb to that, right, because there is a human condition.
In this case, the case, you've got to hope that
you know what man, you just kind of let it roll,
go back to where you were, get away from it,
(20:22):
and don't let what your gut is telling you that
you know what this is what would happen if I
was anywhere but here right now. But you are there
right now, right So that window in that little reaction
to human condition has to still kind of win as
far as kind of keeping yourself composed or getting away
from this toxicity which exists way too much in my
(20:45):
humble opinion, and from an officiating window, it was difficult
for me in real time. We caught that on and
off camera. And now you know, I'm naturally being asked
when these situations come up rather quickly, like king, you
get to weigh in on this, and I really did.
I mean, I talked to the producers right then. I said, look,
I never saw this. I've been around thirty years. I've
never seen this happen. So let me phone the NFL
(21:07):
office and get some clarity. And then came in and
at least tried to do my best to give some
clarity there in real time. But they're unfortunate situations on
everyone's behalf right, Like you set it up, perfect bug,
We're in a professional situation. We put ourselves on this stage.
The unfortunate part of the stage is we're subjected to
(21:28):
things that would not be appropriate in my home out
on the street, and me being a little younger might
cause us to have a little more of a distant
disagreement than maybe living in the house and me thrown
it out of here. But we're in these windows and
we're on these stages. This is hopefully those times where
we elevate ourselves as athletes or participants and can look
(21:51):
at it and let it go as the bs that
it really is. And I always my way was doing it.
I would look to see whoever was staying and next
to the person who was really being you know, belligerent
during a time out, and kind of look and hope
it was maybe their significant other next to them, right
and look at him like he really came to the
game with this guy and he's acting like this, you know,
(22:12):
or maybe something I could do from a distance to
make him feel small for a second and hopefully stop it.
But it was a reaction from what I understand, and
we see, we saw what the punishment is an extremely
punitive condition here for the team. You've got a team
that still isn't I don't think a lock. You've got
(22:33):
two huge football games that he will not participate in.
I'm sure they're getting in his pocket for a good
bit of change. And it's just these are parts of
the games that we all love intensity, We actually almost
love a little bit about it. Reactions sometimes in some
of our sports in a controlled fashion, but then we
go over that one little edge and then what is
(22:54):
really entertaining to us kind of looks like, Man, I
don't want to see that, you know, And I think
that's kind of where we were with that whole situation,
and they're unfortunate.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Yeah, I'm one hundred percent with you. Is an emotional
regulator doesn't work very well, and yet this financial punitive
damages from it maybe will be the wake up call hopefully. Well, Jane,
I've been telling everybody as they leave, Merry Christmas, but
I'm going to tell you I wish you a very
merry Christmas? Do you and your family? Okay?
Speaker 3 (23:24):
Well, thanks my friend. I appreciate that. And Astley, I
hope you have a wonderful one with you and yours
and Chucky wherever you are in the stratosphere. Right now,
we hope that you are going to enjoy another beautiful
holiday season. So thank you guys so much. I love
being on the show and it's that Tommy year to
hug I loved ones and appreciate this thing that we
(23:46):
get to do together, which is called life fellas.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
That's right, all right, thanks Jane, Merry Christmas. Brother. That's
Jane's territory segment. Geane is brought to you by BMW Seattle.
Looking for new use BMW or something else, check them
out at BMW Seattle, conveniently located between I five and
I ninety near the stadiums. On the other side of this,
we're gonna get to talk to Jolly Saint fits you
right here at Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM.
Speaker 5 (24:10):
Oh Man, love that song, doing Well, Doing Well? You
got me up and dancing at eight thirty six in
the morning on a Christmas Eve eve.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
I get that up. I oftentimes when I start to
belt out a song, I get man, you sound a
lot like Mariah Carey.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
Do you get that at all?
Speaker 5 (24:27):
No? No, no, never, I've never gotten that, but I will.
I will continue to sing that song very proudly until
I do.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
Okay, good good on you I can see. I mean
you got you got range. I'll give you that. I
don't know if it's Mariah Carey range, but you do
got range. Well we got ever it fits you on
with this obviously voice of the crack and we get
to find out what what's going on over there at
Climate Pledge. And they're actually on the road right now.
(24:58):
They did win again last night. That's two in a row.
Maybe right in the ship to some degree. We do
have to write this bad boy before it gets too
terribly far off the rails. And yet they're right back
at it. They got a back to backer tonight at
LA And so what did you see last night? What
did you see the last couple wins that is maybe
(25:18):
giving you the idea that they're turning a corner.
Speaker 5 (25:22):
Well, I think for me, the last two games, this
team got back to its identity. You know, I go
to San Jose and they couldn't afford to get into
a track meet with that team. I mean, there's a
lot of fast players.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
In San Jose.
Speaker 5 (25:36):
They've got a lot of young skill and you'll hear
players say all the time, you know, we have to
keep things simple. You know, we're a defensive game. We're
a defensive team. We need to work on shutting them down.
We can't afford to try and skate with them, to
try and get into a track meet. I felt like
in San Jose they fell into that trap a little
bit early in the game. They let in a goal
(25:58):
thirty some odd sets into the third period. But it
was all about the third period comeback, and they really
the response there to score two in the third in
which recently the third periods have been the downfall of
the Seattle Kraken if you go back to that nine
and one.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
Stretch, the cracking went on.
Speaker 5 (26:17):
They were outscored twenty to five in the third period.
So they did a really good job of calming things
down in San Jose, and then the same thing last night.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
I thought last night.
Speaker 5 (26:29):
In Anaheim, you know, it might not have been the
most exciting game. That was a very physical game.
Speaker 3 (26:34):
Especially toward the end.
Speaker 5 (26:36):
We still don't have a word on Vince Dunn, who
got hit by Ross Johnston and he was out midway
through the second period. So but it was a very
physical game. But once again against an Anaheim team that
has a lot of young, skilled, potential superstar players. The
Kraken clogged up the middle, they clogged up the neutral zone.
(26:58):
They didn't allow the skill and speed of Anaheim to
showcase in that game last night. So two very good
defensive efforts, two games in which the Kraken played back
to their identity, smothering some some really young and talented teams.
And you're right, I mean they they righted the ship,
(27:20):
so to speak. It's a big hole to climb out
of when you're you know, seven points back. But you
got to start somewhere. And they've won two in a row,
and if you can make it three here tonight, you'll
feel pretty good going into the break.
Speaker 4 (27:33):
Okay, so three in a row would mean they have
to win back to back games.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
That's a thing to do.
Speaker 5 (27:43):
It's been hard. It's been hard the last couple of years.
Coming into said, I don't even want to say the
stat Yeah, I'm not going to say it.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
It's been a while.
Speaker 5 (27:53):
It's been a while since the krack and have one
game two of a back to back. But the same
grace is that the La Kings, also last night, are
on game two of a back to back. They lost
to Columbus yesterday, and these games have a funny way
of playing out. You know, if you're if you're the road,
(28:14):
if you're the road team in the game before the
Christmas Break or before the All Star Breaker or whatever,
right you I think are favored more than the home team.
If I'm the La Kings, I got family in town,
I've got people coming to visit. It's the holidays, YadA, YadA, YadA.
If you're the Kracking, I'm already on the road, right
I mean, I gotta be here. I've got nowhere else
(28:37):
to be. I'm gonna go back home and I'll deal
with all my stuff later. So I think tonight's game
from that standpoint, typically will favor the road team. The
Kraken and Kings have played a pretty even series historically,
Krack and winning last week at home in overtime, so
I I like the Cracking chances to stab that s
(29:00):
Street tonight. Joey the Cord, who's had a really good
couple of games, is going to start for Seattle this evening,
so there's going to be an optional skate. Hopefully we'll
have an update on Vince Done. I did see him
after the game yesterday. He wasn't wearing anything. He wasn't uhb,
(29:22):
he was fully clothed. The bus was kind of dark,
so I can he was fully clothed. But no, he
didn't have a cast or a sling or you know,
any type of bandage on. So hopefully, uh, you know,
maybe he got the wind knocked out of him and
and he'll be ready to go tonight. But we'll see
here in about an hour and a half when the
crack and get on the a the boarding skate.
Speaker 2 (29:42):
I'm with you. I mean, I considering the temper tantrum
that he threw afterwards, I didn't think he was very injured.
And yeah, I'm glad. I'm glad he didn't hit Decord
with this with the shrapnel or the back of his
stick or whatever else he threw down the hallway. I mean,
I I get it. You get to have a timber
tantrum here and there, and he obviously didn't feel good
(30:04):
the way that he got hit, So hopefully he's good
to go. I got one more for you. I mean,
the Mason marchmant trade.
Speaker 3 (30:13):
Is that?
Speaker 2 (30:14):
I mean, I thought it was like, wow, I thought
that was a piece that they you know, had added
for a reason. Was it just not working? Was there
is there anything going on behind closed doors, because they've
won a couple since he's gone. I don't know if
there's chance that it's an addition by some traction clubhouse
wise or locker room wise. I mean, what do you
think of that whole moves or anything behind it?
Speaker 5 (30:35):
Well, first of all, I think we should normalize using
clubhouse for every locker room. Okay, fan of clubhouse, I
like that.
Speaker 4 (30:41):
All right, sounds it does?
Speaker 2 (30:45):
It does?
Speaker 5 (30:45):
You can't you can't sit with us, you can't come
in here. Yeah. But I think with Mason marshmitt let's
be honest, it didn't fit. He didn't fit in the lineup.
He didn't fit, you know, in the room. I mean,
and there was no type of there were no there's
no animosity, there was no arguing, there was no fighting
in the background. But you know, sometimes you have a
(31:06):
guy just didn't fit and and he has an opportunity
to go somewhere else.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
And he's got.
Speaker 5 (31:12):
Three goals in two games since he's left, so you know,
clearly for him the trade was working. But but for
Mason Marshmith, you know, I don't think he ever fully
got traction uh in this lineup, and the kracking did
all they could. They moved him up and down various
(31:32):
places in the lineup. He was all in the first
power play. He was playing with Matty Veneers and and
Jordan Everley, and you know, until the injury, he had
some shifts with James Schwartz and Jared mccannon. So it's
not like he was he was buried on the fourth line.
He was given opportunity and you know, for whatever reason,
it just wasn't a fit. And that happens, and that's okay.
(31:54):
The Kraken were no worse for wear because when you
think about it, you gave up a third and a
fourth for him, and you get back a second and
a fourth, So I mean you get the fourth round
pick back and then you upgrade the third to a second,
So you know, no harm, no foul. I would have
liked to have seen him a better run here in Seattle,
(32:17):
given the type of player that he's been known to be,
But it wasn't a fit, and we wish it well.
Speaker 2 (32:25):
Yeah, it is what it is. It's part of the
business of the sport, and so yeah, wish him well
and yet hopefully they can keep the winning ways going.
All right, fits you well, hey, I want to wish
you a very merry Christmas as well. You the wifey,
the little man. You go out there call a win
again tonight and then you can enjoy a few days off.
Speaker 5 (32:43):
Thank you very much, Bucky, Ashley met Christmas to you,
Christmas to everybody out there, and we'll talk to you
next week.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
All right. That's ever. It fits you, the voice of
the crack and the Mariah Carey of the Seattle Cracking,
if you will, all I want for Christmas fits you, baby.
All right. On the other side, I'm gonna get Ashley's confidence, Meeter,
I'm gonna check in on some things right here. At
Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM, Huey Lewis wrote
all the music it's fine, yeah, exactly. Well, welcome to
(33:12):
the show. It is Chuck and Buck in the Morning
with Ashley, Lola Ryan. But no Chuck, he's a I
don't know what he's doing. Probably wrapping presents. I bet
he's sitting in pajamas with a blanket over his lap,
drinking dog. Yeah, probably getting after it. I hopefully he's
just getting some sleep. Yeah. I would imagine that's all
we all are hoping for. Well, we don't have a
(33:33):
lot of time in this segment because I have butchered
the clock with Jean and with.
Speaker 4 (33:38):
The wonderful fits here there are friends.
Speaker 2 (33:40):
Yeah, and it is what it is. What's Richie gonna do?
Rich is off too, so he's not even even know Yeah,
he didn't care. I just wanted to get your confidence check,
a confidence meter. Where you're at right now, sitting in
pole position, number one seed, you control your own destiny.
You gotta win the next two games and you get
a bye, you get home field advantage throughout. That is
(34:01):
there's something to it. It's not maybe what it once
was in the Pete Carroll era when they really struggled
going on the road. As a matter of fact, the
opposite of that, they're really kicking ass when they go
on the road. But the idea of playing tough team
week after week and traveling across country. You would much
rather have a buy and be able to stay at home.
And so I think that there is something to this
(34:22):
whole thing. And yet the Hawks got the Panthers this
weekend and then a big one against the Niners. The
Niners have the Bears this weekend, not an easy matchup
like a lot of people thought it would be at
the beginning of the year, and then that match up
with the Hawks in week eighteen, and the Rams have
kind of a easier I mean they could kick one.
I mean they could lose, but at the same time,
(34:43):
they could very easily beat the Falcons and the Cardinals
to hold Serve and force you to win out in
your next two games. And so how confident are you
that the Seahawks are going to do what they need
to do? And I would say that's probably win both
of these games. I think if you drop either one
of them, you're gonna find yourself in the fifth or
(35:03):
sixth spot versus number one.
Speaker 4 (35:04):
Yeah, and obviously number one spot would be ideal, But
I don't think it's make or break for us. I
think the Seahawks will be fine. I mean, just get
into the playoffs is really my only concern. When I
like the number one seed, Absolutely, do I have confidence
that they can get it? Yes, especially with this team,
not even with the coaching staff is one thing, right,
Mike McDonald has this team focused. But it's the team themselves,
(35:27):
the players themselves. They are so bonded, they are so
all in for each other, and that's what gives me
the confidence that they can do this.
Speaker 2 (35:36):
Yeah, I mean I'm confident. I think that they will
beat the Panthers. I think the Panthers struggle to get
to the quarterback. I think if Sam doesn't get errant
with his passes, they do have a couple of ballhawks.
Don't force it up there. Yeah, but I think you
can run the ball against them a little bit. I
think you can pass. I think that the offense is
going to do what they need to do, and I
think the defense will make life rough for the Panthers,
(35:58):
who are very jackling Hyde when it comes to being
able to move the ball. So I think you win
this one. I'm not much more than a coin flip
against the Niners. I mean, the Niners are gonna still
be fighting for something, and ultimately I feel like the
Rams are gonna win out. And so I think it's
gonna come down to Week eighteen, where you bet you
beat the Niners, you get number one. You don't beat
the Niners, and you're gonna be number six. And that's
(36:20):
quite the change when it comes to who you have
to play or who you get to play, where you
get to play it. So we shall see a lot
of drama heading into the final couple weeks of the season.
We'll get into more of that probably later on, but
for now, we got to take a break so we
can get to mister Rick Neuheisel on the other side,
right here at Sports Radio ninety three point three KGRFM.
It's time for Checking Buck's weekly visit with former NFL
officials Jeene Sterotor, brought to you by bmwle looking for
a new or used BMW or something else even, come
check us out at Bmwcattle, conveniently located between I five
and I ninety near the stadiums Now with gene Sterotor.
Here's Checking Buck.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Ah. Well, this is the time, and unfortunately or fortunately
for us, we get this in before Christmas starts around here.
So happy happy holidays. Merry Christmas, Jane. How you doing in?
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Happy holidays? Bucky? And I'm doing pretty well, guys. How
are you doing?
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Oh? I'm doing great. Ashley, I think is doing well.
We got a downhill stretch here on this Tuesday, and
then we get the next couple of days off, so
pretty excited about that. I'm real quick before we get
into any of the stuff, the stuff that we actually
bring you on for. I did see on your Twitter
page a little Kermit the Frog maybe looking in a mirror?
(01:02):
Is this cryptic? Are you? Are you pulling an old
man Rivers? Are you coming out of retirement? Is that
what I'm reading into?
Speaker 3 (01:09):
You know? We had the four to twenty five game
with the Steelers and the Lions, and I'm watching Aaron
Rodgers and reminiscing a little to those days. And then
getting home last night with my lovely wife watching and
explaining to her, you know that he's really not that old,
you know, and she was kind of agreeing with me,
which was really awesome. And so I talked with my
(01:29):
funnel hands of social media portion of my business and
we had a nice talk and he goes, I think
I've got the right one to send out tonight. So
it was really more of a joke, Bucky. But you know,
you never know.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
I never know.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
You never say never, right.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
I think you could pull it off. I think you could.
I don't know if you want to. It's probably nice
sitting right about this time of year, sitting up in
a booth, you know, just having everyone, So I like, Geane,
what do you think? And you can just basically throw
your buddies under the bus, or you can you can
enlighten us to something or you and then you just
sit back down your chair, maybe Gabria, hut Coco, all
that kind of stuff. I think that sounds a lot
(02:05):
more comfy. You've earned it. Now you get to ride
off into the sunset.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
You know, if if they create the segue that's like,
you know, has a heater or something and I can
zoom around without having to run, maybe I would consider that,
you know what I mean. But at this point, I
think you're right. I do like the chair there in
the studio.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
I can picture that. I mean, maybe it's something like
a souped up little rascal, you know what I mean. Like,
you know, you don't want to be in the little
tiny thing, but you know something that like looks cool
and tough, but you just like lean in a direction
and it just rolls you over that way. Or maybe
like you're hanging from that sky cam right, but you
control it and you're just like hovering over everyone, like
the Overlord.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
It felt like I was on a high wire a
lot of my career, actually, you know, when you are repping.
So maybe that is opplicable, Buck, I think I like that.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Yeah, all right, you know what we got to get too.
We got to get to some of these topics and obviously,
you know, we we typically will find one or two
some where along the lines. In the Seahawks game Boy,
we didn't have to look very far. Fourth down two
point conversion attempt not that. So this wasn't the final
one that ended up winning the game, but that one
that they ended up throwing it. Darnald throws it off
(03:14):
the helmet basically, and then it bounces forward towards the
end zone and Sharboney goes and picks it up. I mean,
typically the angles they showed us, it looked like, yes,
it probably was heading backwards. If you think if he
threw it right to the receiver, which was Sharbony, it
was the intended receiver, then it was definitely backwards. I
thought it maybe was he was going to have to
(03:35):
reach towards the line of scrimmag or towards the goal
line to get that ball. It wasn't a cut and
dry that it was a backwards pass. Did you think
they got that right? How could they end up making
that call? And then can you explain all of the
weird stuff that goes into it considering there's a whistle blown,
and how and the heck they come up with that?
Did they get it right?
Speaker 3 (03:55):
Well? Yeah, you know, at the end of the day,
they did get this right. And remember too, that a
path and I think Terry mccaullay did a great job
in real time. Those are an easy place to try
to break down and explain to the public and a
quick fashion had I really give him kudos for that.
A parallel pass is also considered a backward pass. So
when we get into man that looks just like right,
(04:17):
you know, dead down the line by rule, that also
is a backward pass. So many layers to this. On
fourth down, on tries inside of two minutes, if it's
a fumble or rule to fumble, only the fumbler can advance.
A backward pass is different, So this is a backward pass,
so anyone can recover this or advancement in front of
(04:39):
where the backward pass is initiated. That was the one
one element to it, the other piece of this really
and it's the officiating place where you want to hope
that as these technological additions by replay or now can
get involved and kind of get it right. And how
does that affect the officials on the field to referee
a play like that in real time in the best
(05:01):
way they can understanding that there may be this other
element that can take place after the actual play is finalized.
Those are really difficult things to try to learn because
these are new innovations that have happened in the last
few years, and they've countered everything that officials, most officials,
especially old ones like me, that didn't have replay situations
(05:23):
like this. It's the ability in those types of plays
where your reaction on the field, or your gut reaction
is if you think, you know that's a forward pass,
bowl the whistles incomplete. Back in the old days, that's
what we did, and our kind of quote on that was,
you know what, you've got to sell the call well
in these situations quick pass fumble on a quarterback. Is
the runner down by contact before the ball comes loose?
(05:45):
Is it a forward or backward pass? In this scenario,
your gut may tell you, well, that feels a little forward.
But because of what we have in addition to those things, now,
you want that whistle to stay out of the play,
right Because players are coached to play through a whistle
because they can't see whether a play is down or
not they're playing through the whistle. Officials are trained to
(06:07):
say that whistles don't necessarily have to kill plays. If
you think it's forward progress, give them another step or two,
then blow your whistle. So there's a weird dynamic in
there where where officials don't want to blow the whistle
too quick, but players are going to play through the whistle.
And this kind of went in the other direction where
I think the official reacted a little too quickly with
(06:27):
his or her whistle, and then you have to go
into that other little space, which is in the immediate
continuing action after the play has been ruled over. If
something happens, then immediately after that we can put that
into the play. Even though the whistle blew or they
ruled them down, or those situations took place. All of
(06:48):
those elements took place at that moment. And Charboneau doesn't
look like he's diving on the football right like he
thinks it's a backward passer, and I think he casually
goes over and he kind of picks the ball up,
and quite honestly, really again in this nerdy referee world,
had he picked that football up at the half yard
line and walked into the end zone, that would not
(07:12):
have counted because you don't get the advancement there. So
the fact that he literally was kind of just in
the end zone and the ball just was over the
goal line when he possessed it in the immediate continuing action.
After all the reviewing and all of that, they get
that football where he possessed it, which happened to be
in the end zone in this case. So again a
(07:32):
lot and I know I probably was way longer than
Brad Allen was explaining it in real time, but they're
just is that many layers to that play, But at
the end of the day, they got it right.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
I think the interesting thing that I've been seeing though,
is not even that the Rams fans are mad that
they got it right or that it happened, but that
the rule exists in the first place. Like that's what
I've been seeing everyone complain about them, that rule is
even there in the first place.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
Yeah, right, as to see it. And again some of
this is my age and being an old school guy.
I really enjoyed the fact that we didn't have a
lot of replayed types of scenarios back then because it
was a way more uncomfortable place to be, where, look,
if your decision in real time is your decision, and
you're going to live with that decision. As uncomfortable as
(08:20):
that was. As I grew in my career, I realized
that that was kind of what I was addicted to
is being put in that situation. So when we watch
games and we say, yeah, there's a human condition in
all of this, but not in these scenarios, because now
we can go away from the whole action in the
game and the human reactions and what was the result
(08:41):
of those decisions, and we can bring technology in and
reviews in and angles in and change it. It does
feel a little different, right, But look, the stakeholders in
every level of football and a lot of other sports,
basketball as well. No, the decisions they've made are that
every play that we can get right based on the
(09:01):
technological advancements we have, we want to put those in
the game now. Because the standard for officiating, unfortunately is perfection,
and anything below that standard in many cases for the
general public is kind of like quite unacceptable. So where
do you go. Do you allow the officials to be
human and miss things, or do we strive for this
(09:22):
ultimate perfection that maybe at the expense of the flow
of the game or the game itself. And so I
can understand it, you know, from a lot of different avenues,
and you want to get it right at the end
of the day as well. So that's why, and that's
above my pay grade us and I leave that up
to those those that decide what they want to do
with the game.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
You know, well, because of you, I expect perfection, and
so if others can't follow a suit, that's on them.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
And even when I let you doubt, Buffy, you're going
to be tympathetic and sympathetic, I appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
You let me down perfectly, is what it did. You
perfectly let me down. Yeah, exactly, all right, man. Well,
in that game, obviously that goes down to the wire.
I mean, a crazy comeback by the Seahawks in order
to come back from down six. I mean, it's the
biggest comeback in Seahawks history. Multiple things had to go
their way, and yet the one we just talked about
(10:17):
was towards the end of the game. There was one
early in the game that basically is a four point
swing where the Rams get a touchdown and it gets
called back because of an algeb man downfield. The commentators
were thinking that shouldn't necessarily have been the case there
did see it look like the defensive alignment just kind
of pulled him across, like they're bumping into each other
(10:39):
and then he kind of pulled him beyond one yard?
Is that should that have been an elgebavan downfield? Was
it letter of the law? Yes? But shouldn't have been?
Or did they get that one right as well?
Speaker 3 (10:50):
You know that that this play's got a little more
to it. I hate to sound like I'm long winded
on some of these, but these plays do have a
lot of elements to them. First and foremost, and eligible.
If you are an interior linement and eligible by your position,
and you go more than one yard beyond the line
of scrimmage without engaging directly with a defensive player that's
in front of you, you just move more than a
(11:12):
yard down the field at the time the ball is
released from the quarterback's hand, then it's an in eligible
player downfield. With technology, if officials throw a flag on
that play, replay then can review that play because there's
a flag on the ground, kind of an ineligible downfield
penalty hanging, and then replay will relook at it, look
(11:34):
at that player and say, yes, he was more than
a yard down it is a file for an eligible downfield,
or no, he wasn't pick it up. So we see
that happen a little more with this penalty, and because
of RPOs and the way the game has changed, there's
more of those scenarios happening now in the last few
years of the game. I think that's why they probably
(11:55):
implemented an assist there if a flag's on the ground.
But then you that other element, as you said, and
this is where it becomes a little more gray. If
an offensive lineman, let's say, in this case, I believe
it was a right guard, has a defensive player directly
in front of him, and right at the snap, he
blocks that player and drives him without disengaging four yards
(12:16):
down the field and never disengages in the ball leaves
a quarterback's hands, it is not an eligible player downfield
because he engaged him within a yard and maintained that
contact throughout the course of the player until the quarterback
released the ball. This one was really unique because there
was engagement, as you said, like that. Now there's this
(12:38):
shedding kind of right of the defensive player that I
don't know if that's where the subjectivity comes, and I
would assume more than likely from upstairs or in collaboration
with officials on the field, that was he at a
yard and thrown to two yards? Did they not seek
that engagement was enough to say that that's the reason
(12:59):
why he was beyond Did he'd disengage after a chip?
And yeah, there's a little shed, But then the offensive
player took himself and know they're down the field under
his own volition. Those are again some subjective elements in
that piece. And now they came out with that play.
But because of these little windows, that's why the talking
heads that look at this say I can see this
(13:21):
go one way, I can see this go the other way.
So then I think when we get into those spaces,
do we go back and now to this other principle
we have, Well, okay, we can't really decide definitively one
way or the other. What did they say on the field, Well,
they said he was downfield ineligible. Then let's go with
the ruling on the field. So there's a little bit
of layer in there. That was a hard play and
(13:43):
one I think you could debate on either end. So
it's kind of difficult for me to say black and
white yes or no. But I think that's the process
that took place there. It didn't seem like coach mctay
and I think they did do a quick little shot
of the coaches, which they usually do when there's are
controversial play because it's kind of good to see the reaction. Right,
it seemed as he kind of accepted it right, or
(14:06):
at least as moving to the next one for the moment.
He didn't see him as I rate as you may
expect if he thought it was egregiously missed. But there's
a lot of layers to that play as well.
Speaker 4 (14:15):
But so Gene, one of the games that are the
game I think that had the wildest ending obviously was
that Detroit Steelers game and the touchdown that was negated
by an OPI and then when the ref came out
and he was like rolling on the field as a
touchdown but it doesn't count. There's a lot of people
out there being like, well that wasn't OPI. It looked
to me like it was definitely OPI. I mean he
(14:36):
pushed off. Yes, there was some flopping, but did they
get that whole thing right?
Speaker 3 (14:41):
I thought the last OPI was a good call. I
thought Sam Brown did come out. I think he just
at the top of his route. Listen. I think that
the safety may have been Jalen Ramsey. If I recall
names correctly in this scenario, right the way that I
referee when I was a downfield official early in my career,
was it defensive backstone embellish those types of plays that
(15:03):
much in that situation, right, Like, it's not They're not
going to do the soccer flop a second into the play,
because I can't guarantee that if I try to flop
or embellish this, there's going to be a flag. I
got to make this play. This is the football game.
These are people's seasons happening right now. So the fact
that Ramsey did go backward in that fashion that he
did at the contact on that that tells me that
(15:25):
there was enough displacement there to material effect that defensive
safety in any illegal fashion to create enough separation and
a quickly time ball to get it. So I agree
with the OPI call there without a doubt. I thought
there was forward progress quite honestly. I thought Saint Brown
was driven back a little further than you would allow
(15:45):
someone to be driven back before he lateraled to Golf,
who then took it into the end zone. So there
was a lot of layers there. Now, look, if they
called forward progress on Saint Brown after the catch. The
irony of that play would have been that Carl Scheffers
would have then had to announce, because this was fourth down,
that their ruling on the field would have been that
(16:08):
Saint Brown did not make the end zone and progress
was called and they would have declined the offensive pass
interference then because the result of the play would have
been a turnover on downs, right, So then you would
have had to put two seconds back on the clock
or three the Steelers would have had to take a
knee and the game would have ended that way. But
(16:29):
because they ruled that that wasn't progress and the end
of the play was GoF diving into the end zone
when the clock was at zero. Now you're going to
use the offensive foul in that scenario when time expires
in a game and there is a foul by the offense,
excepting that penalty basically ends the game. And Chef kind
(16:52):
of did do what we used to call back in
the day, slam in the audience, right, Like if I
had a few of those where your role touchdown on
the field and you come back and realize he fumbled
the ball at the half yard line. There wasn't a
clear recovery in the end zone. The home team thinks it's,
you know, it is a touchdown, and you say after review,
(17:12):
you know, the ruling on the field is or the
ruling on the field was touched down. The crowd cheers,
and then you bring in the dreaded word, however, and say,
but because of this, this, and this, it isn't a touchdown,
which is kind of what chef did there. So that'll
be a discussion, I'm sure with the leg on. Let's
make sure we wear these things right so we don't
(17:33):
take people to one level of the motion and then
bring them way way down to another level of emotion
in a scenario like that.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
Yeah, there were a lot of crazy plays this last weekend,
for sure.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
That's funny. You guys actually have the slam the crowd
that there was an actual term for it. Yeah, that
was that was a crowd. A crowd.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
We're fifteen years ago to Bucky. Yeah, it was a
while back. Now update myself.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
Yeah, yeah, I'm with you, though. I think that they
got that right either way that they call it. I mean,
he catches the ball at the one and ends up
lateraling it at like the six or seven. I was
surprised I mean that the Steelers, as he lateraled it,
were already celebrating that they had stopped him and won
the game before Goff even grabbed it and dove in.
So I'm with you, I think they got that right
real quick, Gino, or as quick as you want to be.
(18:21):
I don't really care about the time clock because I'm
filling in here, so what are they going to do?
But in just that DK Metcalf situation, I don't think
there's anything as an official that you're responsible for. There
there's no flag, so you can't kick him out of
the game. But just overarching thoughts on that situation, I
feel like fans are more in boldened now than they
ever have been of saying things. And yet my personal
(18:45):
stance as a former professional athlete is you just got
to kind of wear it, you know, it's kind of
part of the gig. You don't get to swing on
people regardless of what they say to you.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
I'm with you, man, I may look at I was
arrest okay, So I never really lived in that world
except when we came back after the negotiations and people
actually did care about the officials for that window of
time when we were locked out and then came back
and appreciated us. I have lived a lot of my
career in those stages where there were tons of things
(19:17):
that you would hope you'd never have to hear, and
quite honestly and never think people would say to you
that you just had to leave alone. And you know,
that's just as you said, Bucky. You were on that stage,
you realized that, And truthfully, I think what happens too is,
unfortunately in our climate and culture, it's this shock me,
(19:41):
clickbait kind of what can I say to really get
someone's attention now, whether it's a tweet or whether it's
a verbal thing. People used to say things when I
was really young in the stands that were not great.
But then you'd see a lot of people in the
stands kind of look at that person like, dude, I'm
here to enjoy a game. I've got my kids with
me or something. Right. I think we've got a little
(20:01):
more aggressive in those fashions, or maybe because of the
toxic nature and certain things. Collectively, I hope we don't
become numb to that, right, because there is a human condition.
In this case, the case, you've got to hope that
you know what man, you just kind of let it roll,
go back to where you were, get away from it,
(20:22):
and don't let what your gut is telling you that
you know what this is what would happen if I
was anywhere but here right now. But you are there
right now, right So that window in that little reaction
to human condition has to still kind of win as
far as kind of keeping yourself composed or getting away
from this toxicity which exists way too much in my
(20:45):
humble opinion, and from an officiating window, it was difficult
for me in real time. We caught that on and
off camera. And now you know, I'm naturally being asked
when these situations come up rather quickly, like king, you
get to weigh in on this, and I really did.
I mean, I talked to the producers right then. I said, look,
I never saw this. I've been around thirty years. I've
never seen this happen. So let me phone the NFL
(21:07):
office and get some clarity. And then came in and
at least tried to do my best to give some
clarity there in real time. But they're unfortunate situations on
everyone's behalf right, Like you set it up, perfect bug,
We're in a professional situation. We put ourselves on this stage.
The unfortunate part of the stage is we're subjected to
(21:28):
things that would not be appropriate in my home out
on the street, and me being a little younger might
cause us to have a little more of a distant
disagreement than maybe living in the house and me thrown
it out of here. But we're in these windows and
we're on these stages. This is hopefully those times where
we elevate ourselves as athletes or participants and can look
(21:51):
at it and let it go as the bs that
it really is. And I always my way was doing it.
I would look to see whoever was staying and next
to the person who was really being you know, belligerent
during a time out, and kind of look and hope
it was maybe their significant other next to them, right
and look at him like he really came to the
game with this guy and he's acting like this, you know,
(22:12):
or maybe something I could do from a distance to
make him feel small for a second and hopefully stop it.
But it was a reaction from what I understand, and
we see, we saw what the punishment is an extremely
punitive condition here for the team. You've got a team
that still isn't I don't think a lock. You've got
(22:33):
two huge football games that he will not participate in.
I'm sure they're getting in his pocket for a good
bit of change. And it's just these are parts of
the games that we all love intensity, We actually almost
love a little bit about it. Reactions sometimes in some
of our sports in a controlled fashion, but then we
go over that one little edge and then what is
(22:54):
really entertaining to us kind of looks like, Man, I
don't want to see that, you know, And I think
that's kind of where we were with that whole situation,
and they're unfortunate.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Yeah, I'm one hundred percent with you. Is an emotional
regulator doesn't work very well, and yet this financial punitive
damages from it maybe will be the wake up call hopefully. Well, Jane,
I've been telling everybody as they leave, Merry Christmas, but
I'm going to tell you I wish you a very
merry Christmas? Do you and your family? Okay?
Speaker 3 (23:24):
Well, thanks my friend. I appreciate that. And Astley, I
hope you have a wonderful one with you and yours
and Chucky wherever you are in the stratosphere. Right now,
we hope that you are going to enjoy another beautiful
holiday season. So thank you guys so much. I love
being on the show and it's that Tommy year to
hug I loved ones and appreciate this thing that we
(23:46):
get to do together, which is called life fellas.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
That's right, all right, thanks Jane, Merry Christmas. Brother. That's
Jane's territory segment. Geane is brought to you by BMW Seattle.
Looking for new use BMW or something else, check them
out at BMW Seattle, conveniently located between I five and
I ninety near the stadiums. On the other side of this,
we're gonna get to talk to Jolly Saint fits you
right here at Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM.
Speaker 5 (24:10):
Oh Man, love that song, doing Well, Doing Well? You
got me up and dancing at eight thirty six in
the morning on a Christmas Eve eve.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
I get that up. I oftentimes when I start to
belt out a song, I get man, you sound a
lot like Mariah Carey.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
Do you get that at all?
Speaker 5 (24:27):
No? No, no, never, I've never gotten that, but I will.
I will continue to sing that song very proudly until
I do.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
Okay, good good on you I can see. I mean
you got you got range. I'll give you that. I
don't know if it's Mariah Carey range, but you do
got range. Well we got ever it fits you on
with this obviously voice of the crack and we get
to find out what what's going on over there at
Climate Pledge. And they're actually on the road right now.
(24:58):
They did win again last night. That's two in a row.
Maybe right in the ship to some degree. We do
have to write this bad boy before it gets too
terribly far off the rails. And yet they're right back
at it. They got a back to backer tonight at
LA And so what did you see last night? What
did you see the last couple wins that is maybe
(25:18):
giving you the idea that they're turning a corner.
Speaker 5 (25:22):
Well, I think for me, the last two games, this
team got back to its identity. You know, I go
to San Jose and they couldn't afford to get into
a track meet with that team. I mean, there's a
lot of fast players.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
In San Jose.
Speaker 5 (25:36):
They've got a lot of young skill and you'll hear
players say all the time, you know, we have to
keep things simple. You know, we're a defensive game. We're
a defensive team. We need to work on shutting them down.
We can't afford to try and skate with them, to
try and get into a track meet. I felt like
in San Jose they fell into that trap a little
bit early in the game. They let in a goal
(25:58):
thirty some odd sets into the third period. But it
was all about the third period comeback, and they really
the response there to score two in the third in
which recently the third periods have been the downfall of
the Seattle Kraken if you go back to that nine
and one.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
Stretch, the cracking went on.
Speaker 5 (26:17):
They were outscored twenty to five in the third period.
So they did a really good job of calming things
down in San Jose, and then the same thing last night.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
I thought last night.
Speaker 5 (26:29):
In Anaheim, you know, it might not have been the
most exciting game. That was a very physical game.
Speaker 3 (26:34):
Especially toward the end.
Speaker 5 (26:36):
We still don't have a word on Vince Dunn, who
got hit by Ross Johnston and he was out midway
through the second period. So but it was a very
physical game. But once again against an Anaheim team that
has a lot of young, skilled, potential superstar players. The
Kraken clogged up the middle, they clogged up the neutral zone.
(26:58):
They didn't allow the skill and speed of Anaheim to
showcase in that game last night. So two very good
defensive efforts, two games in which the Kraken played back
to their identity, smothering some some really young and talented teams.
And you're right, I mean they they righted the ship,
(27:20):
so to speak. It's a big hole to climb out
of when you're you know, seven points back. But you
got to start somewhere. And they've won two in a row,
and if you can make it three here tonight, you'll
feel pretty good going into the break.
Speaker 4 (27:33):
Okay, so three in a row would mean they have
to win back to back games.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
That's a thing to do.
Speaker 5 (27:43):
It's been hard. It's been hard the last couple of years.
Coming into said, I don't even want to say the
stat Yeah, I'm not going to say it.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
It's been a while.
Speaker 5 (27:53):
It's been a while since the krack and have one
game two of a back to back. But the same
grace is that the La Kings, also last night, are
on game two of a back to back. They lost
to Columbus yesterday, and these games have a funny way
of playing out. You know, if you're if you're the road,
(28:14):
if you're the road team in the game before the
Christmas Break or before the All Star Breaker or whatever,
right you I think are favored more than the home team.
If I'm the La Kings, I got family in town,
I've got people coming to visit. It's the holidays, YadA, YadA, YadA.
If you're the Kracking, I'm already on the road, right
I mean, I gotta be here. I've got nowhere else
(28:37):
to be. I'm gonna go back home and I'll deal
with all my stuff later. So I think tonight's game
from that standpoint, typically will favor the road team. The
Kraken and Kings have played a pretty even series historically,
Krack and winning last week at home in overtime, so
I I like the Cracking chances to stab that s
(29:00):
Street tonight. Joey the Cord, who's had a really good
couple of games, is going to start for Seattle this evening,
so there's going to be an optional skate. Hopefully we'll
have an update on Vince Done. I did see him
after the game yesterday. He wasn't wearing anything. He wasn't uhb,
(29:22):
he was fully clothed. The bus was kind of dark,
so I can he was fully clothed. But no, he
didn't have a cast or a sling or you know,
any type of bandage on. So hopefully, uh, you know,
maybe he got the wind knocked out of him and
and he'll be ready to go tonight. But we'll see
here in about an hour and a half when the
crack and get on the a the boarding skate.
Speaker 2 (29:42):
I'm with you. I mean, I considering the temper tantrum
that he threw afterwards, I didn't think he was very injured.
And yeah, I'm glad. I'm glad he didn't hit Decord
with this with the shrapnel or the back of his
stick or whatever else he threw down the hallway. I mean,
I I get it. You get to have a timber
tantrum here and there, and he obviously didn't feel good
(30:04):
the way that he got hit, So hopefully he's good
to go. I got one more for you. I mean,
the Mason marchmant trade.
Speaker 3 (30:13):
Is that?
Speaker 2 (30:14):
I mean, I thought it was like, wow, I thought
that was a piece that they you know, had added
for a reason. Was it just not working? Was there
is there anything going on behind closed doors, because they've
won a couple since he's gone. I don't know if
there's chance that it's an addition by some traction clubhouse
wise or locker room wise. I mean, what do you
think of that whole moves or anything behind it?
Speaker 5 (30:35):
Well, first of all, I think we should normalize using
clubhouse for every locker room. Okay, fan of clubhouse, I
like that.
Speaker 4 (30:41):
All right, sounds it does?
Speaker 2 (30:45):
It does?
Speaker 5 (30:45):
You can't you can't sit with us, you can't come
in here. Yeah. But I think with Mason marshmitt let's
be honest, it didn't fit. He didn't fit in the lineup.
He didn't fit, you know, in the room. I mean,
and there was no type of there were no there's
no animosity, there was no arguing, there was no fighting
in the background. But you know, sometimes you have a
(31:06):
guy just didn't fit and and he has an opportunity
to go somewhere else.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
And he's got.
Speaker 5 (31:12):
Three goals in two games since he's left, so you know,
clearly for him the trade was working. But but for
Mason Marshmith, you know, I don't think he ever fully
got traction uh in this lineup, and the kracking did
all they could. They moved him up and down various
(31:32):
places in the lineup. He was all in the first
power play. He was playing with Matty Veneers and and
Jordan Everley, and you know, until the injury, he had
some shifts with James Schwartz and Jared mccannon. So it's
not like he was he was buried on the fourth line.
He was given opportunity and you know, for whatever reason,
it just wasn't a fit. And that happens, and that's okay.
(31:54):
The Kraken were no worse for wear because when you
think about it, you gave up a third and a
fourth for him, and you get back a second and
a fourth, So I mean you get the fourth round
pick back and then you upgrade the third to a second,
So you know, no harm, no foul. I would have
liked to have seen him a better run here in Seattle,
(32:17):
given the type of player that he's been known to be,
But it wasn't a fit, and we wish it well.
Speaker 2 (32:25):
Yeah, it is what it is. It's part of the
business of the sport, and so yeah, wish him well
and yet hopefully they can keep the winning ways going.
All right, fits you well, hey, I want to wish
you a very merry Christmas as well. You the wifey,
the little man. You go out there call a win
again tonight and then you can enjoy a few days off.
Speaker 5 (32:43):
Thank you very much, Bucky, Ashley met Christmas to you,
Christmas to everybody out there, and we'll talk to you
next week.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
All right. That's ever. It fits you, the voice of
the crack and the Mariah Carey of the Seattle Cracking,
if you will, all I want for Christmas fits you, baby.
All right. On the other side, I'm gonna get Ashley's confidence, Meeter,
I'm gonna check in on some things right here. At
Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM, Huey Lewis wrote
all the music it's fine, yeah, exactly. Well, welcome to
(33:12):
the show. It is Chuck and Buck in the Morning
with Ashley, Lola Ryan. But no Chuck, he's a I
don't know what he's doing. Probably wrapping presents. I bet
he's sitting in pajamas with a blanket over his lap,
drinking dog. Yeah, probably getting after it. I hopefully he's
just getting some sleep. Yeah. I would imagine that's all
we all are hoping for. Well, we don't have a
(33:33):
lot of time in this segment because I have butchered
the clock with Jean and with.
Speaker 4 (33:38):
The wonderful fits here there are friends.
Speaker 2 (33:40):
Yeah, and it is what it is. What's Richie gonna do?
Rich is off too, so he's not even even know Yeah,
he didn't care. I just wanted to get your confidence check,
a confidence meter. Where you're at right now, sitting in
pole position, number one seed, you control your own destiny.
You gotta win the next two games and you get
a bye, you get home field advantage throughout. That is
(34:01):
there's something to it. It's not maybe what it once
was in the Pete Carroll era when they really struggled
going on the road. As a matter of fact, the
opposite of that, they're really kicking ass when they go
on the road. But the idea of playing tough team
week after week and traveling across country. You would much
rather have a buy and be able to stay at home.
And so I think that there is something to this
(34:22):
whole thing. And yet the Hawks got the Panthers this
weekend and then a big one against the Niners. The
Niners have the Bears this weekend, not an easy matchup
like a lot of people thought it would be at
the beginning of the year, and then that match up
with the Hawks in week eighteen, and the Rams have
kind of a easier I mean they could kick one.
I mean they could lose, but at the same time,
(34:43):
they could very easily beat the Falcons and the Cardinals
to hold Serve and force you to win out in
your next two games. And so how confident are you
that the Seahawks are going to do what they need
to do? And I would say that's probably win both
of these games. I think if you drop either one
of them, you're gonna find yourself in the fifth or
(35:03):
sixth spot versus number one.
Speaker 4 (35:04):
Yeah, and obviously number one spot would be ideal, But
I don't think it's make or break for us. I
think the Seahawks will be fine. I mean, just get
into the playoffs is really my only concern. When I
like the number one seed, Absolutely, do I have confidence
that they can get it? Yes, especially with this team,
not even with the coaching staff is one thing, right,
Mike McDonald has this team focused. But it's the team themselves,
(35:27):
the players themselves. They are so bonded, they are so
all in for each other, and that's what gives me
the confidence that they can do this.
Speaker 2 (35:36):
Yeah, I mean I'm confident. I think that they will
beat the Panthers. I think the Panthers struggle to get
to the quarterback. I think if Sam doesn't get errant
with his passes, they do have a couple of ballhawks.
Don't force it up there. Yeah, but I think you
can run the ball against them a little bit. I
think you can pass. I think that the offense is
going to do what they need to do, and I
think the defense will make life rough for the Panthers,
(35:58):
who are very jackling Hyde when it comes to being
able to move the ball. So I think you win
this one. I'm not much more than a coin flip
against the Niners. I mean, the Niners are gonna still
be fighting for something, and ultimately I feel like the
Rams are gonna win out. And so I think it's
gonna come down to Week eighteen, where you bet you
beat the Niners, you get number one. You don't beat
the Niners, and you're gonna be number six. And that's
(36:20):
quite the change when it comes to who you have
to play or who you get to play, where you
get to play it. So we shall see a lot
of drama heading into the final couple weeks of the season.
We'll get into more of that probably later on, but
for now, we got to take a break so we
can get to mister Rick Neuheisel on the other side,
right here at Sports Radio ninety three point three KGRFM.
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