LINK

Sort of embarrassing that the new stadium is already having problems with the videoboard being a bit too low for punters.

Even in the warm ups, the punters were nailing it with regularity. What were they thinking? Didn't they bother to bring in a professional punter and test it out before they hosted a game?

HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA!!!!!!!!!! Are we sure this is the cowgirls and not minnesota? It seems like something that would happen in favreland; but then, then dallas and minny are about one and the same. Too funny, thanks for posting this!

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Dummies!

How awesome would that be if, after gluttonously spending 1.2 billion dollars on the new stadium, he has to piss away even more to have that thing raised. And then would it be quite as spectacular if it was higher up like that? I think he's going to be forced to do it at some point. If I was a punter in a blowout or meaningless game, I'd be aiming for that thing just for my own amusement.

your punt coverage team wouldn't be too happy with you after nailing the scoreboard for the 3rd consecutive time.

Send Mason down there to make another fantasy football commercial. I would say our punter but...

Apparently, time is not added back onto the clock when you have to do a "do-over" for hitting the scoreboard. I can see it already:

4th down
Team with the ball has the lead 21-20
4th Quarter
1 Minute Left

Punter hits the scoreboard 10 straight times, running out the clock and winning the game without the other team getting a chance to score.

Just think of this, what happens if the board isn't moved and this is how the Super Bowl in 2011 is decided?

The board is actually even higher than it has to be according to NFL regulations. If I recall correctly, the league mandate is 80 feet, and the Cowboy's board is currently sitting at 85. So not only did they meet requirements, they actually exceeded them.

Whether the board will be a problem remains to be seen. Apparently, the punter was beaning it on purpose. I haven't watched the kicks personally, but from what I've heard, it was fairly apparent that his punts were getting much more height than you see during an actual game time punt. In other words, he was purposely going for maximum height, rather than distance.

I think it was 85 and they went 90. Either way, you're right that they exceeded specs.

However, that screen stretches from one 20 yard line to the other. Maximum height is often what you're going for when you're punting while on the opponent's side of the field, I would think.

It should be interesting to see if Jerry Jones' stubborness wins out over his vanity. I don't think he spent 1.2 billion for his pride and joy to be known as "that place where the punts always hit the scoreboard." I understand it would cost about $2 million to raise up. I think he'll eventually bite the bullet and move it up, unless it turns out not to be a problem in the regular season.

I say tear the whole thing down and start from scratch.

They can start with the stadium and logo...

They used McBrian to test the hight of the screen, think the screen issue says a lot about the cowboys they don't think things through.

I didn't realize it was 20 to 20. I thought it was something like 40 to 40. But after looking at it again, it looks like you're right. 40 to 40 probably wouldn't been an issue, but 20 to 20 definitely extends into that "Kick it high to pin'em in their own territory" space.

I thought I read somewhere that the Videoboard is only 90ft above the field. That is only the distance between the bases on a baseball field. 30 yards!!! I bet even a deep pass will eventually hit the thing if they don't move it. What on earth were they thinking? Having a huge scoreboard 90ft above the field. Jones says he wants to keep it that way. Dummies!!!

Not to be contrary and I haven't researched it myself to say "you're wrong" - but it would seem inconceivable to me that they could have a fixture that close to the playing field and not realize the consequence. Your example of a baseball diamond is good as its easy to visual the distance.

Very odd that such a blunder could get past everybody.....
I bet their primary consideration was the "line of sight" from the side.

I'll see if I can find the true height tonight.

A 60 yard long HD screen?

How about they just take it down? I'll even take one off their hands for them.

Seriously the video board is 60 yards long and only 90 feet above the ground. I'm not making this up. See the link below.



http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-c...p&type=lgns

Yeah - I am still trying to figure out how to get one of those into my house...

talk about a gross waste of money.

watch the thing fall some time... how horrible would that be.

Can I come to Oakland to watch the Packer game with you?

Thats really astounding to me....truly.
How in earth they could think something that large and imposing...wouldnt be an impediment to the game....well that just astounds me.

90 feet.....thats all.
You could hit it with a thrown ball no less a punt.
Something that long and large has gotta feel like its "right there" when your below it.

Amazing.

Could make you wonder if they got the actually "tough" engineering stuff right....

It is the size of the target, not the height that is the problem. Those "cable cameras" are no more than 50 feet off the ground, but because they are so small it is not an issue. Only in Texas.

Heard Jones on the radio saying punters have to deal with weather and field conditions, so this should be included with that. Of course the others are God created conditions and this is Jerry Jones created.

Jerry knows that-----------------------------------------------------or does he?

I think it's hilarious that this is what people are talking about with regards to his stadium. That monument to his ego was more about "look at me" as it was about generating revenue. Now it's not about "look how beautiful Jerry's stadium is", it's all about the punting controversy. At least we're talking about it, I guess. Probably not what he had in mind, though.

the cowboys are having a bad week, with the videoboard height being critisized, and now it sounds like they're being sued by the two employees hurt by their practice facility collapse - LINK

Agree with you to a point.....
It's certainly the size, but MOST CERTAINLY the height of the fixture.
I'm sure those cameras are zoomed out of the way when a punt takes place - figuratively speaking, they could be 10 feet high and still be moved out of the way. This scoreboard fixture is like punting in a room with a ceiling.

90 feet is nothing.

I've heard the NFL mandate is 85 feet - so technically the Cowboys are "within code" - but that code was written up back when and too date no other stadium (besides this new one) has a structure suspended over the playing field like this.

From what I heard the requirement was introduced when Indianapolis built their new dome. I have never been in it so I don't know what is in there.

Those cable cameras are able to go all the way to the ground... Heck, they practically bury the thing in the middle of the huddle at times.... But they always keep it behind the offense at all times during play, so there's no way it interferes and they can yank it out of the way pretty quickly if needed.

I heard that mandate was put in 1965, the year The Astrodome came in. Ray Guy, the best punter of all time came in a few years later. He hit the roof of the Kingdome as I recall. Make Jones pay for raising it, IMO

The NFL has ruled the videoboard can stay as is this season.
Although I've not read it yet, I guess this will equate to "do-overs" on punts that hit the board.

Or....

Perhaps the ball will be live wherever it caroms onto the field? Wouldnt that make for interesting scrambles?? LOL

Since The Cowboys were of the mind that they'd constructed the thing within NFL guidelines and the League should pay for any repositioning costs....what if a player is injured during one of these "do-overs" - lets say a knee that ends that players season....you think the NFL should pick up the tab on that players salary...insomuch as this new style do-over was mandated by the League?

Brain food.......

Someone brought up an interesting point on another message board. The height on these screens were designed for the perfect viewing pleasure of a certain very wealthy cliental. I guess they have something called the "founder's club section" that's about 25 rows up on the 50 yard line. They would not be happy with the screen being moved.

Also, it's been discovered that Jerry Jones was warned by the architects that punts could hit the screen, and their own punter was easily able to hit those heights when they tested it out. Jerry decided punters never punt straight up anyway, so he didn't figure it would be an issue.

He's got nobody to blame but himself for this.

I don't like Jones either,but, if the NFL rule was followed, actually exceeded ,I would have a hard time making him move it at the Cowboys expense if I was the official in the NFL who had to make such a decision.

With that said, if that thing gets hit multiple times during this season,and especially if anyone accuses said hit for affecting the outcome of a game, it will get moved before next season.

If the Cowboys accuse punters of hitting it on purpose,two words, prove it.

I think the NFL should let this situation police itself. The ruling came down that he didn't have to move it this season. If it turns out they play the season and it's only been hit once or twice, then maybe it's not a big enough problem to worry about. If it turns out it's getting hit with regularity, Jerry will make the change himself. He'll have a hard time admitting a mistake, but he put 1.2 million into this thing so everyone could "oooh and ahhh" and it's (and his) greatness. His ego won't allow him to let people think of his pride and joy as "that place where the punters hit the big TV."

Even if punters were hitting it on purpose, it wouldn't matter one bit... what would they do??? fine the punter??? A punter that intentionally hits the board would be acting completely within the rules of the game. In fact, if I was a divisional oppenent of the Cowboys, I'd tell my punter to intentionally hit the screen a few times late in the game if we were up or down big, just to cause a bit of a ruckus for ol Jerry.