CaP'N GRuNGe Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 (edited) Vikings ask NFL to investigate radio trouble The Vikings didn't suggest sabotage, but their wireless system was OK before the game. Kevin Seifert, Star Tribune Last update: September 13, 2006 – 8:10 PM The Vikings asked the NFL on Wednesday to investigate a sudden disruption of their wireless communications system early in Monday night's 19-16 victory over Washington, a failure of unknown origin that forced them to send in plays manually rather than by radio. Coach Brad Childress asked Ray Anderson, the NFL's senior vice president of football operations, to "take a peak at" the problem. The Redskins reported no such malfunctions with their equipment. Childress stopped far short of suggesting sabotage, but he said two experts could find nothing wrong with the Vikings' equipment. Asked if the problem was the result of an intentional act, Childress said: "I don't know." An NFL spokesman acknowledged there was an "interference problem" with the Vikings' wireless frequency. The spokesman said no specifics were available on the nature of the interference. Most teams use some sort of wireless radio to send in offensive plays from a coach's headset to a speaker in the quarterback's helmet. Childress said two consultants travel with the team for each road game to set up the technology and provide troubleshooting. "It worked right before we came out for the game," Childress said. "They take those helmets all over the stadium and check them in every corner. They worked before we came out [of the locker room]. They didn't work for the first play. They worked before we came out for the second half, because they rechecked everything -- batteries, cells -- and it didn't work as we started the third quarter." The Vikings eventually resorted to a backup system of wired headsets, but on several drives -- including the opening drive in which they scored a touchdown -- Childress shuttled in plays with several receivers as well as tight end Jermaine Wiggins. "Anybody I thought that could spit it back out," Childress said. Receiver Travis Taylor was among the group. "Hadn't done that since Pop Warner," Taylor said. "They would give me the formation and the play. Brad [Johnson] pretty much knows the plays, so I just had to remember two or three words of it and everything was good." Johnson ran to the sidelines on numerous occasions to pick up the play himself. The Vikings snapped the ball several times with one or two seconds remaining on the game clock, but they were not called for any delay-of-game penalties. "That's the way it goes," Childress said, "and that's the way it goes in a noisy stadium. You better be able to adjust." Kevin Seifert • kseifert@startribune.com EDIT: THIS WAS POST # 9,000 Edited September 14, 2006 by CaP'N GRuNGe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LooGie Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 dont alot of games have problems with the headset and the coach having to resort to sending in plays manually? not saying it's not impressive, but I just thought it's sort of a luxory to have the headset..not neccessary though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaP'N GRuNGe Posted September 14, 2006 Author Share Posted September 14, 2006 dont alot of games have problems with the headset and the coach having to resort to sending in plays manually? not saying it's not impressive, but I just thought it's sort of a luxory to have the headset..not neccessary though I don't know - maybe? Add to the fact that it's an entirely new system with new coaches and they were able to get the plays in in a noisy stadium. I guess maybe i'm just a homer, but i think that's pretty cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LooGie Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 I don't know - maybe? Add to the fact that it's an entirely new system with new coaches and they were able to get the plays in in a noisy stadium. I guess maybe i'm just a homer, but i think that's pretty cool. nothing wrong with that. The world needs homers Your plan is flawed at the root though. You merely picked the wrong team As a Panther homer...I'm REALLY looking forward to this game this week. We need a chance to redeem ourselves, and as much hype as the Vikes got after squeaking that win out..this is the perfect stage... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaP'N GRuNGe Posted September 14, 2006 Author Share Posted September 14, 2006 nothing wrong with that. The world needs homers Your plan is flawed at the root though. You merely picked the wrong team As a Panther homer...I'm REALLY looking forward to this game this week. We need a chance to redeem ourselves, and as much hype as the Vikes got after squeaking that win out..this is the perfect stage... If Steve Smith sits I'll feel a whole lot better about it. He absolutely destroyed the Vikings and in particular Fred Smoot last year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 If Steve Smith sits I'll feel a whole lot better about it. He absolutely destroyed the Vikings and in particular Fred Smoot last year! Look out for Drew Carter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetsfan Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 If you had good seats behind the visitors bench, couldn't you bring in a wireless jammer? It's not like security would know it any different than a radio... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LooGie Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 If you had good seats behind the visitors bench, couldn't you bring in a wireless jammer? It's not like security would know it any different than a radio... of couldn't you assassinate the tech. crew and operators? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marti332 Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 of couldn't you assassinate the tech. crew and operators? As an aside, that is the most disturbing avatar I think I've ever seen. And yet I can't look away... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilthorp Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 I thought if one team had communication problems, they shut down both systems for the game, or at least until the problem is fixed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
borge007 Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 nothing wrong with that. The world needs homers Your plan is flawed at the root though. You merely picked the wrong team As a Panther homer...I'm REALLY looking forward to this game this week. We need a chance to redeem ourselves, and as much hype as the Vikes got after squeaking that win out..this is the perfect stage... Remember-the Panthers are the visiting team this week! Hope the "wireless" headsets work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blips Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 (edited) I thought if one team had communication problems, they shut down both systems for the game, or at least until the problem is fixed. That is exactly what I was thinking when I read this thread. Washington should not have been able to use theirs. Edited September 14, 2006 by blips Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebellab Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 I was listening to the game on the radio, and Greg Coleman said that everything was working fine before the game. They even had like five helmets ready to go and none of them worked. I thought back to high school when the running back or recievers would bring the play to the huddle. A lot more runnign for some players. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LooGie Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 As an aside, that is the most disturbing avatar I think I've ever seen. And yet I can't look away... Everytime I change it, i find myself with an emptiness inside of me. I have to put it back. I just can't explain why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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