03/28/2024
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By Sonny Jones

Athletes repeatedly are told to keep their head in the game.

Need to keep your helmet on, too.

Never has a player gone from being the hero to the goat — and that’s not for Greatest Of All Time — quicker than the Carolina Panthers’ D.J. Moore. He realized it, too, especially after Eddy Pineiro missed a 48-yard extra-point kick that likely would have beaten the Atlanta Falcons.

Moore made a tremendous catch of a spectacular throw from P.J. Walker for a 62-yard touchdown with 12 seconds remaining that tied it at 34-all. A standard extra-point kick by Pineiro would likely have allowed the Panthers to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and move into a tie for first place in the woeful NFC South Division.

However, in his excitement after scoring the tying touchdown Moore immediately pulled off his helmet to celebrate. You can dance, you can prance, you can run around like you have ants in your pants. You can strut, poke out your gut and holler “Hut, Hut!” You CANNOT remove your helmet. It’s a 15-yard excessive celebration penalty. Maybe you think it’s a dumb rule, but all players know it’s the rule.

The Falcons opted to accept the penalty for the conversion kick. Pineiro had a 48-yard kick instead of 33. Admittedly, a NFL kicker is more than capable of making a 48 yard kick and expected to make a 32 yard field goal in overtime to win the game. Pineiro missed both.

Atlanta won 37-34 in overtime on a 41-yard field goal by Younghoe Koo. D.J. Moore was left to sit on the bench for a couple of minutes thinking, supposedly, about what might have been. Eddy Pineiro probably was doing a lot of reflecting as well.

“What would’ve happened if I didn’t take my helmet off?” Moore was quoted after the game by The Associated Press. “I’ve got to understand that there’s still time on the clock. It was a natural reaction, but you’ve still got to know you can’t do that.”

It was a heartbreaking loss on an afternoon that saw the Panthers show rare life. Walker guided the Panthers to a season-high 34 points and he shows improvement each week. Only time will tell if he is the long-term answer, but he has been fun to watch and deserves the opportunity.

Players fumble, drop passes, miss tackles and blow assignments. Quarterbacks throw interceptions. Coaches call plays that don’t work. Professional kickers routinely make 48- and 32-yarders each week. It’s part of the game.

Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory in the closing seconds with first place on the line because a player removed his helmet as part of a touchdown celebration is hard to stomach.

MONDAY’S PICK TO CLICK

Kyle Schwarber connects for his first home run in this World Series as the Phillies capture Game 3. However, it wouldn’t be advisable for Philadelphia to spot Houston five runs for the third straight game.

SUNDAY’S PICK: Ryan Blaney will race well enough to earn a spot in next week’s championship race in Phoenix. He has five top five finishes in the last seven races at Martinsville. He’ll need to be up front at the end. Even better if he’s the first to cross the finish line. RESULTS: Blaney was in second place before a late-race caution and wasn’t a factor on the restart. He finished third, but didn’t qualify for the championship race.

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY

2008 — The North Carolina Tar Heels are No. 1 in The Associated Press’ preseason Top 25, the first unanimous No. 1 since the preseason poll began in 1981-82.

POTATO PICKS TO WATCH TODAY

• NHL: Washington at Carolina, 7 p.m., BALLY SOUTH

• NBA: Indiana at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m., NBATV

• WORLD SERIES: Houston at Philadelphia, 8 p.m., FOX

• NFL: Cincinnati at Cleveland, 8:15 p.m., ESPN, ESPN2

• HORSE RACING: Melbourne Cup, 10:30 p.m., FS2

Sonny Jones can be reached at wibbyj@gmail.com.

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