Unfortunately, Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon hit a huge speed bump. He’s been levied a $100,000 fine for an on-field dust-up with running back Keaontay Ingram on the sideline during the last game. The uniform familiarizations came on the heels of the team’s lamentable 22-21 loss to the Tennessee Titans. In that game, rookie running back Emari Demercado compounded emotional swings with a game-losing fumble. The Cardinals are preparing to welcome the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. At the same time, the effects of those changes are still being felt across the organization.
Demercado’s gaffe quickly turned into the main topic of conversation from fans and analysts. He failed to secure the ball before crossing the goal line, resulting in a turnover that allowed the Titans to seize victory. This kerfuffle ranks him among other all-time greats that have fallen victim to similar goofs in NFL lore.
High-Profile Mistakes in NFL History
The NFL, of course, has a long history of players who choked on the biggest stage. We saw this happen to Jonathan Taylor last year. He misplaced the ball in his final step into the end zone. Taylor acknowledged the severity of such mistakes, stating, “It just can’t happen, no matter the game, no matter the scenario.“
Mitchell made headlines when he pulled in a ridiculous 76-yard touchdown reception. Tragedy struck as he fumbled the ball inches from the goal line resulting in a touchback. Mitchell’s turnover proved to be a killer mistake, and he found himself benched for the following game as punishment. Consider that head coach Shane Steichen had been preaching ball security since the first day of training camp.
Receiver DeSean Jackson has been candid about one such gaffe, a game-winning touchdown run that he botched in a Monday Night Football matchup with the Dallas Cowboys. He flipped the ball away right before he crossed the goal line. “And I’ve just had a ton of people trolling me about it,” Jackson said. He remains focused on moving forward: “I’m just going to move on with it. I still have a ton of football in front of me.”
The Impact of Sideline Behavior
The incident between Gannon and Demercado opens up a can of worms about sideline conduct and what consequences should be in high-stress environments. After the incident, Gannon issued a public apology for his act of violence, taking responsibility for how his actions could lead the Eagles in a negative light. Players and coaches were busy trying to retune that energy. They intended to focus on getting ready for their next game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Demercado’s teammate Paris Johnson Jr. showed true teammate support by running over to his side as soon as Demercado fumbled. I wanted to be among the first to congratulate him on the sideline, Johnson continued. I felt frustrated for him, I wanted to say, ‘Hey, just clean that up and move on! He emphasized the importance of positive reinforcement in moments of adversity: “I wanted to create the energy around him.”
Beyond all of that though, offensive coordinator Brian Callahan made clear that these mistakes need to be teachable moments for the rest of the team. So whenever it happens, you show it [to the team],” he said. Callahan further stressed their mantra: “We have a saying: ‘Letters and logos.’ You never, never, never, never — under any circumstances — let go of the ball until you see the letters and logos in the end zone.”
Consequences for Players and Teams
The fallout from these types of errors goes well beyond each affected player. Demercado’s error made him a sad footnote in NFL history. It ended up being a key factor in preserving a huge upset victory for the Titans. Players on both sides are preparing for upcoming matchups, like the Cardinals’ thrilling fourth quarter comeback against the Colts. They’ll be kicking themselves for how much these expensive errors have changed the course of their season.
Given all these circumstances, Gannon’s fine is a stark reminder that coaches need to keep their cool on the sideline. Competitive sports often bring about emotional experiences that can shift focus away from the mutual goal of the team. As Gannon takes that next step, he needs to lean into the love of winning. He has to understand that what he does affects the players and the fans, too.
The collective memory of past errors continues to haunt players like Trevathan and Leon Lett, who similarly faced scrutiny for dropping the ball before reaching the end zone. Their missteps are cautionary tales that every play matters when the stakes are high.
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