The Cowboys should be required to move the scoreboard

[jtex316]

It's very simple - the 60-yard long humongous scoreboard hanging above the new Cowboys field obstructs the play of the game. It should be moved higher or completely taken off, regardless of how many millions of dollars there are. This isn't baseball where the Catwalk or the Foul Poles are part of the "Ground Rules". Each NFL stadium's field of play dimensions are exactly 100% identical, with the exception of Dallas' new stadium where the screen cuts into the free space above the field. (The dimensions, not materials such as field turf)

There aren't bumps, hills, fences, posts, or roofs that interfere with any other stadium...why should the Cowboys receive preferential treatment?

(The argument that "Punts never go there anyways" is invalid, because A. a punt went there - twice this weekend, and B. the Cowboys punter receives an un-fair advantage over the 31 other punters in the league because of playing in that stadium 8 times a year + playoffs).

Also, let's just break it down into some common sense here - a punter could theoretically keep punting the ball into the scoreboard (and keep "doing it over") until some idiot on the other team commits a 15-yard unsportsman-like conduct penalty, making it first down Cowboys. Same thing with a Free Kick after a safety (to gain lost field position) or a "pooch-punt" by a QB backed up in his own zone (to get the other team to commit a penalty to make it 1st down again).

It seems that this screen isn't being moved because Jerry Jones spent too much money (bullshit reason) and a U2 concert in October (don't even get me started on how much U2 already pisses me off and now they are interfering with the NFL).

[Dave Gray]

The NFL allowed them to build it and it adheres to their limits.  If the NFL wants it moved, they should pay to get it raised up.

[BigDaddyFin]

It's entirely up to the league.  This is something I've seen before, both when we had Roby and he got bored one time and started hitting the scoreboard at the Superdome, and with our very own Rochester Brigade Arena League 2 team.  Guys would come onto the field and during warmups would actually practice kicking the ball with a lower trajectory so it wouldn't hit the War Memorial scoreboard.

Something tells me that when it starts screwing up Dallas in a game when it actually counts, and the Dallas Cowboys infrastructure can't find anything else to blame their choking on, that scoreboard will be moved.

[Defense54]

Something tells me that when it starts screwing up Dallas in a game when it actually counts, and the Dallas Cowboys infrastructure can't find anything else to blame their choking on, that scoreboard will be moved.

Good point.......and they WILL be doing alot of punting!!

[Brian Fein]

The situation i'm envisioning is this:

Cowboys have the ball and a 2 point lead inside 2 minutes, and the opposing defense holds.  Its 4th and 12 on the 31 yard line with 40 seconds to go.  Cowboys punter boots the ball into the screen.  Do over.  4th and 12 on the 31 with 30 seconds to go.  Cowboys punter boots the ball into the screen.  Do over.  4th and 12 on the 31 with 20 seconds to go. 

See where this is going?

Total BS.

They should be mandated by the league to raise the scoreboard.  It doesn't cost money.  I'm sure its hanging from some pulleys or something.

[BigDaddyFin]

^^^ If it's built to league specs and apparently it is, there's nothing they can do except change the rules about heights etc.  That it happened during a game Jeff Fisher was the opposing coach and Fisher is on the competition committee may expedite this. 

[Brian Fein]

^^^ yeah i thought the same thing - it was Craig Hentrich, the Titans' punter, that hit the scoreboard.

Also, I think its totally lame that teams are forced to use a challenge to get that "do over"

In the end, there may end up being a special punting formation where punters are VERY offset and punting on the side of the scoreboard.

[jtex316]

In the end, there may end up being a special punting formation where punters are VERY offset and punting on the side of the scoreboard.

The players should not have to play around the field, the field should accommodate the players. This isn't the sandlot where you play a little on the side of the field to avoid the massive pot hole.

I don't care who does it - Cowboys or the NFL - and I don't care what it costs.  That screen should be either moved higher or taken down completely before the next game at the new Texas Stadium. If the NFL told the Cowboys that it was good (which it of course isn't), then the NFL should pay for it. If not, the Cowboys pay for it. Done and done.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I am not gonna lose sleep over it.  The AFCE doesn't play the NFCE this year, by the time the AFCE plays in Dallas this should be cleared up. 

[BigDaddyFin]

It's just one more example of Jerry Jones' ego.

[Sunstroke]

Maybe the same folks who give Jerry Jones his regular face lift can give him a scoreboard-lift as well.

[Defense54]

Here's a video of it hitting the board:

http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/22/dallas-cowboys-hd-scoreboard-hanging-too-low/

Thats not a fluke one time occurance.

[BigDaddyFin]

ESPN reports the competition committee is meeting to discuss the matter either tonight or tomorrow.

[Dave Gray]

What can they do?

If Jones complied with league standards, can they make him move the board on his dime?  If it's adjustable, fine, but I imagine that moving a gigantic scoreboard isn't just like flipping a switch if it's a permanent fixture. 

[SportsChick]

He's moving it up 20 feet for a u2 concert - why can't he do it for the football games?