Michael Dickson under fire from NFL fans after embarrassing gaffe
Australian NFL punter Michael Dickson was left embarrassed following what appeared to be a botched fake punt attempt in the Seattle Seahawks’ 32-39 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
With the scores tied 10-10 midway through the second quarter and the Seahawks lined up in punt formation on their 20-yard line, Dickson took the snap before setting off and running to his right for what looked to be a designed fake punt.
'HELPED THEM OUT': NFL player flattens pitch invader
'MAKES ME SICK': NFL world in uproar over horrific scenes
However, Dickson barely made it five yards upfield before being hit by the Saints’ Carl Granderson, causing him to fumble the ball, before it was recovered by New Orleans.
Dickson’s decision to take off and run when backed up deep in his own half baffled the FOX NFL commentary team, as well as NFL fans and pundits online.
“He’s going to take off - what in the world! Now the ball is free,” announcer Brandon Gaudin exclaimed.
“Michael Dickson, the punter on 4th and 9 with nowhere to go tried to run it.”
Colour commentator Matt Millen was equally perplexed.
“I have no idea what he was thinking,” Millen said.
“A little message to Dickson - you’re not a runner. He thinks he has a hole right there, but it got closed fast.”
The botched play proved to be a significant turning point in the contest, with momentum swinging in favour of the Saints after they scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive through Taysom Hill, giving them a 17-10 lead.
Did Michael Dickson forget the button to punt? pic.twitter.com/kk34uLBKwx
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) October 9, 2022
What the hell was that? Dickson tries to run it on fake punt and gets denied, fumbles... Saints will have the ball inside the Seahawks 20.
— Corbin K. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) October 9, 2022
Looked like Michael Dickson had the option to either punt on the run rugby-style or keep that ball there, which his a bold call to make that deep in your own territory.
— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) October 9, 2022
Seattle punter Michael Dickson with -- what looked like a Brain Fart, Taysom Hill gets TD #2 and the Saints are up 17 - 10, 3:34 2Q
— Doug Mouton (@DMoutonWWL) October 9, 2022
Seahawks coach explains Michael Dickson gaffe
Speaking to reporters after the contest, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll clarified that the play was not designed to be a fake punt, but was rather a roll-out punt that went wrong.
“That was not a fake punt, that was a roll-out punt that you might have to run sometimes if things aren’t there,” Carroll said.
“But we were supposed to kick the football there.”
Caroll revealed the roll-out punt play was something the Seahawks had rehearsed on the training field, but the execution was just lacking on game day.
“We were just changing the launch point (of the punt),” Carroll said.
“It’s something we’ve been working on and practicing for a long time and we went with it there.
“It got really cloudy upfield where we don’t expect it to.
“He felt like he had to duck up and was hesitant to kick the ball where all the people were, so he took off.”
Just a week earlier agains the Lions, Dickson became the first punter in Seahawks history not to have a single punt in a game.
Dickson finished the game with five punts, for an average of 46.6 yards per punt, including two that landed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
This isn't on the defense. This is on the Michael Dickson punt that wasn't, and DK Metcalf's fumble. Seahawks' offense is going to have to rescue them again, down 24-19 at New Orleans.
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) October 9, 2022
Michael Dickson doesn't punt for one week and all of a sudden he thinks he's a wildcat QB
— Curtis Rogers (@AKidFromKent) October 9, 2022
Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.
