The Sky is Falling, The Sky is Falling: NBC Skycam Drops During Seahawks Game

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL

Did you see the bizarre incident during last night’s game between the Seahawks and Saints? The NBC Skycam came crashing down to the field. The Saints had just called timeout with 11:24 remaining in the first quarter when the camera slumped and then fell a few yards from QB Matt Hasselbeck and the rest of the Seahawks who were in the huddle. After the camera was raised somewhat off the ground, it fell again and nearly hit WR Bobby Engram as he was walking to the sideline.

I don’t need to tell you the trouble that would’ve followed if it had hit a player. That thing could kill someone. I was sitting in the press box during last Monday Night’s game between the Bills and Cowboys and I was studying the ESPN cam that hovered over the field. I thought, “That camera captures a really unique angle of the game but what if one of those thin wires snapped?” Well, none of the wires snapped last night, but they gave way enough for the camera to hit the ground. Not good. After a 10-minute delay, the game resumed with the camera parked above the Seahawks bench area. Players and coaches wisely made sure not stand under it.

You gotta wonder about these things. If I’m a player, I’m not at ease having big, heavy, moving metal objects hanging by wires over my head. And after this incident, I think teams might be glancing up more often during these nationally televised games.