Malice In The Meadowlands
Even though Giants offensive coordinator Bob Gibson was made the fall guy, and Joe Pisarcik was turned into some kind of cult hero in Philadelphia (and in a bizarre twist of fate, eventually played for the Eagles). However, what's never discussed in all the mini-documentaries is; what really happened on the field. Sure, they're often slick and polished edited gems with some insightful knowledge of the events that led up to Pisarcik's alleged fumble. NFL Films has gone to great lengths to convince us beyond a shadow of a doubt that, even though the narrative concerning this game the day after it occurred is much different that what was translated in "This Week In Pro Football" a week later, this really is a definitive look at what really happened. I didn't believe it when I saw it on the evening news, and still find it incomprehensible that so many others accept what's spoon fed them via NFL Films. Sure Bob Gibson sent in a run play up the gut to punish the Eagles in retaliation of the extracurricular activities that occurred from the previous play, I get all that. All he had to do was have Pisarcik take a knee again...yeah, I get that to. And of course Pisarcik didn't want to go against the grain as he was already in Gibson's "doghouse" as a result of his improvisational behavior in the past. So he ran the play he was instructed to, which resulted in an alleged "botched snap". That's what happened in the game, what you saw on film, and what NFL Films hammers home year after year. On first down Pisarcik kneels down, on second down a run play is called, on third down the same run play is called. Only, Pisarcik fumbles, Herman Edwards picks up the football and scores the winning touchdown that eventually results in the Eagles returning to the post-season for the first time since 1960. A legend is born, hence; "Miracle In The Meadowlands"...pretty cut and dry. Great drama! Except for one huge glaring omission, everything discussed above is what actually happened. The kneel down, two consecutive run plays, the latter of which resulted into what Giants' fans refer to as "The Fumble" and argue, justifiably so that; "those were the darkest days in Giants history". What with all the anniversary's and yearly documentaries concerning this game that have followed since, why is Larry Csonka ignored? Strange in that, Bob Gibson refuses to be interviewed, and NFL Films refuses to interview Csonka. Why? It's just a game...right? What really happened out there? Well for one, Pisarcik didn't fumble the ball. He claims that the snap was botched which caused the fumble. He also claims that (at the time), "was distracted making sure Csonka was in position", and "was unprepared for the snap". But what Joe Pisarcik and NFL Films never talk about is what Csonka not only said in the huddle, but what he said after the huddle broke while walking up to the line of scrimmage to get into formation before the "Miracle". Larry Csonka stated in the press the following day that while in the huddle; "he begged Pisarcik not to give him the ball" and also claims that, as he walked away from the huddle, he told Pisarcik "he would not take the ball if he went through with it". I said it in 1978 in the face of ridicule and laughter, and I'll say it again...Csonka clearly whiffs on the handoff from Pisarcik. Which, oh by the way, was confirmed in the Chicago Tribune, as well as the Chicago Sun-Times. But all I ever hear in response to what really happened at the Meadowlands is; "you mean to tell me an experienced veteran of 3 consecutive Super Bowls is going to refuse a handoff in the closing seconds to secure a victory for his team?...are you nuts?" Well, even if you believe there is not enough visual evidence to confirm Csonka whiffed on the handoff, he clearly stated otherwise in the press. Which means; what you're seeing and what NFL Films is trying to convince you of, isn't what really happened at all. The fact of the matter is; botched snap or not, Pisarcik still maintained the football long enough to make a clockwise motion after the "botched" snap and attempt to hand the football off to a running back who refused the ball not only in the huddle when the play was being called, but reaffirmed his stance concerning the play after the huddle broke. Those are the facts. ...hardly a "miracle".