Folded over, firing spirals through their legs, they’re as overlooked as they are essential. Inside the evolution, politics and economics of football’s specialest specialists.
Early in the fourth quarter of their season opener, the Bengals found themselves confronted by a distinct football catastrophe. The play that caused it was fairly unremarkable, so much so that the CBS broadcast didn’t note the impact until about an hour later. But the consequences would cost Cincinnati dearly, shaping the early course of its AFC title defense.
The nightmare began to unfold as Bengals punter Kevin Huber kicked away to Pittsburgh’s Gunner Olszewski, who shrugged aside the flailing tackle attempt of Clark Harris and bounced outside.