The CRAZIEST Playoff Controversy in Philadelphia Eagles History (Documentary)

A kicker deliberately disobeying the orders of his head coach. A kicker trying to win the game on his own and going completely rogue. A kicker costing his team the season and their playoff chances in the strangest way possible. This is the story of the 1979 divisional round game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the controversy and drama that arose out of it between head coach Dick Vermeil and kicker Tony Franklin
0:00 Intro
5:32 Part I: A Cocky Kicker…
19:05 Part II: …With a Solid Plan…
33:45 Part III: …That Fails Miserably
Video Mentioned:
1979 Eagles/Steelers: • The BLOWN CALL that EN...
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#nfl #nflplayoffs #eagles #philadelphiaeagles #philadelphia #documentary #football #sports #highlights #nflfootball #nflhighlights #tampabaybuccaneers #buccaneers #1979 #bucs

[@kevinramsey417]

Tony Franklin. Million dollar leg, ten cent head.

[@veritasinvicta8128]

That was the year the Giants handed the Eagles a game because of The Fumble. To be fair to the Giants there was no victory formation at the time. That game (Miracle at the Meadowlands) began the trend (That still stands) of victory formation.

[@The_Chewmiester]

Well done JG9. I fully enjoyed this, and I appreciate this longer format. 👌

[@mrmoose6619]

Another great long form video about a subject I never heard about other than the final score... great detail.

[@denisceballos9745]

To me, this video was more about Dick Vermeil as a coach, how he handled the situation with his talented kicker. Vermeil was an excellent coach and teacher. Good vid, JG. 👍🏼

[@josephnofil3780]

I was in middle school when Tony Franklin started. The thing I remember is that all my friends now thought that kicking barefoot was a better idea than wearing a shoe. I'm sure he inspired a few busted toes back then.

[@OfficialJaguarGator9]

The funny part is that I actually kick barefoot too, partly because of Franklin. I have more success from an accuracy standpoint doing it that way

[@Rockhound6165]

I used to punt with just a sock on. And don't forget the Eagles had another barefoot kicker in Paul McFadden. I watched he and Eric Schubert put on a kicking clinic in 1986. The game ended in a 10-10 tie and still stands at the worst game I ever saw live.

[@andrewpadaetz5549]

@@Rockhound6165I think JG9 had a video about McFadden missing an XP that cost Philly a game against the Dolphins (I mainly remember that video because the Fins were still playing at the Orange Bowl at that time).

[@anthony0358]

This Eagles v Falcons game in 1978 was the first ever Wildcard playoff game. I remember those Eagles teams in 1979 and 1980. We had no sports talk in NYC and I was listening to WCAU radio in Philadelphia. Tony Franklin was an outstanding young kicker in that era.. Excellent video! I remember seeing this game but I did not remember the onsides kick. I was surprised Tampa Bay on the game , thought the Eagles would beat them.

[@JahNuhThunDeeTheOneAndOnly]

*Fun fact:* The Buccaneers are 4-2 against the Eagles in the playoffs all time

[@BrockBoone]

Yeah

[@philiphied]

Shut up yo.

[@hggfhh4449]

The Eagles are not good against the buccaneers in the playoffs .

[@BrockBoone]

@@hggfhh4449 true

[@BrockBoone]

1979 nfc divisional: 2002 NFC championship: 2023 wildcard: 2021 wildcard:

[@WVUer21]

Philadelphians having an inflated sense of self-esteem? Fetch me the fainting couch!

[@thomasfoster3094]

This is kinda of unfair. Michel was the punter at the time. Nick Mike-Mayer got hurt in week 15, leaving Michel as the kicker, because Leonard Tose was too busy losing money at Bally's Atlantic City to afford getting another kicker.

[@TheAlfrulz]

I always wondered if money was a factor in the Eagles staying with the punter. Tose was always on the brink of bankruptcy and shuffling loans from one bank to the next. I know Vermeil inherited a team low on expenses and was briefly held by a Pennsylvania bank in the late seventies. But at the same time there was an article in Sports Illustrated in the fall of 1978 that talked about the nomadic life of kickers. It specifically mentioned that the Eagles had shuffled through about half a dozen kickers during the regular season. So they were spending money bringing street free agents in for at least a tryout. Even when Secret Base did a deep profile on this playoff game, they admitted they could not find any official reason why this overwhelmed punter was left to do double duty.

[@anthonyrivera4735]

This was the Buccaneers first playoff win in history, also the Buccaneers tend to own the Eaglols in the playoffs.

[@veritasinvicta8128]

Yeah, seems like they play about every 20 years or so. 1979, 2002, 2023. Perhaps I missed one.

[@kendall4245]

​@@veritasinvicta81282021

[@michaelsamuel9841]

Ronde barber 🦾

[@Rockhound6165]

This was 1978. The Bucs didn't make the playoffs until 1979.

[@TheMapcrow]

FYI - His last name is pronounced Michelle just like the girl's name. Ironically you should do a story on the Falcons kicker in that game. Tim Mazzetti. He was a bartender in Philadelphia at a bar named Smokey Joe's near the University of Penn campus and he had an incredible season for Atlanta and kicked the winning point in that playoff game. Mazzetti made it through the Eagles entire training camp that summer of 1978, but was released in the last cut when head coach Dick Vermeil decided to go with his veteran, Nick Mike-Mayer. Another great move by the Eagles. Mazzetti had a cinderella season that first year with Atlanta, making 13 of 16 FGs, including a team record 11 in a row, as well as kicking 4 game-winning FGs. In a memorable Monday-night game against the division leading Los Angeles Rams on October 30, 1978, Tim Mazzetti went 5-for-5 and the Falcons won 15-7. It was almost like a Rocky like story for Mazzetti.

[@worldgovernor2080]

That's good stuff! I love those kind of insights. Thanks for that

[@richardgazinia5482]

I sometimes wonder when Gator does his research why doesn't he listen to what the announcers call the players. This game is widely available on KZbin and they pronounce Michelles' last name properly. The announcers meet with the teams and go over the proper pronunciations of each player a few times. Everything in your comment is spot on and pretty much how I remember it. My father cussed Michelle and was heartbroken by the Atlanta loss.

[@OfficialJaguarGator9]

Thanks! The announcers from this broadcast pronounced it muh-kell, so that’s what I went with here

[@andrewpadaetz5549]

Secret Base did a deep dive into the Falcons-Eagles game as part of the Falcons history series and the gesture by Falcons LB Greg Brezina following Michel's missed FG in the final seconds (seen at 1:45). I checked FB Ref to see if they had any pronunciation like they often do on BB Ref but no dice. Jon Bois also pronounced it like Michelle in the Secret Base video.

[@nautgamingnautgaming9949]

​@@OfficialJaguarGator9I can relate to this story because my team the packers NEED a kicker drastically Our kicker averages OVER 1 missed kick a week

[@rngfootball759]

I think the best kicker Dick Vermeil ever coached was Jeff Wilkins. I think he was the kicker during the "Greatest show of Turf" days

[@fortynights1513]

The synth in part 1 is great. Good video!

[@blindjustice8718]

You are looking at historic football through a modern lens. The "Miracle at the Meadowlands" is *why* we have victory formation. Until then, *every* team just handed off to a RB who smashed into the line. Also, there were 3 divisions of 4 teams except after the Seahawks and Bucs joined, one division in each conference had 5. The playoffs were 6 teams from each conference: the first and second team from each division -- regardless of record. There were times when a 9-7 team was in the playoffs and a 10-6 team was not (rare, but it happened). So, by record, you are right they had no business being there. By rule, that's just how it was.

[@Thunder103093]

Yeah in surprised he doesn’t know the victory formation wasnt really a thing before that play

[@TheAlfrulz]

There was an evolution leading to the kneel down. By 1978, a common practice was for the QB to take the snap, fall to the ground, and wait to get touched by the defense for a "tackle". In that game, Pisarcik fell to the ground earlier, but the eagles were particularly aggressive in going after the QB on the "tackle", and a brief skirmish arose. The Giants decided to run the ball on the last two plays to protect the QB. Look for NFL Films "100 Greatest Touchdowns" and TD #10. Giants HC John McVay explains why they ran the ball. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKmZZ3xtq8anfrs&si=tc8xY9XCXBxhdXZs

[@jaywmeinen]

I remember that game. Going against your coach was absolutely stupid.

[@rushbroussard5399]

FULTON COUNTY STADIUM WAS THE ORIGINAL HOME OF THE ATLANTA FALCONS AND THE ATLANTA BRAVES THE LAST PEACHBOWL GAME PLAYED AT FULTON COUNTY STADIUM WAS IN 1992

[@bradenculver7457]

Thank you rush very cool

[@CTubeMan]

Might not have time to watch this until Friday. Can’t wait though!

[@martinneumann9345]

What I want to know is why was Curt Gowdy announcing this game seeing it would have been on CBS and he was the top NBC/AFC announcer?

[@arizonawrestlinginterviews1040]

Because NBC was grooming Dick Enberg for the top spot, so they traded Gowdy to CBS for Don Criqui.

[@Bruce12867]

Gowdy got "traded" to CBS for Don Criqui. NBC apparently thought Gowdy's better days were behind him.

[@andyeaston8640]

I see Chuck Bednarik on the sidelines

[@ShrexyGuy]

I cannot tell you how many times ive forgot and relearned Vermeil was the Eagles HC 😂

[@briannearey8902]

I honestly can't imagine a guy who loved his players like family who cries on cue actually called a player an idiot 😂 that's how egregious this was

[@AnimalClans]

I recognize the music as a sped up and picked up version of your regular background "ethereal spa" music.

[@randytracy1742]

When I saw the video and noticed the names of the teams involved, had to smile-was that planned after the eagles 🦅 lost to the buccaneers 🏴‍☠️ in the wa wild card game last Monday night? Anyway, I agree that Tony Franklin disobeyed his coach’s orders and did the onside kick 🦵 his own way-and he learned not to do that again and went on to have a successful career in the NFL! 😮😮😮😊

[@kellyinfanger9192]

I would have really enjoyed this a lot more if it was edited down to 20 minutes.

[@blindjustice8718]

He does repeat himself. A lot.

[@johnwhite5485]

An executive summary would be nice

[@Rockhound6165]

Because of this the Eagles drafted barefoot kicker Tony Franklin out of Texas A&M in the 3rd round. He helped the Eagles win the NFC Championship for the 1980 season as well as the Patriots win the AFC title game in 1985.

[@r.williamcomm7693]

According to Wiki Tony Franklin led the NFL in scoring in 1986 when he was on the Patriots.

[@farmasyst]

At 2:43...that chart shows Anders Carloson's success rate on PAT's for the PAckers this year.

[@BrockBoone]

WOW I thought it was great idea for the eagles to lose them games

[@BrockBoone]

This the worst kicking team ever

[@scottyleitch3214]

OJG9 - appreciate and enjoy your content! do you time stretch your narration thou? it feels lagging, strange, and digitally altered at times. it can be distracting. keep up the good work thou!

[@DavidLimofLimReport]

Jameis Winston should watch this video.

[@Subbuteohobby]

You should remember that in 1979 spiking the ball to the ground to stop the clock was illegal.

[@phillylifer]

I love this oldy footage from when i was kid. Jaws tilting head to the side like he did brought me back.

[@briannearey8902]

Didn't they get postseason bonus pay though? That probably cancelled it out if it existed

[@Jason_Maier]

1. Wasn't there a video you did about how bad of a kicker Nick Mike-Mayer was (or maybe his brother Steve)? 2. For those curious, the hashmarks in college football used to be 53'4" apart (which is the current distance in high school football; except for Texas) until being moved to the current 40' apart in 1993. And the goalposts in college football used to be 23'4" in width (again, same as high school football; except for Texas) until 1992. 3. As far as barefoot kickers go, I give the edge to Tony Franklin over Rich Karlis. The latter had a slight advantage playing many of his games in Denver.

[@thomaswood8167]

Tony Franklin's only good year for the Eagles was his first. Every other season for them his average FG % was low 60s. It wasn't until he got to New England that he had his best three year stretch.

[@CTubeMan]

This reminds me of the time Reggie Jackson bunted against the Royals in 1978.

[@stevenbauer4799]

Dickie v. the crying coach. Coined coaching 'burn-out'. And tose was a gambling addict who gambled away his fortune. Tose also tried to swindle eagles out of philly and move them to phx. mid '80's. Very untrustworthy owner.

[@marcus813]

This happened 1.5 years before I was born, so even as a longtime Buccaneers fan, I didn't know about Franklin going rogue in this game. Vermeil was right to give him the business about doing his own thing like that. I'm too young to remember him as an Eagle, but I remember him as a Patriot, though. He was a hell of a kicker and because he was way better than Nick Mike-Mayer, Vermeil needed Franklin badly so the Eagles didn't have to go through what they went through in '78.

[@AutismSingsHD]

Those Bears the Eagles beat are the same Bears who made the playoffs by way of having a better point differential than the Redskins.

[@OfficialJaguarGator9]

Yep! Did a video on that crazy tiebreaker a while ago: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nIfaeWNseKuFgJYsi=gfuJQdOg6nDux5VP

[@AutismSingsHD]

@@OfficialJaguarGator9 It's one of my all-time favorites. So much so, it's one of those videos I often binge-watch on repeat.

[@bospats1]

There was no victory formation in 1979

[@barbaracaroll]

It's always fun when the Eagles lose playoff games

[@TrggrWarning]

You missed that the Eagles went to the Super Bowl in 1980.

[@nicholass7563]

I think the point he was showin was if they had adequate kickers they possibly could have gone to the superbowl 3 str8 years. Or even the title game.

[@TrggrWarning]

@@nicholass7563 True, kinda, (that makes more sense actually lol) if it were about the three, or about that climb to the Super Bowl, he didn’t mention that 80 Super Bowl. That season omits post season and becomes the kicker story by mentioning the fines he got. Learning a hard lesson, reinforced weekly, but he had a good career and eventually made it to the Super Bowl with the Patriots (ignoring 80) as happy ending. Nothing about Vermeil later success either. Instead of discussing intent, Id rather tell you that it is important to notice when you fill in the gaps of a story, (like you did). Because doing it correctly is difficult (like you did) in an interesting way, (like you did) is rare. These are characteristics of being a natural story teller. Whatever happened in this videos storyline, we can both see he intended well & let it go. There is another aspect to this, basically seeing the components of what is missing without placing them in the story. You can find more around here, in articles, on MSM, political speeches etc. There are LOTS of omissions. Like this guy, you can give the omitter benefit of the doubt, but start to consider intention of omission. Ultimately, notice what is missing keep it out to reflect against the story, consider its value as omission and let em add up on their own. Hope that makes sense. Thanks for the reply!

[@igorslocks]

#BringBackBarefootKickers 🐕🏈

[@andrewpadaetz5549]

did you REALLY have to bring up the "Fumble" (Giants fans do NOT call it a miracle for obvious reasons)? While Herman Edwards "played to win the game" on that play, the Giants sure didn't...and maybe if the Giants win that game, they, not the Eagles, are playing the Falcons that day rather than finish 6-10 after a 5-3 start.

[@andrewpadaetz5549]

PS a little weird hearing Curt Gowdy on the PBP as he was more known for his work on NBC and the AFL/AFC.

[@andrewpadaetz5549]

PPS as some others may have pointed out, the kneel down rule wasn't in effect in 1978 (reverse the last 2 digits for when that rule came into effect). QBs usually fell on the ball with his RBs protecting him.

[@rustykuntz94]

Move over Sebastion Janikowski you got company

[@theexpresidents]

As a narrator you're a 4/10. Get another narrator.

[@worldgovernor2080]

He is an awesome narrator!

[@RetroYuuki]

JG9 is a very good narrator. 10/10

[@xThanosKid]

Wrong opinion

[@justinzinn7109]

This guy cannnot say "Super Bowl". it comes out like "srrble" every time. oof

[@blindjustice8718]

Only issue I have is the constant repetition.

[@igorslocks]

#BringBackBarefootKickers 🐕🏈