As Bills kicker Dan Carpenter lined up for a third quarter 50-yard field goal, he couldn’t help but notice a green dot dancing on the field. If you look close at the video, on the holder’s leg you can see the flickering light of a laser pointer. And as soon as the kick shanked off the upright, Carpenter went straight to the ref. You can even see the ref mouth the words, “No, I didn’t see it.” “We reported it, and NFL security did a good job, but he was really fired up,” Bills coach Doug Marrone said after the game. After knocking down the game-winning field goal, Carpenter cooled down. But his holder Colton Schmidt says the laser pointer was unlike anything he’s had to deal with. “It’s definitely not something you prepare for. It’s one thing, the refs are part of the game, and the fans are part of the game. But to get something else thrown into that mix is a lot tougher. Especially on the road, you know?” Schmidt said. Carpenter wasn’t the only victim. Bills quarterback Kyle Orton complained to the referees about the laser after he threw an incomplete pass across the middle. On the very next play, Orton hit receiver Marquise Goodwin down the sidelines to set up the tying touchdown. Laser pointers are banned at Ford Field, just like at Ralph Wilson Stadium. They not only interfere with the game, but are potentially dangerous. “It can cause permanent damage, no matter the power of the laser,” said Ophthamologist Dr. David Montesanti. You can’t tell just by looking at the beam, but certain laser pointers available online are more powerful and more dangerous — even with just a short exposure to the retina. Montesanti said even when the laser doesn’t cause damage, a shot to the eye creates a flashing sensation — certainly enough to distract a football player. “They get a dazzled, photobleaching effect and can’t see for a second or two. If you’re doing something that requires an accurate visual stimulus and lose that for a second or two, that could cause trouble. Either driving, operating heavy machinery, kicking field goals,” Montesanti said. The possible laser pointer issue did not cause the Bills to lose the game. The team beat the Lions at Ford Field, making the Bills 3-2. The Ralph Wilson era of Buffalo Bills ownership ended on Sunday. The final Bills game was played under the ownership of the Wilson family. As the Bills took on the Detroit Lions, memorabilia was the left at Ralph Wilson’s grave. Dedicated fans paid their respects to Wilson; thanking him for all that he’s done for Buffalo
Posted on: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 07:24:06 +0000
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