Bob Holtzman of ESPN reports that the Steelers will employ against the Ravens a trick play.
“Two Steelers have told me, if they catch the Ravens in the right defense, they have a trick play ready to go today that they’ve never run before.”
Holtzman said the play involves a pass thrown by someone who ordinarily doesn’t thrown the ball, and that receiver Antwaan Randle El will be involved in some way other than throwing the ball.
The Steelers players who told Holtzman about the play presumably are excited about the surprise. They likely aren’t excited that the surprise was disclosed to the world and, more importantly, to the Ravens.
As one league source told us, unsolicited, regarding the report, “What a moron. Steelers will be pissed. How the f--k do you do that?”
Though plenty of players and coaches and execs will give information to the media with the understanding that it can be used as long as their names aren’t attached to it, we’ve got a funny feeling that this specific tidbit fell into the category of production-meeting-type stuff that would not be mentioned before the play was actually employed.
In other words, ESPN probably would be wise to send someone other than Holtzman to the next Steelers game. And the next one. And the rest of them.