ESPN: Cardinals’ fake punt vs. Bucs among best trick plays of 2019
Jan 7, 2020, 11:39 AM
Arizona Cardinals punter Andy Lee looks over the gameplan ahead of the team’s Red and White Practice Saturday, August 3, 2019, at State Farm Stadium. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports)
(Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports)
The Arizona Cardinals pulled off a wild play in their November game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, earning recognition as one of the best trick plays of 2019.
In an ESPN article naming the best trick plays of the 2019 NFL regular season, the Cardinals’ fake punt flea flicker pass completion by Andy Lee to Pharoh Cooper was among those listed (the article stated that the trick plays were placed in no particular order).
With 8:39 to go in the fourth quarter, punter Andy Lee was on the field with the ball at the Cardinals’ 36-yard line. The snap went to Zeke Turner, then Trent Sherfield, before eventually being pitched to Lee for a pass to Cooper. Cooper hauled in the ball at around the Tampa Bay 40-yard line.
Arizona wound up scoring a touchdown on that possession.
#Cardinals use a flea-flicker on a FAKE PUNT! Only Kliff Kingsbury.pic.twitter.com/TPrqjMEBJv
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 10, 2019
From ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss in the article:
When the play was initially introduced during meetings, special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers said “Andy” would throw the pass. Cooper was confused. “I said, Andy Isabella?” Cooper said. No, Rodgers said, it was Andy Lee. “OK, OK, OK, it might work now,” Cooper said.
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Lee, a 37-year-old veteran, has made one pass attempt before, back in 2014 with the 49ers. It was incomplete.
The Cardinals also pulled off another fake punt in the 2019 season, back on Dec. 8 against the Steelers. Chase Edmonds took the snap directly and ran it for a first down.
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