Say this for Tony Romo: he never put Jim Nantz in harm’s way.
Nantz and new CBS broadcasting partner J.J. Watt were on the call for the Buffalo Bills-Las Vegas Raiders game. During the game, the two dedicated a segment in the booth to discussing the “Peanut Punch,” a move popularized by Charles “Peanut” Tillman to force a fumble by punching the ball out of the carrier’s hands. Since Tillman forced the most fumbles as a defensive back in NFL history, it caught on and earned an explainer from Watt, a former NFL defender.
As part of that demonstration, Watt was showing Nantz how ball carriers are adapting to the move by holding the wrist of the ball-carrying hand for extra support. To show how effective that technique was at stopping the “Peanut Punch,” he asked the 67-year-old Nantz to punch the ball as hard as he could.
“I’ve actually talked to some guys around the league that they do a wrist-lock,” said Watt. “So now, you lock everything in, Jim, go ahead, give that a good punch.”
“Really?” asked Nantz.
“Hard as you’ve got, brother,” Watt replied as Nantz stood up.
“You’re serious?” asked Nantz.
“I’m serious,” Watt replied.
With that, Nantz wound up and let loose a punch that would have shaken the halls of Valhalla (presumably).
Almost immediately, they both knew that had probably been a terrible idea.
“I did not think you were gonna go that hard,” said Watt as Nantz sat back down, clutching his wrist.
“Okay,” Nantz replied, staring into the middle distance, wondering what’s become of his life and whether he could lift his grandchildren anymore (presumably).
Watt, meanwhile, couldn’t stop laughing that a 67-year-old had just punched him as hard as he could.
“That was so much harder than I thought you were gonna go,” added Watt. “But the ball stayed!”
“Yeah, it did,” added Nantz. “My wrist is broken,” he added, hopefully jokingly.
“Better get Jim some ice,” said Watt as they went to commercial.
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