If you’re a sports fan of any kind, the last thing in the world you want to hear associated with your team is the yips. It’s the same vibe that Voldemort had in Harry Potter — you just can’t say it. If you do, it’s never a good thing.
So Cowboys fans should probably be terrified at this point. Because, according to special teams coordinator John Fassel, Brett Maher has a case of the yips.
Maher missed four extra point attempts against the Buccaneers in Dallas’ opening playoff game. Luckily, the game wasn’t close at all so the points didn’t actually matter. But, it seems, Maher’s confidence was shot.
At least, that’s what Fassel makes it sound like in this latest report from ESPN’s Todd Archer. Here’s what the coach had to say about Maher.
“I believe in the hot hand, and I believe in the yips, absolutely,” Dallas special teams coordinator John Fassel said. “And you know, you wonder sometimes how you get into the yips, and you wonder sometimes how you get back into the hot hand. I think it’s keep stepping up to the line and shooting that thing. We missed a couple of free throws [Monday] … He had a hot hand. Let’s face it, he only missed [six] kicks all season. The yips happen, so I expect a hot hand coming up.”
Yikes, man. Absolutely none of that sounds good. It’s all the opposite of what you want to hear about the situation if you’re a Cowboys fan.
Here’s the thing about the yips — it doesn’t just…go away. It’s very rarely just a one-game thing. Often times, it can last years. It may never actually go away at all.
We’ve got plenty of evidence available showing us how this works. Remember when Markelle Fultz forgot how to shoot? Or how about when Nick Anderson forgot how to shoot free throws? Here’s Chuck Knoblauch throwing a ball into the stands because he just forgot how to throw to first base.
Poor Maher, he’s gone full Knoblauch. He’s got the yips. pic.twitter.com/7nM3xXb6Fp
— Kev Nivek (@kevnivek_) January 17, 2023
These problems persisted for years in each case. Maybe Maher gets luck and he’ll be able to make those kicks come Sunday. But if not? Whew, boy. Dallas might be in serious trouble.
