When Singletary elected to kick a field goal midway through the third quarter, passing up a fourth-and-1 situation, it appeared as if he did it against Martz's wishes. Singletary and Martz appeared to have some words for each other. (One person with the organization said Singletary and Martz both upset with the spot on that third-down run and whether they might want to throw the challenge flag.)
Then, many thought Singletary hung Martz out to dry for that final-play call of a Michael Robinson fullback dive with his post-game comments.
Today, I asked Singletary about his relationship with Martz.
"I'm going to be very honest with you," Singletary said. "It is amazing, I guess they can read lips or something like that. I don't know what they saw. The only thing I said to Mike Martz . . . well, I said a few things. But it was never an issue about a call. There was only one time I said, 'Mike.' He said, 'I know it. We're going to run. We're going to run.' That was it. He knew it. He read my mind. But that's it."
That play, I'm told, was after the first Cardinals interception return for a TD was nullified by a penalty. Singletary wanted a run play on the next play. That play didn't work, either, as Shaun Hill fumbled the ball when pulling guard David Baas bumped into him.
"I'm very, very thankful to be working with Mike Martz and I have a great relationship with him," Singletary said. "And I don't want to make it seem like we're best of friends. It's a professional relationship. But even so, I've had the opportunity to sit down with him many nights and just talk. Just talk about our guys; talk about where we are; talk about the possibilities; kind of dream together. We we've got a great relationship, as well as Greg (Manusky)."
Q: After the game, people started dissecting your words when you talked about 'That was Coach Martz's call' on the final play. How should your words be interpreted?
Singletary: In all honesty, it's amazing to me how people . . . I don't know if there is a dialect or a particular language that's out there where you can say something and not have people interpret it a different way."
* * *
This note comes courtesy of ESPN's Kim Jessup:
The 49ers' game Monday night against the Cardinals earned a 8.9 rating, representing 8,683,000 homes (11,870,000 P2+), making ESPN the No. 1 network for the night (broadcast or cable) among all key male and adult demos.
The game ranks as the fourth highest-rated MNF game this season and the sixth most-viewed household cable audience of 2008.
All 10 weeks, ESPN has won the night among Adults 18-49 and in the key male demos among all networks, broadcast or cable. For the NFL season to date, ESPN's Monday Night Football is averaging a 9.1 rating and 8,914,000 households (12,345,000 P2+), up 7 percent, 9 percent and 13 percent, respectively, from last season through 11 games (8.5; 8,184,000; 10,970,000). For 2008, the 11 MNF telecasts represent eight of cable's 10 biggest audiences of the year. ESPN.com is averaging 76.2 million page views each week, up 39 percent from 2007.
Mike's "real" debut turned out to be perfect timing for ESPN. Big kudos again for the effort our guys put out. I pray this isn't a 1 time deal.
With those ratings can they please get some better commentators?? Jaws is AWESOME & the only one who's entertaining with any football insight/knowledge. Kornheiser's HORRIBLE, he's way out of place. Turico's not bad. If they could hit another homerun replacing Kornheiser they would be SO much better.
Mike, I couldn't agree with you more. When Kornheiser talks, I cringe every time. He's worse than useless. He's an actual negative draw on the broadcast. It would be just fine with Jaworski (who is excellent) and Turico (who is not great, but adequate). Kornheiser almost makes MNF unwatchable. I have to constantly turn down the volume when he speaks.
Ditto on Kornheiser. He should stick to writing--his columns are pretty good. When he's on the air, I find myself wishing Howard Kosell were still around. At least in between the gibberish he occasionally said something that needed saying. Kornheiser is just a total loss.
Also--Matt: when you get time, it would be interesting to know how much Rachal and other non-receiver rookies played, and how they performed. Too much excitement for me to keep track. Thanks.
Kornheiser is terrible in that booth.
glad that m-martz owned up to the time management fiasco. perhaps we can let the issue go now. 'sing' has added a needed spark to the team and even in defeat i believe that the energy level will continue for the remainder of the season. v.d. will be the first to grow from having 'sing' as his coach, i wouldn't be surprised to see his play elevate and his maturity become a source of leadership rather then a liability. i will never forget what 'sprewell' did to his coach when asked to leave the court during a practice. v.d. was asked to leave the field during a nationally covered game. i give him huge respect for leaving without making a scene. the fact the him and 'sing' could enjoy the t.d. catch speaks volumes to the kind of respect 'sing' is able to receive from players even after they are chastised in the public eye.
Interesting to see that Singletary is Martz thankful but is the converse true as well and would Martz state the opposite on record? Does he feel passed over? He obviously has to curtail his offensive tendencies and his golden boy has been demoted. Is this a Singletary vote of non-confidence to the Martz philosopy?