Wednesday, December 01, 1999
Basnight's blooper not a blemish
Face-first fall funny, but RB made plays, too
BY TOM GROESCHEN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
John Elway authored The Drive. Now there is The Dive, another instant NFL Films classic starring the Bengals' Michael Basnight.
By now, the rookie running back figures the whole country has seen his face-first fall-down folly via TV highlights. Basnight is laughing right along, since his gaffe proved harmless in Sunday's 27-20 win at Pittsburgh.
“I hope Chris Berman didn't kill me too bad on ESPN,” a grinning Basnight said. “The guys were saying I might win one of those ESPYs.”
What happened was something all agreed they had never seen in football. That includes Bengals President Mike Brown, coach Bruce Coslet and veteran Pittsburgh writer Ed Bouchette, who said on a postgame TV show, “That was the funniest thing I've ever seen.”
It was the third play of the fourth quarter, with the Bengals leading 27-20. On third-and-11 at the Steelers 41-yard line, Basnight — standing motionless in the backfield — saw a Steelers safety creeping up to blitz.
What happened next is Football Follies history.
Basnight, who could not hear quarterback Jeff Blake's snap count, suddenly pitched forward as if he had fainted. He had tried to hold his balance, but gravity took over.
He was doomed.
Basnight dropped like a rock, perhaps hoping the AstroTurf would swallow him up. His head and upper body banged hard onto the green field, as he made no attempt to brace his fall.
“I thought I busted my facemask,” he said.
All he cracked were the funnybones of about 50,000 fans at Three Rivers Stadium, thousands more watching on TV and millions who watched the highlight shows Sunday night.
“The guys thought I went to sleep,” Basnight said.
For his efforts, Basnight was flagged for a false start. On the next play, he caught a 13-yard pass.
The Dive was hilarious, but few may remember Basnight was also a key producer in the game.
His only carry, a 35-yard run, was the big play in a field-goal drive that gave the Bengals their final points in the 27-20 outcome. Basnight also caught a 9-yard pass that kept the same drive going.
“We're pleased with him,” Brown said. “He has come out of nowhere to be a promising player for us.”
Nowhere would be North Carolina A&T, from which Basnight emerged last spring as an undrafted free agent.
He made the Bengals' practice squad out of training camp, then was elevated to the main roster when Ki-Jana Carter was placed on injured reserve Sept.29.
Basnight, 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, is under no illusions about his role with the Bengals. With Carter out, he is Corey Dillon's backup. And one reason he got a few chances Sunday is that Dillon missed some plays with a bloody nose.
For the year, Basnight has rushed for 137 yards (a 4.6 average) and caught nine passes for 101 yards. He gives the Bengals a change-of-pace back for Dillon and has broken runs of 23 and 35 yards.
“I'm here totally to aid Corey, who I think is the best running back in the NFL,” Basnight said. “It's like playing with (Michael) Jordan. It's great to play with the best.”
Dillon, sitting nearby, heard that.
“Don't say that!” Dillon said. “I may have to sign you as my agent.”
Basnight was serious. And he's seriously committed to staying as Dillon's No.2, although the Bengals probably will draft a running back high, with Dillon expected to be a contract holdout and Carter's status uncertain.
“That's fine,” Basnight said. “You start at the bottom as an undrafted free agent. You have to work your way up.”
Coslet praised Basnight for working hard and for his “fearless” running style. He also welcomed the comic relief of Basnight's Big Sleep, which brought needed levity to a 2-10 season.
“We'll watch that for the next 15 years on the blooper films,” Coslet said.
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