In many ways the NFL has its own language -- relatively new phrases like "red zone" to describe plays inside the 20-yard line. There are, however, some throwbacks that only mean something to folks of a certain age.
In Jets camp last week, HC Robert Saleh's reference to structures for communication that once occupied space on street corners throughout the U.S. elicited a novel question after he offered insight on wide receivers.
"It's different because in this [offensive] system, we are much tighter and we're more in a phone booth as wide receivers," Saleh said. "It's not just playing out in space and having easy releases and having wiggle room. There's a lot more fighting for leverage. ... Your lower half comes into play a heck of a lot more, especially when you're in a phone booth."
Next question: "Do the players ever ask what a phone booth is?"
Saleh's response, with a chuckle: "They don't. I hope they do [know what it is]."
Not only wide receivers get to see how many big men can fit in a phone booth, the description also applies to quarterbacks who find themselves in a shrinking pocket.
In these days of cellphones (and no dial tones), perhaps the only place that players ever will see a phone booth is in an "old" movie or on a trip to London. And what about a rotary dial? Don't ask.
In Jets camp last week, HC Robert Saleh's reference to structures for communication that once occupied space on street corners throughout the U.S. elicited a novel question after he offered insight on wide receivers.
"It's different because in this [offensive] system, we are much tighter and we're more in a phone booth as wide receivers," Saleh said. "It's not just playing out in space and having easy releases and having wiggle room. There's a lot more fighting for leverage. ... Your lower half comes into play a heck of a lot more, especially when you're in a phone booth."
Next question: "Do the players ever ask what a phone booth is?"
Saleh's response, with a chuckle: "They don't. I hope they do [know what it is]."
Not only wide receivers get to see how many big men can fit in a phone booth, the description also applies to quarterbacks who find themselves in a shrinking pocket.
In these days of cellphones (and no dial tones), perhaps the only place that players ever will see a phone booth is in an "old" movie or on a trip to London. And what about a rotary dial? Don't ask.
