If you were watching the end of the Ravens-Steelers game, you saw a scary moment as Willis McGahee lay on the turf motionless following a hit from the Steelers’ Ryan Clark. The hit itself was questionable, because Clark’s hit was helmet on helmet, but certainly not intentional. Both teams came out on the field in a moment that showed mutual respect for each other, and McGahee, as the running back waited for the cart to take him off the field.

Both teams were very classy and humble in the minutes following the hit, and Steelers’ fans were even picked up on CBS’ mics wishing him well as he left the stadium. Everyone handled the situation respectfully, except the person who was operating the sound system within the stadium. While most stadiums would have ceased all music during a scary injury, the Heinz Field operator decided to keep the music going. Via PFT….

Specifically, the selections were “Down On The Corner” by Creedence Clearwater Revival, and then “Smooth” by Santana featuring Rob Thomas.

Said the source: “There is a player on the field who may have suffered a life changing injury and the Steelers are playing party music. There are about five teams in the league that would engage in such horrific behavior. All others would cease all entertainment.

“‘Down on the corner’ . . . uh, there’s a man down on the field. About twenty-five to twenty-seven teams would cease all entertainment. Oh, now it’s a Santana song. This is beyond offensive. . . . Most teams would fire them on the spot. It’s disgusting.”

Just disgraceful if you ask me. You can watch the hit on Youtube if you missed it, but I recorded part of the injury where you can clearly hear CCR playing in the background….

I don’t think it was mocking the injury in any way, but you really have to have more couth/tact than that. When both teams are on the field looking on, you have to realize the seriousness of the situation and just hit mute. I’m sure the Steelers will address it.

Heinz Field Sound Crew Badly Mishandled McGahee Injury (Pro Football Talk)
Rob Thomas Has The Voice Of An Angel (HG Halftime Report)

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