The Cleveland Browns quarterback depth chart has enough to deal with. The last thing it needs influencing things is the dreaded announcer jinx.
Rookie Dillon Gabriel was the victim on Saturday to start the second quarter of a preseason game against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Gabriel had been putting together a solid performance, leading Cleveland on a scoring drive to start the game while going 4-of-4 for 29 yards. He finished the first quarter 8-of-9 for 73 yards and a 100.5 rating.
On his first play of the second half, however, Gabriel scrambled out of the pocket and fired a ball into the waiting hands of Eagles rookie Andrew Mukuba, who returned it 75 yards for the touchdown.
While some on social media noted that the pick-six was not less Gabriel’s fault than the receivers, we know better based on what Eagles play-by-play announcer Scott Graham said right before the interception.
“Gabriel has been very good so far,” said Graham, “And this one is picked off and going back the other way! Now it’s a footrace and that is that. Welcome to the Philadelphia Eagles, Andrew Mukuba!”
To Gabriel’s credit, he led the Browns on a two-minute drive to get a field goal right before halftime, cutting Philadelphia’s lead to 13-12. Basically, he’s had a really solid day except for the time he was jinxed into oblivion.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.