Sports

Neil deGrasse Tyson confirms Russell Wilson's lateral was legal

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, right, shovels the ball on the run as Philadelphia Eagles' Nigel Bradham moves in during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

RENTON, Wash. — On his weekly radio appearance with KIRO radio’s Brock and Salk Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll addressed the controversy surrounding Russell Wilson's lateral to running back Mike Davis during the fourth quarter of Sunday's win against the Philadelphia Eagles.

At their own 42-yard-line with 10:06 remaining in the fourth quarter Russell Wilson attempted to run for a first down before lateraling the ball to Mike Davis, who took the ball an additional 17 yards for a first down.

Here's video of the play with the radio call from KIRO 7's Steve Raible:

After the game Eagles head coach Doug Pederson was asked why he didn't challenge the play to see if the lateral was actually an illegal forward pass:

“It looked like guys running really fast and he pitches the ball backwards, just like he’s supposed to do, and the speed of the ball that was traveling with the ball carrier at the time was passed along to the football,’’ Carroll said Monday of the controversial play.

Carroll also explained that he called Neil deGrasse Tyson with the hope that the famed astrophysicist could describe the physics involved in the play, and end the controversy once and for all.

On Tuesday, Tyson confirmed the lateral was legal, and was "a legit Galilean Transformation":

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“I just want to see what Dr. Neil has to say about that try to help you guys out,’’ Carroll said monday.

Tyson has an ongoing relationship with the Seahawks after he visited the team at the VMAC in the fall of 2016.

“...he (Tyson) really likes football. So I felt like that’s enough of an open ticket to go ahead and give him a call on something like that. He’s kind of like the national resident guru on stuff like this. So I’m really hoping and counting on him responding before long so we can put it out there,’’ Carroll said Monday afternoon.

The (8-4) Seahawks currently are second in the NFC West, and next play the (8-4) Jacksonville Jaguars at 1:25 p.m. Sunday.