"But this Sunday at 7 p.m., the crowd was only just arriving. Bar owner Colin "Coke" Laverty had to bring in four extra staffers as around 90 patrons piled in to watch local hero Charlie Smyth start his first regular-season NFL game. When the New Orleans Saints kicker scored, Laverty promised, everyone would get a free pint. He'd started to quietly plan the watch party on Friday night, before the team officially announced it,"
"but word "started to creep through" that Smyth would get his first start. "Everybody was afraid to say anything, because we didn't want to scupper Charlie's chances," Laverty told ESPN Sunday evening. Smyth's dad, Leo Smyth, thought his son wouldn't find out if he'd won the Saints starting job until Saturday, so when Charlie ca"
On a Sunday in Mayobridge, County Down, Laverty's Bar filled with about 90 patrons to watch local kicker Charlie Smyth start his first NFL regular-season game. Bar owner Colin "Coke" Laverty brought in four extra staffers and promised a free pint if the New Orleans Saints kicker scored. The watch party was planned quietly beginning Friday night before the team officially announced the start, as word began to spread that Smyth would get his first start. Patrons avoided discussing the possibility openly to avoid jeopardizing Smyth's chances. Leo Smyth expected his son not to learn about the job until Saturday.
Read at ESPN.com
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