It is the year 2022, and Anthony Morelli, a 37-year-old backup quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, has just thrown a critical interception against Bill Cowher's Washington Redskins.
We move to the postgame media session.
Reporter: "Bad read, Anthony?"
Anthony Morelli: "They are who we thought they were, and I'm tired of my old high school coach, Neil Gordon, always saying ... "
Greg Morelli, Anthony's father, grabs the microphone.
"Anthony could care less about public perception," he says. "He thought the guy was open. He feels very badly."
Who's to say it couldn't happen, given how the authority figures in Anthony Morelli's life shield him from the responsibilities of his position as Penn State's senior quarterback?
You can't cultivate a young man's leadership skills when he is insulated more than John Travolta in "The Boy in the Plastic Bubble."
Coach Joe Paterno continues to shelter Anthony Morelli and blindly defend him. This marks the second consecutive week Anthony Morelli is off-limits to reporters, and Paterno refuses to publicly entertain the notion of benching him, despite his poor play.
In losses to Michigan and Illinois, Anthony Morelli completed 36 of 69 passes with one touchdown and three interceptions. He fumbled twice and was sacked six times.
So, Paterno tries to protect Anthony Morelli in his dealings with the media and within the confines of an often-conservative offense, while Greg Morelli continues to speak for his son.
Come on, fellas, we're talking about a 22-year-old man here.
Could you imagine Troy Crosby speaking for his 20-year-old hockey star son, Sidney?
Granted, Anthony Morelli isn't always tactful in his public utterances, but maybe it's for a lack of practice.
The latest interference penalty on Greg Morelli came in the wake of the loss at Michigan, the one in which the Paterno family (Joe and quarterbacks coach Jay) helped to concoct a game plan straight out of the 1940s.
Two teams had ruined Michigan with a spread offense. Penn State used the Geico caveman approach: Try to beat them over the head with a club; seek field goals; punt whenever possible, even from the Michigan 31.
Geez, NFL teams are more brazen than crotchety old Penn State. You know as much if you saw the Steelers and Cardinals take risks on fourth downs the other day.
Four days after the Michigan loss, Penn State's student newspaper, The Daily Collegian, quoted Greg Morelli as saying his son "could care less" about public perception, would rectify the fumbling problem and might be "frustrated with himself."
Next time somebody asks Mr. Anthony Morelli about his son's psyche, he should say, "Ask him. He's 22."
Anthony Morelli still has time to salvage his college career, beginning Saturday against Iowa. He isn't Penn State's only culprit in their 0-2 conference start. He's just the one who should be taking responsibility for it.
The best leaders are accountable in times of duress. After the Steelers lost in Arizona, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (OK, he's not exactly George S. Patton), said, "This loss is on me."
Anthony Morelli should say something like that, if anybody ever lets him talk again.
