Why is this word phrase used so much in football?

EARLY ON! ::)  ??Is it because all football announcers are unfamiliar with the word Early and Earlier?Why do we never hear the phrase "Early off"? Seems that would be the opposite?Is this some sort of made up sports phrase or word like trickeration?Like death and taxes it seems the phrase "Early on" is the most inevitable phrase used in football to describe something that occurred earlier in the game, career, today etc Perhaps it is very difficult to say the word earlier?  I am sure there are other phrases and words that remind us that Sports broadcasters are not the sharpest knives in the drawer.