Cleveland Browns get ROBBED by refs!!

Cleveland Browns.com ^ | Zac Jackson

[Rockinfreakapotamus]

Crushed Browns Drop Bizarre 15-10 Decision

By Zac Jackson
This report filed December 16, 2001

The Browns and Jaguars played 41 minutes of rather dull football Sunday at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Then, things got interesting. And exciting. And bizarre.

The final result was a 15-10 Jacksonville victory in a game that postponed with 48 seconds left for security reasons as fans littered the field with debris following a controversial replay overturn of a fourth down reception by Browns WR Quincy Morgan.

"It makes me sick," Browns Head Coach Butch Davis said.

The teams left the field for approximately 20 minutes and most fans left the stadium. Davis and 11 Browns players then returned to the field to finish the game. Eleven Jaguar players followed-out the Browns’ tunnel, not their own.

Jacksonville QB Mark Brunell took a knee twice and the game officially ended. Security escorted both teams and the officials off the field.

Here’s how it went down:

The Browns, trailing by five, found themselves facing a fourth down and two at the Jacksonville 12. QB Tim Couch pump-faked, sidestepped a pass rusher and completed a pass to Morgan over the middle for a first down at the 9-yard line at 1:08.

Cleveland hustled to the line of scrimmage and Couch spiked the ball to kill the clock with 48 seconds to go.

But before the Browns could run their second down play, referee Terry McAulay announced that the replay officials had buzzed to request a review of Morgan’s reception.

"I caught the ball," Morgan said. "I know I caught the ball. I hit the ground, got up, and spit the ball up on the ground.

"I didn't even know they were (reviewing the play)."

McAulay said the request had been made before the Browns snapped the ball for Couch’s spike, making it a valid review.

"The buzzer on my belt went off just prior to the snap," McAulay said. "We are playing football and I realize the buzzer has gone off. I go to the umpire and he says, yes, his buzzer is going off too.

"My first question is, is it absolutely before the snap? I went to the replay official to confirm it."

According to McAulay, the answer from replay official Bill Reynolds was: "Absolutely 100 percent."

The replay officials ruled the pass incomplete, ending the Browns’ chances of scoring a late touchdown to complete the rally.

"The ball is coming loose," McAulay said of the play. "Hits the ground. Incomplete pass."

"Our guys got their guts ripped out," Davis said.

The debris came raining shortly after McAulay announced Morgan’s reception had been overturned.

"That was bad," Jaguars Head Coach Tom Coughlin said.

"It’s disappointing," Davis said. "I’m disappointed that all those things got thrown on the field."

"At that point I decided it was just too dangerous to finish the game," McAulay said. "The Commissioner (Paul Tagliabue) called Dick McKenzie, our observer, and said we had to get back out there and finish the game."

[Rockinfreakapotamus]

You can't go back two plays ago and change the direction of the game! Cleveland was about to score. It's like someone hitting a homerun and then the umpire says, "oh yeah, I meant to call the batter before you out on strikes so the inning was actually over before your at-bat."

The fans rightly were pissed and pelted refs with beer bottles as they hunched over covering their heads to exit the field.

HEY NFL, ABOLISH VIDEO REPLAY!!

PS: Notice I posted this article under "CRIME AND CORRUPTION"

[TomB]

The fans rightly were pissed and pelted refs with beer bottles as they hunched over covering their heads to exit the field.

Nobody "rightly" pelts innocent people with beer bottles. Those fans were an embarrassment.

It's a football game, bad calls happen (ironic, though, that you don't care that the "catch" was actually a bad call). It isn't an excuse to assault people.

[OldFriend]

Sounds a lot like the umpires at Yankee games.

[Diddle E. Squat]

I would have been on your side, until the inexcusable fan outburst. Now I'm glad you guys lost. What a pathetic dispay of low-class thuggery, right up there with Tony Saraguso's comments. And shame on Carmen Policy and other Browns higher ups for turning into enabling apologists after the game. At least Davis had enough class to criticize the fans. But Policy, wow, what a disappointment, but why should I expect judgement from a man who worked for a mobster?

May you guys go a decade without the playoffs, and the Indians go another 50 years without the title.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Maybe they thought the Refs were thirsty?

[Iwentsouth]

He never had possession of the ball. Good call. Cleveland should forfeit there next game becuase there fans actions.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Actually I agree and if I had been the Ref, I would have made the game a forfeit. Bad call, yes, but uncalled for and out of place response.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

I agree.

[lowbridge]

Ask for a recount

***ducking***

[Fintan]

Yeah, but the Iggles won.

[robjna]

nfl refs arethe worst in professional sports. one only needs to watch college refs to see how its done. they let them play and they stay out of controversial calls. nfl refs decide over 50% of all outcomes of sunday games. pathetic

[jackbill]

The Cleveland fans have shown why the "original Browns" are most likely glad to be in Baltimore.

[Fresh Wind]

The Iggles played bad, but the Skins played worse. But, hey, a win is a win!

[TomB]

Yea, what amazes me is the Brown fans are rioting because the refs didn't let the first bad call stand!

I guess it's different if they win on a bad call.

[strela]

I saw some of ESPN's coverage of the game, and it brought back memories of a referee named Arman Terzian (sp?), back in the late 60s/early 70s. During a playoff game, someone hurled an empty whiskey bottle from the stands which clobbered him on the back of the head. If I recall correctly, he was in some danger of dying from his injury.

Sickening. Just sickening.

[mlibertarianj]

I believe Sam Wyche, then a Cincy Bungle coach once said "If you see a fan throwing some stuff onto the field call security, and have him thrown out! You're not from Cleveland!" I am a Browns fan, and yes we got screwed without being kissed, but throwing bottles on the field, Grow up! We are not English Soccer fans!

[TomB]

"If you see a fan throwing some stuff onto the field call security, and have him thrown out! You're not from Cleveland!"

Wow, thanks for reminding me of that famous quote.

Somewhere, Sam is smiling.

[Chi-townChief]

And if you look up "Bonehead" in the dictionary, you'll probably see Sam Wyche's picture ... LOL !

[TommyC1]

I second all of your thoughts. Lived in Cleveland for 2 hellish years before returning to Packer country. This behavior is so typical for Cleveland. When they lost their team, I couldn't have been happier. They really deserved to lose it, and this incident shows why.

[mlibertarianj]

How about the infamous game a few years ago, between the New York Giants,and the San Diego Chargers. The crew of the Meadowlands could not clear the snow fast enough and the game quickly turned in the snowball/iceball atrocity, I believe that one of the Chargers sideline staff was clocked in the head by a iceball. Of course to the credit of the Giants Mgmt, they went after the fans, I believe there was picture in the New York Post or the Daily News showing a fan throwing a snowball, and the caption "WHO IS THIS IDIOT?" I think there was a reward, and the guy got turned by a few of his friends.