The Dreaded Bottlegate

Throughout my last twenty years of being a Cleveland Browns fan, I have only seen losing, year after year. Even in 2007 when our beloved brownies go 10-6 we still don't make the playoffs. We can never seem to catch any sort of break during our merciless comeback to the NFL in 1999. I remember watching the Browns play the Steelers in the Canton Hall of Fame Game in the beginning of the exhibition season, I don't remember the score, but I remember we won. As I watched it the game with my dad I remember saying "wow these guys look amazing, we are going to do awesome!" or something naive like that. Either way, I remember my dad saying something along the lines of "I was there when Red Light 88 happened, and believe me, they themselves or something else will find a way to screw it up". Obviously, the Browns were never all that good, until the 2001 season, where they definitely had a chance to go the playoffs.

They were 6-6 entering the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on December 16th, 2001. As we have all seen this season that sometimes just squeaking by and making the playoffs is all enough to make a great run. However, as many of you know, we were robbed of our chance of winning, and many fans rightfully turned the game into a nightmare for all those involved. The fans' ugly behavior came after the Browns, who are down 10-15 at home, had a first down at Jacksonville's 9-yard line taken away despite running a play before the officials reviewed the previous play. Under NFL rules, a challenge must be made before the next play takes place.

Tim Couch (sigh) had apparently completed a fourth-and-2 pass to wide receiver Quincy Morgan with 1:08 remaining, and the Browns, who were out of timeouts, quickly rushed to the line of scrimmage. On first down, Couch spiked the ball with 48 seconds to go, and was headed to the sideline when the officials began to discuss Morgan's catch. After several confusing minutes, referee Terry McAulay announced that the officials were reviewing the play. When McAulay finally emerged from the TV review monitor, he announced that Morgan did not catch the ball. Replays appeared to show that Morgan never had possession and was bobbling the ball as he fell to the ground. Under the NFL's replay system, coaches can't challenge calls in the final two minutes of a half. Any questionable rulings are reviewed by replay officials, who must notify the game referee wearing a buzzer on his belt.

Yes, our final throw on 4th down to the Jacksonville 9 was overturned after ANOTHER PLAY WAS RUN! As far as I know, just wow, how'd they screw that one up? I still don't know. But it goes back to the Browns or other forces ruining game winning playoff bound, maybe?, super bowl bound? brownies in 2001.

Please refer to THIS CLIP for what really went down. See it and be amazed at our futility. Go Browns!