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No matter the call, Bucs dropped the ball
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Published: November 15, 2009
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Your thoughts on the Bucs' 38-7 loss to the Saints?
We interrupt The Legend of Connor Barth for this important message:
When you're 1-7, it's not as if you need help losing games.
Maurice Stovall's late drop was enough, wouldn't you say?
The Bucs could have won this game.
They nearly did.
Cadillac Williams barreled in with 1:14 left and they beat the Dolphins.
And they the defense gave it away, and it was over, Miami 25-23.
Crushing.
But back to earlier.
That wasn't a fumble.
That wasn't a fumble Sunday and it won't be a fumble next Sunday and it won't be a fumble a million Sundays from now.
Maybe actual NFL referee Tony Corrente (he had a white hat and a striped shirt and everything) saw something we did not.
Actually, we have no idea what anyone saw.
First Josh Freeman's pass to Michael Clayton was ruled an incompletion.
Then, upon further review, it was ruled a fumble.
Then, apparently upon further consideration, it was ruled an interception.
None of it made sense, particularly to Bucs head coach Raheem Morris, who threw in a penalty for arguing with the officials after the call that set up the Miami Dolphins for an easy touchdown.
It turned a 9-6 game into a 16-6 lead that aimed to derail the Bucs' one-game winning streak. Why, they were all the way up to play one game and a half of decent football. Imagine that.
Yes, it shouldn't have been that easy for the Dolphins, who, by the way, added a field goal before the half.
Yes, the Bucs defense didn't make enough big plays, though it made some. It couldn't stop the run, or the pass, at the very end, and it cost them dearly.
Josh Freeman maybe has to learn how to hold onto the football or tell time or something, though he did throw a sweet 33-yard touchdown to Stovall in the fourth quarter.
Your offense needs to be more a lot than The Legend of Connor Barth, though he was amazing and NFL-record-tying three 50-yards-plus field goals.
(Remember, he was a rail splitter, then a lawyer, then a placekicker).
And Morris needs to keep his composure despite the robbery. He unraveled and so did his team. Once again, the Bucs don't need much help losing this season.
Having said all that: This was a slightly raw deal.
With under two minutes left before halftime, on second and 12 from their own 4-yard line. Freeman threw to the right side, to old reliable, Clayton.
He caught the short pass.
He was tackled.
He fell down, on his back. His back smacked the ground.
End of play, right.
No, the ball came loose as Clayton rolled over. The ball never hit the ground.
So Miami pass rusher Jason Taylor scooped up the ball and took it in for a touchdown.
The officials had no clue.
At first, they said incompletion.
It wasn't.
Then they looked at the film.
And said fumble.
It wasn't.
But the Dolphins got the ball deep down, and scored a few plays later.
Clayton clearly had possession.
He was clearly down.
Granted, he should have held onto the ball.
But he was down. No fumble, no pick.
Think about it. If it was really an interception, why wasn't Taylor running it in ruled a touchdown?
It wasn't a fumble. It wasn't an interception.
Give the Bucs credit.
They fought back. Barth kept on mking kicks, and down by six late in the game, Freeman had Stovall open inside the 5, and found him, but Stovall ... dropped it.
They came back again, Quincy Black's interception setting up Williams' TD run.
Of course, then the defense gave up its ghost.
And it was a loss.
The Bucs don't need help losing.
The officials don't need to pile on.
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