Ram Notebook : McSwain Exacts Price of Six Points for Being Ignored, Not Blocked

Patriot cornerback Rod McSwain felt he was being ignored when he lined up to rush a punt by the Rams’ Dale Hatcher early in the second quarter.

“I was surprised,” McSwain said. “They (the Rams) were calling out guys’ numbers, but mine never got called. No one blocked me, so I extended and blocked the ball, picked it up and ran it in.

“Later, they tried to block down on me, but I still got through.”

A touchdown scored on a block is the worst thing that can happen to a punter. It’s even worse when the punter and blocker are old friends.

McSwain and Hatcher were teammates at Clemson.

Patriot Coach Raymond Berry couldn’t be drawn into a comment on the “inadvertent whistle” that deprived his team of possession and set up the Rams for their last touchdown.

For the second time in the game, cornerback LeRoy Irvin intercepted a pass by Tony Eason, who had thrown only two other interceptions all season, but again fumbled it back to the Patriots on the return.

However, this time a whistle blew between the interception and the fumble, so the Rams kept the ball.

It happened right in front of Berry, who said: “I think the officials have one of the hardest jobs in the NFL.”

Did he hear the whistle?

“I don’t really want to get into that,” he said. “I’m for the officials, and they’ve got a tough job.”

When the Rams’ Barry Redden fumbled in the third quarter, Eric Dickerson walked over to the pile to see who had recovered the ball. Suddenly, he felt himself being jostled by a Patriot who had just run onto the field.

“He didn’t know I was next to him,” said Patriot running back Craig James, who was Dickerson’s running mate at Southern Methodist University. “We hadn’t seen each other yet.

“I started pushing on him and kept pushing. He didn’t even look to see who it was. He just said, ‘Hey, hey, hey.’ And then he looked and started cracking up.”

The Patriots not only spoiled Jim Everett’s debut but defeated their allergy to natural grass.

Over the last 11 seasons they have won 15 games and lost 28 on nature’s own product, while compiling a 78-39 record on artificial turf.

Under Berry, they practice about 95% of the time on real grass.

Patriot kicker Tony Franklin sets a club record almost every time he tees it up.

His three field goals in as many attempts Sunday gave him 27 for the season, topping John Smith’s record of 26 set in 1980.

Franklin also extended his own club records for consecutive successes to 12 and consecutive games with at least one field goal to 16.

His 12 points (with three points after touchdown) Sunday also put him within range of Gino Cappelletti’s club scoring record of 155 points set in 1964.

However, Cappelletti’s total included seven touchdowns. He also played wide receiver.

How do you handle a last-second heart-breaking loss?

Ram cornerback LeRoy Irvin: “I don’t want to think about it. I just want to go home, turn on some jazz, fire up the barbecue and wait for the (New Orleans) Saints.”

Guard Dennis Harrah, who said amnesia was the only way to get a defeat like that out of one’s mind, considered a hypnotist. Presumably, he was kidding.

“This roller-coaster life is killing me,” Harrah said. “You can’t explain the feeling. You’re standing there with your head up, then, all of sudden, all the blood rushes out of your head and there you are with your head between your legs.”

Obviously, it’s a heady experience.

Harrah’s on-the-field histrionics were the first indication that the replay official had ruled that Henry Ellard had possession in the end zone and a 34-yard pass from Jim Everett was indeed a touchdown.

“I had my head in there (the officials’ huddle) and I heard him whisper, ‘So it is a touchdown.’ The third time he said that, I started jumping around.”

Was he happy for the team or Everett?

“I wouldn’t have cared if (center) Doug Smith threw it,” Harrah said, smiling. “That’s either seven points or not seven points. If that don’t make you happy, nothing will.”