Frightening in a Bottle

Standing near midfield, players and officials watched as enraged Brown fans rained beer bottles, cups and debris down on them.

Then the Jacksonville Jaguars ran--scared.

“We feared for our lives,” wide receiver Jimmy Smith said. “It was like dodging bullets.”

Cleveland fans threw thousands of bottles on the field Sunday, hitting the Jaguars and Browns and forcing them to run for cover after officials overturned a last-minute call, helping Jacksonville win, 15-10.

The game was stopped for about a half-hour with 48 seconds to play because of the violence, and it resumed only after NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue insisted.

Most of the bottles were plastic, but many were filled with beer, making them dangerous weapons. A few fans tried to run on the field but were quickly caught by security personnel.

“They were throwing stuff on our sideline, but they were throwing it on their side, too,” Jaguar wide receiver Kennan McCardell said.

The Jaguars and Browns had to dodge flying objects as they sprinted to their locker rooms, and the officials were doused with beer and cups of ice as they ran for safety.

“I was definitely looking over my shoulder for bottles flying,” Brown quarterback Tim Couch said.

Players on both teams were hit by debris but nobody was seriously hurt. One fan was treated at a hospital for minor injuries and others were treated at a clinic the Browns run at the stadium on game days. Police made arrests but exact numbers were not immediately released.

The 2001 home season finale dissolved into another embarrassing chapter for Brown fans.

In 1995, they tore out rows of seats and started small fires in the last game at the old Cleveland Stadium just weeks after it was announced the team was moving to Baltimore.

“In ’95 we had chairs coming out of the stands,” said McCardell, who played for the Browns then. “I never thought I’d see it again.”

Brown President Carmen Policy refused to criticize the fans at the game Sunday, and owner Al Lerner went as far as to excuse the rowdiness.

“I don’t think Cleveland will take a black eye from this,” Policy said. “I like the fact that our fans care.”

Lerner said: “I think everyone controlled themselves considering they spent 60 minutes out in cold weather. It wasn’t pleasant. I wouldn’t suggest anything like that. But it wasn’t World War III.”

Nearly 30 minutes after ordering players off the field, officials resumed play. Jacksonville’s offense returned intact while the Browns sent three offensive players out with their defense since some players had already undressed.

Jacksonville’s players re-entered and left the field through the Browns’ tunnel to avoid being hit again.

“I’m disappointed,” Brown Coach Butch Davis said. “I know the fans were upset, but our guys were getting hit along with the Jaguars and the officials. It’s an unfortunate situation.”

The fans’ ugly behavior came after the Browns had a first down at Jacksonville’s nine-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.

Couch had apparently completed a fourth-and-two 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.

McAulay said he was notified by replay official Bill Reynolds, who said he was “absolutely, 100%” sure he buzzed McAulay before the next play began.

“At the point, we had a legal review,” McAulay said.

Mike Pereira, the NFL’s director of officiating, said the procedure used on the field was correct.

As Cleveland’s bench erupted in protest, Brown fans in the “Dawg Pound” bleacher section closest to the play began hurling bottles and other objects.

The Jaguars moved away from their bench to avoid getting hit, and before the fans got rowdier, McAulay announced the game was over.

But while both teams were in the locker room, Tagliabue called game supervisor Dick McKenzie and ordered him to have the final 48 seconds played.

About 5,000 fans were still in the stadium to see quarterback Mark Brunell take two snaps and run out the clock. The Jaguars were then escorted off the field, surrounded by Brown players and security personnel.

Mike Hollis kicked three field goals and Stacey Mack rushed for 115 yards for the Jaguars (5-8), who got a little revenge against the Browns (6-7) after losing to them earlier this season.

But the Jaguars would never have imagined they would have to get it while running for cover.

“That’s why you always keep your helmet on on the road,” Jaguar Coach Tom Coughlin said.