Redemption
October 11th, 2010
It was an ugly moment for Micheal Spurlock. His fumble on a kickoff return led to a Cincinnati touchdown and appeared to turn the game in the Bengals’ favor.
Joe was so sick he couldn’t finish his beer. Apparently, per Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune, so too was Spurlock (sans the beer).
But given a chance to redeem himself, Spurlock did with one of the plays of the day in the NFL, a top-tipping, falling-out-of-bounds catch that set up Connor Barth’s game-winning field goal.
Few, including Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, believed Spurlock had made the grab, but in the time it took for replay officials to confirm their original finding, Spurlock was redeemed.
“Yeah, that was redemption,” Spurlock said after his catch set the stage for Connor Barth’s 31-yard game-winning field goal with one second left in the Bucs’ dramatic 24-21 victory against the Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium.
“The thing is, we practice that play every day,” Spurlock said. “It’s a drill that some might think is a waste of time but it’s a drill that sure helped us out today.”
As Joe learned when he was a kid, practice makes perfect. And Joe was happy that Spurlock got a chance to wipe that ugly play off out of fans’ memories.
October 11th, 2010 at 11:03 am
Keep him at WR and put someone else in to return, he gave us nothing yesterday.
And please go to walmart, pick out 5 random guys and have them try out as our punter. He is absolutely horrible! Send his ass back to Australia, this ain’t rugby!
October 11th, 2010 at 11:27 am
Time for some changes
Parker @ returner
Price @ DT (over Miller) – although keep rotating these 3
Crower @ DE (over Kyle Moore)
Bennett needs more rotation with Stylez
Huggins/Blount @ RB
October 11th, 2010 at 11:31 am
I have played that kick return back a couple of times, he did fumble. But what nobody is saying and I noticed during the game, they blew the whistle. I thought that ended the play, the whistle blew loud and clear.
October 11th, 2010 at 11:34 am
That wasn’t a fumble the wistle was blown when he hit the ground play had stopped play over the refs knew they blew that call so carma has is spurlock on the sidline catch redemption favor for a favor. Yeah that punter is running on four flats shrimp on the barbie he’s done 26 yard punts can’t happen
October 11th, 2010 at 11:49 am
On the replay, I noticed that Spurlock had the ball when his elbow was down. Isn’t the elbow touching considered “down?”
October 11th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
Glad Spurlock redeemed himself. I personally didn’t think it was a catch, so I am glad the call went the Bucs way.
October 11th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
I agree with those above that I swore I heard the whistle. But, apparently, several years back the replay rule was changed to allow for reversal even if the whistle blew – though that makes no sense to me. Stupid!
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/The-greatly-flawed-rule-on-recovering-fumbles-af?urn=nfl-207503
October 11th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
I was more upset with Spurlock’s lackadaisical returns throughout the game. He kept stopping and looked tentative on his returns. On the one return that he really turned on the jets, he fumbled and it totally looked like fumble to me on replay. I also think Spurlock made that catch all the way. He didn’t bobble the ball until he started to get up and obviously the refs saw it the same way or not 100% indisputable proof to overturn the catch. It’s nice to win a call now and then because the Bucs are on the losing end 90% of the time. As for the Saints this week. They will hold on every play. Raheem needs to mention this beforehand in his Pressers this week so the refs get wind of it and pay extra close eye on the Saints O line. They have perfected the art of holding.
October 11th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
@will the beast
OMG!
I thought i was the only one in the NFL that heard that whistle! That play should have died right there right?
October 11th, 2010 at 7:32 pm
I think Steve White’s blog had it right. There were several “redemption” plays. Spurlock was one. Mike Williams redeemed his fumble with the great catch for the TD over the top of a defender. Sabby redeemed a horrible game with the INT to set up the win. Talib redeemed getting burned by TO early with the pick to set up the tie.
Also, I’d say Cody Grimm more than made up for the TD he gave up in the Steelers game with an all around good game.
October 11th, 2010 at 8:08 pm
Let’s see if I can get eric to post again….
After 5 weeks…
Mike Williams has 3 TDs and 4 plays of 20+ yards in 4 games.
Anquan Boldin has 3 TDs and 5 plays of 20+ yards in 5 games.
Brandon Marshall has 1 TD and 3 20+, and 2 40+ yard plays in 4 games.
Williams only cost us one 4th round draft choice and a minimal salary.
Looks like we got our #1 WR after all…..
October 11th, 2010 at 9:13 pm
Yeah between his gambling rants I think Billick mentioned that the whistle had blown and the play was over if you look @ the tape no one really went after the loose ball. Bam Bam you hit the nail on the head we got our number one wideout.
October 11th, 2010 at 11:59 pm
The whistle does not affect a fumble. The competition committee changed the rule for the 2006 season stating that a fumble can be reviewed even if the whistle is blown, and if there is a clear cut recovery the ball will be in the possession of the recovering team. They called it something like “continuation of the action”. It makes no sense really, but it’s the rule. You’re supposed to stop when you hear the whistle, unless there’s a fumble? OK, so what’s the whistle for again? But, it’s the rule, and that’s what we have to deal with.
October 12th, 2010 at 10:30 am
I guess Eric finally embarrassed himself to the point of not returning!! Last week he called Raheem an Idiot , who could never win anything! Raheem is the forerunner for Coach of the year! Guess after being wrong sooooo many other times, this one drove him over the edge! Well, we all told him how wrong he was, and how embarrasssingly stupid he was gonna look! But he didn’t listen, so now he’s gagged on his humble pie. But, we always knew he would never own up to his B.S. ! Sad,but like the rest of the cowardly haters, predictable!!