On December 16th,2001, the Cleveland Browns hosted the Jacksonville Jaguars at the now named Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns were playing for a potential playoff spot with a 6-6 record. Jacksonville was all but eliminated at this time with a record of 4-8. The ending of this game became a notorious chapter in Cleveland sports history.

With 1:08 left in the game the Browns were trailing the Jaguars 15-10, the Cleveland Browns were driving for a potential go ahead touchdown. They were in a 4th down and 2 yards to go situation on the Jacksonville 12-yard line.  A Tim Couch 3-yard pass to Quincy Morgan was ruled as a completed pass. The Browns quickly lined up for another play. Tim Couch hurried up, took the snap, and double pumped to spike the ball stopping the clock with 48 seconds remaining. The officials of the game announced that they are going back two plays to review the 4th down conversion. They overturned the 4th down conversion and gave the ball back to Jacksonville. What followed that decision was horrible.

Upset Cleveland Browns fans let their frustration and displeasure be known by showering the field with beer bottles. Their reaction was dangerous and unacceptable. As a Browns fan, I was embarrassed and ashamed of their behavior. It was disgusting and appalling. However, they are not the only ones to blame for this happening.

Any NFL fan with remedial knowledge of the NFL instant replay rules at the time knows that a play cannot be reviewed after another play was run. The NFL officials clearly violated that rule. And the Cleveland Browns fans in attendance knew that rule. But, that in no way shape or form excuses what they did. This incident with competent officials and better fan restraint was avoidable. The aftermath was fans losing their season tickers and being banned from future Browns games. Other fans were brought up on criminal charges as well. And that is justified action against the fans. But lack of accountability for the officials was what was most disturbing.

An official apology was never given and no action towards the officials for that game was taken. If this happened in any other NFL city a similar riot situation would have happen with horrible officials costing their team a playoff berth.  The incident was covered nationally as another black eye for Cleveland.  And it was that. But it was also a black eye that could have been avoided. And a black eye that should never happen again.