Bygone Bucs find their way into the big game

Times changed, and Lorenzo Neal and Jackie Harris departed Tampa Bay. Today those moves result in their big chance.

By RICK STROUD

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 30, 2000

ATLANTA -- Any time someone mentions the Music City Miracle, it always will strike a chord with Lorenzo Neal.

The former Bucs fullback started one of the most memorable finishes in NFL playoff history in the Titans' 22-16 wild-card win against Buffalo.

"I'm known more for that play than probably anything in my whole career," Neal said. "It's real cool. They're comparing it to the Immaculate Reception by Franco Harris and it is exciting. But honestly, I'll trade it all for a Super Bowl win on Sunday."

Neal, a seventh-year journeyman who signed with Tennessee as a free agent after one season in Tampa Bay, was responsible for beginning the play that resulted in Kevin Dyson's 75-yard kickoff return for a touchdown with three seconds remaining against the stunned Bills.

"That play is called "home run throwback,' " Neal said. "We're getting ready to go out on the field and I told Frank, "If the ball is anywhere by me, I'm getting the ball. I'm getting it, I'm going to pitch it to you and set this thing up.' That's why he stayed behind me, because I had the option to throw the ball.' He kicked it a little deeper than we thought and Isaac Byrd was like, "Lo, don't get it.' I said, "Forget it, I'm getting this ball.' So I pitch it to Frankie, he throws it to Kevin Dyson and I start blocking and I hear the crowd roar. So I look up and see Dyson and say, "Get in field-goal range!' Then when I saw him bust it, I said, "Go score a touchdown!' It was unbelievable."

Neal, a strong blocker, is on his third team in as many years, having bounced from the Jets to the Bucs to the Titans.

In Tampa Bay, he carved holes for Mike Alstott. In Tennessee, the beneficiary of his blocking is Pro Bowl running back Eddie George.

"It's been a long, hard road, but it's all worth it now," Neal said. "I guess I wouldn't savor it as much as if I just went my first year. I know this opportunity doesn't happen often."

Neal is not the only ex-Buc to play a key role for the Titans this season. Tight end Jackie Harris, who spent four mostly unspectacular seasons in Tampa Bay from 1994-97, rediscovered his lost receiving skills in Tennessee.

As the second tight end in the Titans offense behind Wycheck, Harris caught 26 passes for 297 yards and a touchdown during the regular season.

After coming to the Bucs as a free agent from Green Bay, Harris missed out on two Super Bowl appearances with the Packers, including a title. With the Titans, he finally has a chance to earn a championship ring.

"I think it justifies a long journey," Harris said. "It justifies staying after it and believing in yourself. If you continue to persevere. You hear that all the time and nobody likes to work and work and keep on working. But I'm a firm believer that guys who continue to put in the work, they're going to be justified.

"Life is kind of a cruel thing in many ways, but that's one of the constants.

"I still felt good about my ability as a pass receiver and was fortunate being in a position to come to a team that really liked to get the ball to the tight end. They believed in the guys at the position enough to say when the game is on the line, let's go to these guys."

If not for Neal's heads-up play, the Titans would be back in Nashville. Music City would be singing the blues.

"It's exciting. I got home that night and I had almost 30 messages on my answering machine," Neal said.

"Before that happened, it felt like we had lost. Guys had their heads down, crying, and then new life. So we tasted defeat in that second, so we know what it feels like to lose in the playoffs. I think that's what keeps us going."

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