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© St. Petersburg Times, published December 18, 2001
From instant replay to beer sales, the NFL will review all aspects of the bottle-throwing melee by Cleveland fans after a replay decision led to the Browns' loss to Jacksonville on Sunday.
It will not take action against Browns management for statements that failed to criticize the fans' actions, statements the team president apologized for a day later.
The Browns also said they would review their gameday procedures, possibly including a heightened security presence.
By midday Monday, the NFL had reached two conclusions:
Correct procedures were followed and the correct decision made when replay overturned what had been ruled a fourth-down catch by Cleveland's Quincy Morgan.
Referee Terry McAulay was wrong to declare the game over when the deluge of plastic bottles and other objects from the stands forced him to clear the field. Only commissioner Paul Tagliabue or his designated representative can do that. Tagliabue ordered the last 48 seconds played a half-hour after McAulay declared the game over.
When the players returned to the field and the final seconds were run off, Jacksonville quarterback Mark Brunell took a knee and the game officially was over, with the Jaguars winning 15-10.
"As long as the safety issue is there, the referee has the right to clear the field," league spokesman Greg Aiello said. "But you have to finish the game, even in a kneel-down situation. There were 48 seconds left. Anything can happen. They could botch a snap."
NFL officials also said they planned no action against Browns owner Al Lerner or president Carmen Policy, both of whom suggested the behavior of the fans stemmed merely from enthusiasm.
"I don't think Cleveland will take a black eye from this," Policy said Sunday. "I like the fact that our fans care."
Monday, Policy was apologetic, saying he was trying to avoid criticizing all Browns fans for the actions of a few.
"I attempted to defend this community and the vast majority of our fans who are not only credible people, but some of the best fans in all of professional sports," Policy said.
The trouble started on fourth down, when Cleveland quarterback Tim Couch threw to Morgan, who appeared to catch the ball at the 9. The Browns, who had no timeouts left, quickly lined up and Couch spiked the ball with 48 seconds left.
But McAulay stopped play and said he had been buzzed by the replay official in the press box, who told him the Couch-to-Morgan pass had to be reviewed. Officials ruled Morgan did not have possession.
At issue was whether the spike came before the summons from the replay official, who under NFL rules makes challenges in the last two minutes of each half. At other times, coaches can challenge plays. Under the rules, if a play is run before the challenge is made, the play stands.
McAulay said the buzzer on his belt went off just before the spike, but he didn't have time to stop the play. Mike Pereira, the league supervisor of officials, said the buzzer also alerted umpire Carl Paganelli, who is hooked into the replay system.