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Cleveland Browns: Explaining everything about ‘Bottlegate’

By Joel W. Cade

Cleveland Browns quarterback Tim Couch (L) listens as Browns head coach Butch Davis (C) argues with officials after a first-down catch by the Browns was reversed and the ball given to the Jacksonville Jaguars with 48 seconds left in the game. The call prompted fans to flood the field with beer bottles and debris until officials called the game, but later brought both teams back to play the remaining 48 seconds on 16 December, 2001, at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, OH. Jacksonville defeated Cleveland 15-10. AFP PHOTO/David MAXWELLAFP (Photo by DAVID MAXWELL / AFP) (Photo by DAVID MAXWELL/AFP via Getty Images)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Tim Couch (L) listens as Browns head coach Butch Davis (C) argues with officials after a first-down catch by the Browns was reversed and the ball given to the Jacksonville Jaguars with 48 seconds left in the game. The call prompted fans to flood the field with beer bottles and debris until officials called the game, but later brought both teams back to play the remaining 48 seconds on 16 December, 2001, at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, OH. Jacksonville defeated Cleveland 15-10. AFP PHOTO/David MAXWELLAFP (Photo by DAVID MAXWELL / AFP) (Photo by DAVID MAXWELL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Browns fans lost their cool when the team was robbed of a potential victory and possible playoff run in the 2001 season

The Cleveland Browns were robbed. One man decided the rules didn’t apply to him and he was going to handle the situation the way he felt it should be handled — the NFL, NFL rules, players or coaches be damned.

Yes. We are talking about Bottlegate. In case you were not there, this was the infamous game on December 16, 2001, in which the Browns lost the Jacksonville Jaguars 15-10 on the back of possibly the worst officiating maneuver ever in NFL history. Which was consequently followed up by the second-worst in that same game.

Cleveland Browns fans react to being robbed of a victory

Cleveland Browns
Bottles and debris litter the field at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, as frustrated Brown fans defy a referee’s call during the Cleveland Browns-Jacksonville Jaguars NFL game 16 December, 2001. Fans began to throw beer bottles and debris onto the field after a first-down catch by the Browns was reversed and the ball given to the Jacksonville Jaguars with 48 seconds left in the game. Officials stopped the game, but later brought both teams back to play the remaining 48 seconds. Jacksonville defeated Cleveland 15-10. AFP Photo/David Maxwell (Photo by DAVID MAXWELL / AFP) (Photo by DAVID MAXWELL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Bottlegate anger was justified

I am not going to play the moral hero. I am not going to sit back and play the high-minded, morally superior sports fan. It just would not be honest.

Honesty on my end is admitting that I if were there on December 16, 2001, I probably would have thrown a bottle on the field too. I think a lot of you reading this article would too — if you are being honest with yourself.

I am a very emotional sports fan. I can see myself getting carried away by the justified anger of the situation and letting loose. I will often, and I mean often, tweet at NFL Officiating asking them if officials know the rules. I will send them videos asking for responses to clearly missed calls.

I enjoy questioning NFL Officiating because they act like they are above it all and don’t make mistakes. If they do admit mistakes, it is an apology letter from the NFL, not NFL Officiating, saying the wrong call was made. But by then teams are just stuck with the results.

Cleveland fans have a history of throwing objects on the field. In 1989, Cincinnati Bengals head coach Sam Wyche called out Bengals fans for throwing snowballs on the field by saying, “You don’t live in Cleveland! You live in Cincinnati!”

Browns fans have enjoyed the reputation for being a little rowdy. Not all events justify such rowdiness. But Bottlegate did.

This does not make it legal. Nor does it make it morally right. But it is honest. So let’s dig into what led to this entire situation unfolding.

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