In Defense of Leodis McKelvin

September 15th, 2009 | by Frank |

McKelvin’s fumble almost certainly cost Buffalo the game, but other than the fumble it was actually not so dumb to run out of the endzone.

McKelvin actually caught the ball near the endzone line, and it was questionable whether he caught it in the endzone or backpedaled. You catch it in the endzone, you can take a knee.

You backpedal into the endzone and take a knee? That’s a safety-two points and the ball to the Patriots.

Now on TV, I think we can safely say he could have taken a knee.  But, if you are a return man and you catch it all near the line and you aren’t 100% sure where the ref is going to say you caught the ball-you go. W/o the fumble the Bills are under the two minute warning and the Patriots are likely going to have to burn three time outs to stop the clock. Even if Buffalo doesn’t pick up the first down, time is off the clock and you have a pro bowl punter who can put another 40 yards on the spot of the ball.

Now 2 minutes to go 20 yards? Yeah that’s not so hard. 1:30 (at worst?) to go 50-60 yards? Well nothing is certain, but I like those odds a lot better.

McKelvin’s only error was dropping the ball, not in running it out.

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