Dwayne Rudd (born February 3, 1976) is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. During his career he has played for the Minnesota Vikings, the Cleveland Browns and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He shares the records for the most total fumble recoveries for touchdowns in a season and most opponent fumble recoveries for touchdowns in a season. He has two in both catergories.^[1] February 3 is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... A linebacker is a position in American and Canadian football. ... Bills Dolphins Patriots Jets Ravens Bengals Browns Steelers Texans Colts Titans Broncos Chiefs Raiders Chargers Cowboys Giants Eagles Redskins Bears Lions Packers Vikings Falcons Panthers Saints Buccaneers Jaguars Cardinals Rams 49ers Seahawks The National Football League (NFL) is the largest professional American football league, consisting of thirty-two teams from... City Minneapolis, Minnesota Other nicknames The Vikes, The Purple People Eaters Team colors Purple, Gold, and White Head Coach Brad Childress Owner Zygi Wilf General manager Rob Brzezinski Mascot Ragnar League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1961–present) Western Conference (1961-1969) Central Division (1967-1969) National Football Conference (1970... This article is becoming very long. ... City Tampa, Florida Other nicknames The Bucs, Pewter Pirates Team colors Buccaneer Red, Pewter, Black, and Orange Head Coach Jon Gruden Owner Malcolm Glazer General manager Bruce Allen Mascot Captain Fear League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1976–present) American Football Conference (1976) AFC West (1976) National Football Conference (1977...

Premature Celebration

Rudd's most (in)famous moment came in the 2002 season opener between the Browns and the Kansas City Chiefs. With less then 10 seconds left on the clock, and the Browns clinging to a 39-37 lead, Chiefs quarterback Trent Green dropped back to pass, but the entire Browns defensive line swarmed him and it appeared to be a game winning sack. However, Green tossed the ball to tackle John Tait just before he went down. Unfortunately, Rudd was the only player who did not see this, and after getting up, took off and threw his helmet in the air in celebration, thinking Green was sacked and the game was over. City Kansas City, Missouri Team colors Red, gold, and White Head Coach Herman Edwards Owner Clark Hunt [1] General manager Carl Peterson Mascot K.C. Wolf (1989-present) Warpaint (1963-1988) League/Conference affiliations American Football League (1960-1969) Western Division (1960-1969) National Football League (1970–present) American Football... Trent Jason Green (born July 9, 1970 in Saint Louis, Missouri) is an American football quarterback who had started every game for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League season until the 2006 season opener when he was replaced by Damon Huard after suffering a concussion. ... John Tait is an offensive lineman for the Chicago Bears. ...

Tait rumbled to the Browns 25 yard line where he was knocked out of bounds. That would've been the end of the game there, but Rudd's premature helmet toss drew the Browns an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty which moved the ball to the 13 yard line (half the distance to the goal), and since football games, by rule, can not end on a defensive penalty, Chiefs kicker Morten Andersen booted a 30 yard field goal with no time left to win the game 40-39. Morten Andersen (born August 19, 1960, in Copenhagen, Denmark) is an American football placekicker with the Atlanta Falcons. ...

His goof won him the Terry Award for biggest boneheaded move of that year, beating out Detroit Lions coach Marty Mornhinweg's decision to kickoff against the Chicago Bears in overtime. Terry Paxton Bradshaw (born September 2, 1948) is a former American football quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League (NFL). ... City Detroit, Michigan Team colors Honolulu Blue, Silver, and Black Head Coach Rod Marinelli Owner William Clay Ford, Sr. ... Marty Mornhinweg (born March 29, 1962 in Edmond, OK) is currently the offensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles, having joined the Eagles in 2003 as the assistant head coach. ... City Chicago, Illinois Other nicknames Da Bears, The Monsters of the Midway Team colors Navy Blue, Orange and White Head Coach Lovie Smith Owner Virginia Halas McCaskey Chairman Michael McCaskey General manager Jerry Angelo Fight song Bear Down, Chicago Bears Mascot Staley Da Bear League/Conference affiliations Independent (1919) National...

The newspaper headline in Cleveland the next day read, "Down the Dwayne."

This however was not Dwayne's first occurance for celebrating early. In his Minnesota days Dwayne returned a fumble for a touchdown, but before he reached the endzone he slowed down to a near complete stop, showing up his opponents who were giving chase. He was penalized.

External links

• Dwayne Rudd at NFL.com
• ↑  AP Game recap of the game in question on nfl.com
• ↑  Dwayne Rudd records at NFL.com