Dwayne Rudd
Encyclopedia
Dwayne Rudd is an American football
linebacker
who is a free agent
in the National Football League
, having not played in the NFL since 2003. During his career he played for the Minnesota Vikings
, the Cleveland Browns
and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
. Rudd was a teammate of Pittsburgh Steelers
cornerback
Deshea Townsend
in both high school
and college
, at South Panola High School
and the University of Alabama
, respectively. Derek Pegues
, a South Panola alum and an All-SEC
Defensive Back
for Mississippi State
, is his cousin.
opener (on Sept. 8) between the Browns and the Kansas City Chiefs
. With less than 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. It initially appeared that Rudd sacked
Green with no time on the clock, ending the game. However, Green lateraled
the ball to tackle John Tait just before he went down. Rudd did not see this happen, and after getting up he took off and threw his helmet in the air in celebration, thinking Green was sacked and the game was over.
Tait ran to the Browns' 26-yard line where he was knocked out of bounds. That would have been the end of the game, but Rudd's premature helmet toss drew the Browns an unsportsmanlike conduct
penalty, assessed at the end of the play, and which moved the ball to the 13-yard line (half the distance to the goal). Since football games by rule cannot end on a defensive penalty, the Chiefs also got to run an untimed play, and Chiefs kicker
Morten Andersen
booted a 30-yard field goal
with no time left on the clock to win the game 40–39.
Rudd was actually around for a similar moment the next year in Tampa, Florida
. As part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
, he saw his teammate Simeon Rice
draw an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in a game against the Indianapolis Colts
after a game-winning field goal
attempt failed, giving the Colts another chance to win the game - being successful the second time. Unlike the Chiefs-Browns game the year before, this game was nationally televised on Monday Night Football
(Oct. 6, 2003).
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
who is a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, having not played in the NFL since 2003. During his career he played for the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
, the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
. Rudd was a teammate of Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
Deshea Townsend
Deshea Townsend
Trevor Deshea Townsend is a former defensive back in the National Football League, and is currently a defensive backs coach for the Arizona Cardinals and most recently a player for the Indianapolis Colts...
in both high school
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
and college
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
, at South Panola High School
South Panola School District
The South Panola School District is a public school district based in Batesville, Mississippi .In addition to Batesville, the district also serves the village of Pope, the town of Courtland, and the Panola County portion of Crowder as well as rural areas in southern Panola County.-Schools:*South...
and the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
, respectively. Derek Pegues
Derek Pegues
Derek Alan Pegues is an American football defensive back who is currently a free agent.-Personal:He is the cousin of former NFL Linebacker Dwayne Rudd...
, a South Panola alum and an All-SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
Defensive Back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
for Mississippi State
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
, is his cousin.
Premature celebration
Rudd's most infamous moment came in the 2002 season2002 Cleveland Browns season
The 2002 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 50th season with the National Football League.-Regular season:- Playoffs :-Standings:...
opener (on Sept. 8) between the Browns and the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
. With less than 10 seconds left on the clock and the Browns clinging to a 39–37 lead, Chiefs quarterback Trent Green
Trent Green
Trent Jason Green is a retired professional American football quarterback. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Indiana University....
dropped back to pass, but the entire Browns defensive line swarmed him. It initially appeared that Rudd sacked
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
Green with no time on the clock, ending the game. However, Green lateraled
Lateral pass
In American football, a lateral pass or lateral, officially backward pass , occurs when the ball carrier throws the football to any teammate behind him or directly next to him...
the ball to tackle John Tait just before he went down. Rudd did not see this happen, and after getting up he took off and threw his helmet in the air in celebration, thinking Green was sacked and the game was over.
Tait ran to the Browns' 26-yard line where he was knocked out of bounds. That would have been the end of the game, but Rudd's premature helmet toss drew the Browns an unsportsmanlike conduct
Unsportsmanlike conduct
Unsportsmanlike conduct is a foul or offense in many sports that is not necessarily a violation of the respective sport's rules of play, but violates the sport's generally accepted rules of sportsmanship and/or participant conduct...
penalty, assessed at the end of the play, and which moved the ball to the 13-yard line (half the distance to the goal). Since football games by rule cannot end on a defensive penalty, the Chiefs also got to run an untimed play, and Chiefs kicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
Morten Andersen
Morten Andersen
Morten Andersen , nicknamed "The Great Dane", is a former National Football League kicker. He holds the distinction of being the all-time leading scorer in NFL history, as well as being the all-time leading scorer for two different teams; the New Orleans Saints, with whom he spent 13 seasons, and...
booted a 30-yard field goal
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
with no time left on the clock to win the game 40–39.
Rudd was actually around for a similar moment the next year in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
. As part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
, he saw his teammate Simeon Rice
Simeon Rice
Simeon James Rice [] is a former American football defensive end, last playing in 2009. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals third overall in the 1996 NFL Draft...
draw an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in a game against the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
after a game-winning field goal
Field goal
A field goal is a general term used in some sports wherein a goal may be scored either during general play or via some sort of free shot...
attempt failed, giving the Colts another chance to win the game - being successful the second time. Unlike the Chiefs-Browns game the year before, this game was nationally televised on Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
(Oct. 6, 2003).
Accomplishments
Rudd holds the NFL record for most fumble return yards in a single season with 157, which he set in 1998. He also shares the NFL record (with many players) both for the most total fumble recoveries for touchdowns in a season and the most opponent fumble recoveries for touchdowns in a season, with two apiece.External links
- Dwayne Rudd at NFL.com