Dwayne Rudd

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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 categories.^[1]

[edit] Premature Celebration

Rudd's most (in)famous moment came in the 2002 season opener 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 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.

Tait rumbled to the Browns 25-yard line where he was knocked out of bounds. That would have 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.

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.

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

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