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Beer Takes Flight In The Big Easy

December 18, 2001 / 5:35 AM EST / AP

Saints fans at the Superdome, unhappy with a call against New Orleans, threw beer bottles, cups, ice and paper onto the field during Monday night's game.

NFL security director Milt Ahlerich said 13 people were arrested.

"God forbid, someone should be hurt by one of these projectiles being thrown," he said.

The interruption by the Saints fans came one day after fans in Cleveland hurled bottles and other debris onto the field because they were angry about a last-minute call that helped the Jaguars beat the Browns 15-10.

Bad Choice Of Words

The Cleveland Browns team president is apologizing for his comments immediately following Sunday's game, in which fans threw beer bottles onto the field and in the stands after an unpopular umpire call.

"I don't think Cleveland will take a black eye from this," Browns team president Carmen Policy told reporters Sunday, "I like the fact that our fans cared."

Monday, he was singing a somewhat different tune, telling reporters that he "didn't handle it properly...It's not fair to the Browns organization or the community if it was interpreted there was any acceptance of the conduct in that stadium."

But he added: "Certainly, in one of the older NFL cities, I assure you it probably would have been worse. If there had been a game that concluded the way our game concluded, and we won in that fashion in those stadiums, I suggest to you it would have been worse."(CBS/Reuters)

On Sunday, the rowdy behavior in Cleveland forced a 30-minute delay in the game with about 48 seconds left.

On Monday, the call was against Saints cornerback Kevin Mathis, who was covering Rams receiver Torry Holt in the end zone. Mathis fell on the play but made contact with Holt in the process.

The Rams had first down on the Saints' 15 yard line. The penalty gave them first down on the Saints' 1-yard line and immediately sparked the throwing from fans in one corner of the end zone.

"Please, this is New Orleans and we are sportsmen here," the stadium announcer said.

The throwing quickly stopped and stadium workers quickly cleared the litter from the field.

In the meantime, Saints coach Jim Haslett stormed the field to protest the call. Another flag was thrown and the Saints bench was assessed half the distance to the goal, but the ball was not moved.

Fans did not throw anything on that call, but loudlchanted an obscenity.

The Rams settled for a 27-yard field goal that boosted their lead to 34-21 with 7:55 remaining in the game.

The Rams beat the Saints 34-21.

By Mary Foster
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