Mike Williams: Put It On Me

Mike Williams looked as though he made the game-tying touchdown catch as time expired Sunday in the Buccaneer loss to the New Orleans Saints.

It was a wild play. Quarterback Josh Freeman stood in the pocket for what seemed like a minute. As the pressure collapsed the pocket, Freeman scrambled to his left, squared himself and spotted Williams open and hit him with a bullet.

“Touchdown Tampa Bay, no penalty flags,” screamed radio play-by-play announcer Gene Deckerhoff. He spoke to soon. Out came a flag, away went the touchdown.

It was ruled an illegal touch. Williams was pushed out of bound by a Saints defender, he came back and re-established himself and caught the pass. All for naught.

“I guess I went out of bounds,” Williams said softly as he spoke in the locker room afterward. “I was looking back at Josh and they say I went out of bounds. Put it on me.”

It wouldn’t be fair to do that. Williams did all he could. A play before Vincent Jackson made a spectacular catch but his left heel was on the end line, negating another would-be tying touchdown.

It was that kind of afternoon for the Bucs, who must now prepare themselves for a Thursday road game at Minnesota.