Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive lineman Joe Haeg nearly had an unforgettable touchdown catch in Super Bowl LV, but he didn’t quite have the hands.
Haeg was called upon as part of a trick play early in the second quarter of Sunday’s game, and Tom Brady found him in the end zone. Haeg simply could not haul in the catch, in part thanks to a late intervention by linebacker Anthony Hitchens.
Haeg wasn’t getting sympathy from his fellow offensive linemen. Donald Penn, who caught four touchdown passes in his NFL career, felt that Haeg missed an easy one.
Considering Penn’s touchdown record, he might just be right about this.
These plays aren’t easy. Even on the successful ones, the whole thing looks a little bit awkward and nervy, and that’s without a linebacker bearing down on you. Penn has the requisite experience, but not everyone else does.
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