BEREA — After reviewing the game film, coach Eric Mangini still believes the officials were wrong to penalize Hank Poteat for pass interference Sunday on the Hail Mary that allowed the Lions to win 38-37 with no time on the clock.

Poteat pushed receiver Bryant Johnson out of the back of the end zone. That’s legal when the quarterback is scrambling like Detroit’s Matthew Stafford was, but not OK with the ball in the air, which is when the infraction occurred.

“Yeah, I guess that’s what they called it for,” Mangini said. “Could he have pushed him less? Yeah, he probably could have. It’s really not illegal contact when the guy’s out of the pocket or scrambling. But they called it.

“We’ll live with it.”

Not without complaining. Mangini’s point of contention is that usually anything goes on Hail Mary passes. He called it a “rugby scrum.”

“I haven’t been a part of any calls like that, I haven’t seen it called, where it affected the outcome of a game like it did,” he said. “You want to have an awareness of where the ball is. We’re not coaching to pass interfere on the last play by any stretch. Usually on those plays there is a lot of contact, a lot of bodies, a lot of things going on and it’s just the nature of that play.”

Poteat, a nine-year veteran, had his back to the field as he kept track of Johnson and couldn’t see the pass.

“You’re in the end zone, you’re mirroring the receiver,” Mangini said. “Oftentimes when you’re in the end zone, if you look back for the ball, the guy, just like in basketball, is going to read away from you and get open.”

Mangini has stressed attention to detail since arriving in January and began working on specific game situations in minicamps. He said they practice end-of-game situations every Saturday in the walkthrough.

Mangini will send the tape of the Hail Mary to the league office for review, as well as the Lions’ celebration after the tying touchdown when tight ends coach Tim Lappano ran all the way across the field to hug the players. It should’ve drawn a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, which would’ve pushed the winning extra-point attempt to 34 yards, but was ignored by the officials.

“Excessive celebration, I thought that was a penalty, too, but that didn’t get called,” Mangini said. “There’s a big difference in the extra point.”

He stopped short of saying the Browns got robbed.

“I feel like we had a lot of opportunities to win the game,” Mangini said. “Anytime it comes down to an official’s call, it could go either way. We had plenty of chances to control that game. We had another play after the penalty and didn’t execute it.”

Timeout talk

Mangini said Stafford being allowed to re-enter the game wasn’t a factor in him calling timeout before the Lions’ untimed play from the 1-yard line. Backup Daunte Culpepper was at the line when the Browns called timeout, which allowed Stafford to come back despite a separated left (non-throwing) shoulder.

Mangini wanted to get a look at the Lions’ formation and see their pre-snap motion. The timeout also allowed nose tackle Shaun Rogers to enter the game. He was on the sideline before the timeout.

“Make sure we had the personnel we wanted out there and making sure that we had a good idea of what they were going to be in,” Mangini said.

Stafford hit tight end Pettigrew for the touchdown.

Sharing the blame

Mangini said quarterback Brady Quinn had a chance to complete a third-and-5 pass on the first play after the two-minute warning despite a blitz from the Lions. Detroit was out of timeouts, so the incompletion stopped the clock and gave the Lions about 40 extra seconds for the winning drive.

“I thought we had a real chance to hit it,” he said.

The throw was wide of Mohamed Massaquoi, who appeared to run too far upfield. Mangini was asked if the blame belonged to Quinn’s throw or Massaquoi’s route.

“It could have been a little bit of both,” he said. “There was some pressure, but we hit it twice against pressure.
“I felt comfortable with the call at the time.”

Rogers won’t leave

After Rogers was penalized for an offsides — on third-and-1 — and encroachment on consecutive plays in the second quarter, backup Ahtyba Rubin was sent in. When he got near the huddle, Rogers sent Rubin back to the sideline and stayed in the game.

Mangini was asked if he was trying to bench Rogers.

“No. If I was trying to bench him, he’d be benched,” he said.

The penalties came on a 94-yard touchdown drive. Rogers spent seven years with the Lions.

Bright lights, big drop

Rookie running back Chris Jennings saw his most extensive playing time, carrying 10 times for 36 yards and catching five passes for 38 yards. He also dropped a perfectly thrown pass in the end zone in the second quarter. It cost the Browns four points, as they settled for a field goal.

“If I could have it back, man,” he said. “I’ve got to catch it and got to finish.

“I kinda got a glare from the stadium lights, but lights on, lights off, got to catch that ball. No excuse.”

Jennings ran an out, then headed up the sideline behind the coverage. The throw went through his hands near the pylon.

“Through my hands. That’s on me, that’s on Chris,” he said.

Jennings said the Browns worked on that play in practice last week and he caught it every time.

“It came down and I couldn’t finish,” he said. “I guarantee you if it comes again, I will make it.”

Adams replaces McDonald

Mike Adams took Brandon McDonald’s cornerback spot in the starting lineup. McDonald has struggled throughout the season and was benched for the first series earlier in the season versus the Bengals. Against the Lions, he played a handful of snaps in the base defense, but otherwise was relegated to passing situations in which the Browns used extra defensive backs.

“I think Mike’s earned it,” Mangini said. “I like the way that he competes. I like the fact you can put him anywhere and he’d be happy to do it and try to do it exactly the way he’s told to do it. He tries to play with high effort all the time.

“I thought he did a good job, too, for playing that prolonged amount of time.”

Adams started at cornerback against the Bengals and at safety against the Bears.

Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com.

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