Broncos linebacker Danny Trevathan became an early candidate for the Bonehead Play of the Year Award (not an official NFL award) when he intercepted a Joe Flacco pass on Thursday night, raced toward the end zone, then dropped the ball before crossing the goal line. The ball rolled into the end zone, where the Ravens recovered, and what should have been a touchdown was instead a touchback.
After the game, Trevathan said he just didn’t realize where he was when he dropped the ball.
“It was a young mistake. I was just in the moment,” Trevathan said. “I thought I was in the end zone. Next time I’m going hold the ball up high and give it to a fan or something. But it’s not going to happen again. I’m growing from it and I’m not let going to let anybody stop me.”
The 23-year-old Trevathan is only in his second year in the NFL, but there’s no excuse for “a young mistake” like that. Even Pop Warner players should know that you can’t drop the ball at the 1-yard line. But Trevathan is far from the first NFL player to make such a mistake: Just last year, Broncos return man Trindon Holliday did it, although the officials incorrectly ruled that play a touchdown. Trevathan said he hopes he can make up for his mistake by making more big plays for the Broncos, the same way Holliday did last year.
“After that he scored like 18 more times, so hopefully I can go ahead and do some more,” Trevathan said of Holliday.
If Trevathan ever finds himself racing toward the end zone with the ball in his hands again, I’d advise him to celebrate like Barry Sanders always did: Wait until the official signals touchdown, then hand that official the ball.
