ESPN announcer Joe Buck admits he feels ‘sick’ at an apparent curse of the commentator after calling Monday’s game between Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Baltimore Ravens in the NFL.
Despite cutting a 24-point deficit to 10, Buck urged Bucs head coach Todd Bowles to accept the loss and take some of his star players out the game for protection. The Bucs were starting their final drive at their own 25-yard line and with no timeouts and 1:34 on the clock, the game was as good as done.
‘I know it’s a 10-point game, and I know you don’t give up on games, but at some point, you want to get out of here and live to fight another day,’ Buck said.
Moments later, wide receiver Chris Godwin went down with a sickening dislocated ankle injury after a tackle from Roquan Smith that is now under review for being a hip drop tackle. Godwin has since had surgery and his season is all but over, while ESPN chose not to show the gruesome replay. The Bucs lost 41-31.
You kind of feel sick that happened,’ Buck said to The Athletic. ‘I’d rather be wrong.
Chris Godwin’s ankle dislocation will likely rule him out for the rest of the NFL season
Godwin was hurt after a tackle from Roquan Smith in the Bucs’ loss to Baltimore Ravens
Joe Buck (left) warned the Bucs on leaving their stars on the field moments before the injury
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‘I would rather nothing had happened. Not that anybody is different than anybody else, but Godwin is one of the really great guys in the league.’
As Godwin went down, Buck said live on the air: ‘Oh no. He can’t get up. I’m told from our production truck we are not going to show the replay.’
The Godwin injury compounded a bad night for the Bucs, who lost another wide receiver in Mike Evans earlier in the game with a hamstring issue. Evans is expected to be out until after their Week 11 bye.
Speaking Monday after the game, Bowles defended his decision to keep Godwin on the field.
‘He’s a player, and we’re trying to win the ball game,’ Bowles said. ‘We were down 10, so we were still trying to get points and kick another onside kick, and it just happened.
‘With Mike [Evans] going down we didn’t have that many receivers as it was, so we played with what we had.
‘It’s unfortunate he (Godwin) got hurt and we feel bad about that. But he’s a football player and he wanted to be in the game just like Baker (Mayfield, the quarterback) and everyone else wanted to be in the game.’
The cart had to be brought out after the 28-year-old had his left ankle get caught under Baltimore linebacker Smith at the end of a 21-yard reception.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield praised ‘unbelievable’ Godwin moments after he got hurt
Godwin was crawling on the field following the hit from Smith, and medical personnel put his foot in an air cast once he got into the back of the cart.
Mayfield paid tribute to Godwin after the game, saying: ‘He’s an unbelievable guy, unbelievable teammate. Obviously you guys have seen he’s been playing extraordinary this year. I’ve got a heavy heart right now.’
The Bucs, 4-3 for the season, face NFC South rivals Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.