Rematch evokes playoff flub fest

By: MIKE SULLIVAN - Staff Writer | Thursday, September 13, 2007 11:37 PM PDT ∞

SAN DIEGO -- Marlon McCree's mother will check in with him via phone today, offering words of support and wisdom. The veteran free safety is hoping she doesn't want to rehash a certain play from the Chargers' playoff loss to New England.

After the January loss in which McCree intercepted a fourth-down pass late in the game and then lost a fumble while returning the ball, his mother checked in with some unsolicited advice and reminded him that LaDainian Tomlinson is one of his teammates.

"My mom asked me what happened and I said, 'Mom, I was trying to make a play. I have one guy to beat, and if I make him miss, I'm in the end zone and I score a touchdown,' " McCree recalled earlier this week. "She said, 'Yeah but son, you all got L.T., the touchdown machine.' She loves L.T.

"She didn't say it in a mean spirit at all. She was trying to make me laugh a little bit. But it didn't work."

McCree's miscue was one of numerous damaging plays as the Chargers lost 24-21 in the divisional playoffs in January, a contest being recalled this week since the two teams meet again Sunday night in Foxborough, Mass.

The blunder occurred with the Chargers leading by eight points with just over six minutes remaining. If McCree didn't fumble the ball -- or had fallen to the ground immediately after the pick or simply knocked down the fourth-down pass -- the Chargers could have worked the clock with Tomlinson, the NFL MVP last season.

But New England's Troy Brown tapped the ball out of McCree's hands and the Patriots' Reche Caldwell recovered. New England then scored 11 consecutive points to unceremoniously end the Chargers' season.

McCree was hoping to sidestep the subject this week, but there was no way for him to avoid it when circled by a pack of probing reporters.

"I have let it go," McCree said. "I have moved on. I can't take it back. That was '06 (season), this is '07. Now I'm just trying to get ready to help put my team in position to get back there. Hopefully, that thing won't happen again."

McCree's fumble wasn't the only hurtful play that mid-January afternoon. There were numerous mishaps that contributed.

Cornerback Drayton Florence made a costly mistake after Shaun Phillips had sacked New England quarterback Tom Brady on a third-down play. Florence was flagged for head-butting Patriots tight end Daniel Graham, and the 15-yard penalty gave the Patriots an automatic first down instead of facing fourth-and-21 from the Chargers' 37.

So instead of either punting or trying a long field-goal attempt, the Patriots continued their drive and eventually cashed in on Stephen Gostkowski's 34-yard field goal.

"That's all in the past," Florence said. "That's something you have to learn from and don't let it happen again."

Those two plays were magnified after the defeat -- as was Eric Parker's muff of a punt and the unsuccessful decision by former coach Marty Schottenheimer to bypass a field-goal attempt to go for it on fourth-and-11 from the New England 30 in the opening quarter -- but there were other not-as-memorable plays that contributed.

Unsolicited, strong safety Clinton Hart pointed out his own missed opportunity after Thursday's practice.

On New England's third offensive play of the game from its own 12, Brady's pass bounced off cornerback Quentin Jammer. The ball caromed high in the air toward Hart, who leaped despite no Patriot player being near him. Hart dropped the easy interception.

Hart said that he simply took his eye off the ball.

"I let one slip by," Hart said. "I dropped an interception. I owe this organization, and I owe this team and I owe the fans."

Hart said he doesn't mind talking about the play because it helps him deal with frustration over the missed opportunity. But what all the Chargers would really like to do is put together a mistake-free performance this Sunday against the Patriots to help put the playoff loss in the rear-view mirror.

"We did some uncharacteristic things in that game that we didn't do all last year," linebacker Shawne Merriman said. "Everything that could happen wrong happened. That game is so far past us right now."

Chargers notes
TE Antonio Gates (back) was a full practice participant Thursday, one day after missing practice. RB Andrew Pinnock (hamstring) also returned to practice. OLB Shawne Merriman (Achilles' tendon) also was a full participant. SS Clinton Hart (quadriceps) said he's about 80 to 85 percent healthy but will be 100 percent by game night. QB Tom Brady (shoulder) and WR Randy Moss (team decision) were among the New England players who were limited participants Thursday. The Patriots didn't reveal the reason for Moss' limited practice time. ... Special teams coverage ace Kassim Osgood took notice of the record 108-yard kickoff return by New England's Ellis Hobbs and noted the play is a reminder that you just can't expect a returner to down the ball. "That's how we practice it," Osgood said. "Cover it no matter what until they down it and blow the whistle."

Contact staff writer Mike Sullivan at (760) 739-6645 or msullivan@nctimes.com.