Callahan Calls Sabotage Allegations “Ludicrous and Defamatory”

Former Raiders receiver Tim Brown recently accused Bill Callahan of sabotaging the team's efforts in Super Bowl XXXVII

Former Oakland Raiders receiver and should-be Hall of Famer Tim Brown caused a stir this week when he said that then-head coach Bill Callahan “sabotaged” the team in their 48-21 Super Bowl XXXVII loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by changing the game plan just 36 hours prior to kickoff. He went so far as to suggest that he was doing his friend, Bucs’ head coach Jon Gruden, a favor by doing so. A pretty serious accusation, and one that was backed up by Brown’s Raiders’ teammate, the legendary Jerry Rice.

Now the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive line coach/offensive coordinator, Callahan responded on Tuesday, vehemently denying the charge in a statement.

“There are many people who are disappointed by the outcome of Super Bowl XXVII, but none more than me," Callahan said, per ESPN Dallas. "While I fully understand a competitive professional football player’s disappointment when a game’s outcome doesn’t go his team’s way, I am shocked, saddened and outraged by Tim Brown’s allegations and Jerry Rice’s support of those allegations made through various media outlets over the last twenty four hours.

"To leave no doubt, I categorically and unequivocally deny the sum and substance of their allegations. Like every game I ever coached on the professional or collegiate level, I endeavor to the best of my professional ability to position my team to win. To suggest otherwise, especially at this time when it involved the Super Bowl, is ludicrous and defamatory.

"I have always honored the spirit of competition that drives us to sport as children and, for the lucky few, sustains us in adulthood. Any suggestion that I would undermine the integrity of the sport that I love and dedicate my life to, or dishonor the commitment I made to our players, coaches and fans, is flat out wrong. I think it would be in the best interests of all including the game America loves that these allegations be retracted immediately.

"I want to extend my personal and my family’s deep appreciation to the coaches, players and fans who have come forward and thoughtfully spoken out against these ill-conceived allegations.”

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