Tim Brown and to a lesser extent Jerry Rice have accused Bill Callahan of throwing Super Bowl XXXVII, intentionally losing that contest to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers because, supposedly, he hated the Raiders and liked Jon Gruden. Those accusations seem rather insane, but Bill Callahan isn't satisfied at that. Here's his statement on the matter, via AP.

"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 24 hours," Callahan said Tuesday in a statement. "To leave no doubt, I categorically and unequivocally deny the sum and substance of their allegations."

[..]

Callahan, currently the offensive line coach for the Dallas Cowboys, said he tried to win the game and suggestions to the contrary were "ludicrous and defamatory."

"Any suggestion that I would undermine the integrity of the sport that I love and dedicated my life to, or dishonor the commitment I made to our players, coaches and fans is flat out wrong," he said. "I think it would be in the best interests of all, including the game America loves, that these allegations be retracted immediately."

The relevant word here, to me, is "defamatory". It suggests not just that what Tim Brown said is false, but also that it Callahan may take legal action against Brown. The results of such a lawsuit would be intriguing, to say the least.

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