TAMPA, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Alterraun Verner crouched down on the field for several seconds, holding tightly to the ball he had just intercepted, as teammates gathered around him. As he made his way the bench, and the magnitude of the moment set in, tears began to flow.
Just 48 hours prior to kickoff, Verner's father, Robert, had died suddenly from a heart attack at the age of 61. Robert had flown to Tampa from California to be with his son and his young family on Thanksgiving. Alterraun was not with the team Friday, but vowed to play, saying before the game that he was dedicating the performance to his father.