Tyms Celebrates First Career Touchdown With Leap Into Stands
BOSTON (CBS) -- Brian Tyms had never caught a touchdown pass in the NFL, so when he hauled in a 26-yard score from Jimmy Garoppolo on Thursday night, he wanted to make the celebration count.
Tyms scored the Patriots only touchdown in their 23-6 preseason loss to Washington, a beautiful deep catch from rookie quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo with 1:23 left in the game. The outcome was all-but decided in the meaningless game, but the score meant the world to Tyms, who took a leap into the FedEx Field crowd.
"I was just so excited because that was my first one," Tyms explained after the game. "I hadn't been in the end zone other than in practice, so I was excited. God gave me a second chance at it so I capitalized. It was pretty good."
Tyms had a very good night overall, hauling in five catches for 119 yards and the score. He could have had his first touchdown earlier in the game when he made a nice juggling catch in the third quarter and appeared to come down with the ball in the end zone. But the officials ruled it an incomplete pass, which was negated by a pass interference call on the Redskins.
But Tyms made the most of it when he got a second chance to find the end zone late in the fourth quarter, speeding by the Washington secondary as he had done numerous times throughout the evening.
Now he's hoping his strong performance will help his case with his latest team.
"All that matters is winning and earning respect," said Tyms, who went undrafted out of Florida A & M in 2012. "Just hard work, trying to find a role. This is a great team with great players, from staff, coaches, ownership. I'm just trying to show these guys that I belong."
Tyms has bounced around in his two NFL seasons, first signing on with the San Francisco 49ers practice squad in the 2012 preseason. He was signed by the Dolphins that September, and even traveled with the team for their season-finale against the Patriots in Foxboro, but did not see any game action. He then landed with the Cleveland Browns in 2013 and appeared in seven games, catching two passes in Week 16 against the Jets.
But with a crop of young receivers already in New England, Tyms understands it will be an uphill battle the rest of the way. He isn't thinking about that right now though, and is just focused on proving himself whenever he steps on the field.
"I just do what I'm coached to do and play for my teammates. I love this game, so I give it my all and whatever I put out there is out there," he said.
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