Buccaneers rookie linebacker Kwon Alexander made several key plays against the Falcons on Sunday, just two days after his younger brother was killed in a fight.
According to the Anniston Star, 17-year old Broderick Taylor was killed by gun shot on Friday night in Anniston, Ala. The Star reported that Jerald Bailey, 24, has been charged with murder.
“It’s been hard losing my little brother but I know he would want me to be strong for him, so I came out here and dedicated this game to him,” Alexander said. “I’m just ready to get back to my family now.”
Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith gave Alexander the option of not playing.
“Sometimes when you are going through tough times like that, you need to be around your other family and do something that you really love to take your mind off of what’s going on at home,” Smith said.
The Bucs drafted Alexander, 21, in the fourth round of the draft out of LSU and he’s started all seven games. He played a superb game against the Falcons.
Alexander forced a fumble against Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones and recovered it to set up a field goal in the first quarter. he intercepted a pass by quarterback Matt Ryan in the second quarter, leading to Jameis Winston’s 20-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Brate.
Alexander also intercepted Ryan’s pass in the end zone in the first quarter and returned it 93 yards but the play was negated by a penalty.
The Bucs won 23-20 in overtime.
“We did it for Kwon,” Winston said. “When a brother goes down, we are our brother’s keeper. That’s our attitude. We had to be our brother’s keeper. With all the pain and the burden, he decided to go and play for us so we have to play for him, too. He was ready. He was playing with a purpose.”
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