[FlyVet]

You have a point. In 40 years of watching football on TV, I can't remember another incidence like that. Intentional grounding is usually within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. That was way down the field. If that's illegal, why isn't throwing it out of bounds illegal? The same intent is obvious.

Like the Calvin Johnson "possession" controversy from last year, I think the NFL has too many pointy-heads making up the rules.

The very next week after the Calvin Johnson thing, I watched a highlight reel of a receiver making an almost-identical catch in the end zone. But, he lost control of the ball after he crossed the plane of the sideline, and it was ruled a touchdown.

[Conscience of a Conservative]

You have a point. In 40 years of watching football on TV, I can't remember another incidence like that. Intentional grounding is usually within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. That was way down the field. If that's illegal, why isn't throwing it out of bounds illegal? The same intent is obvious.

Throwing throwing the ball out of bounds without a receiver in the area is illegal, and is called when it happens (though NFL quarterbacks are usually smart enough to throw it close enough to a receiver that it's not going to be called very often).

[BenLurkin]

The fact that there was no receiver in sight could just as easily have been due to a miscommunication between receiver and quarterback.

There is no way an official could know, unless he was psychic. Or maybe he was thinking “gotta be on the lookout for a safety” and then screwed up because of the Superbowl jitters. Or....Las Vegas?

As John Madden once famously said, “You have to remember, there are three teams on the field."

[yarddog]

I have never seen that called either but after it was explained, it was a correct call. I also noticed the players picked up on it immediately and began making “safety” symbols with their hands.