Posted on 12/17/2017 5:14:29 PM PST by a little elbow grease
As a Steeler fan who just endured that game:
I only have one thing to say about the ending of that game:
As I understand the rule of a “pass catch” it is when a player 1. --- takes possession of the thrown ball , THEN 2. ---- makes what they call “a football move”. That is what determines a catch. 1 and 2.
(This rule I believe was first employed just a few years ago concerning a catch and a subsequent fumble. A catch was determined a catch if the receiver took control of the ball and then made “a football move” before he may fumble it when hit.) --- a pretty crappy rule no matter what.
Well……….. our Steeler player definitely 1. -- caught that ball and had complete control over it, then 2. --- reached out (IN “A FOOTBALL MOVE”)…… never having been touched by the other team (not that that is at all relevant) …….he reached over the goal line and as the ball was in his grasp the ball hit the ground slightly but the ball was still in his grasp.
That is a CERTAIN CATCH AND TOUCHDOWN because he took control of the ball then (reached over the goal line—“a football move”) with the ball and kept control never having been touched by the opponent. Touchdown.
1.--- It was a completed pass THEN 2. --- he made “a football move” reaching into the end zone -- that term is in the rule book. He landed in the end zone keeping control of the ball AFTER THE CATCH AND “THE FOOTBALL MOVE”. (Even if he “bobbled” the ball slightly, he had made a catch AND made that required "football move" as he reached over the goal line. ) Total horsesh*t call.
If the NFL had any balls (that aren’t deflated), they would admit they made a HUGE MISTAKE for the owner of the Patriots, Robert Kraft.
Total BS
The Steelers outplayed those New England characters most of the night, except for that beastly tight end of theirs.
Well……… we’ll see them later this year, and I don’t care where that game will be played, we may have Antonio Brown back for the entire game then.
The Patriots are going down the next time, no matter where it is played. (jmo)
Item 1. Player Going to the Ground. A player is considered to be going to the ground if he does not remain upright long enough to demonstrate that he is clearly a runner. If a player goes to the ground in the act of catching a pass (with or without contact by an opponent), he must maintain control of the ball until after his initial contact with the ground, whether in the field of play or the end zone. If he loses control of the ball, and the ball touches the ground before he regains control, the pass is incomplete.
https://operations.nfl.com/the-rules/nfl-video-rulebook/completing-a-catch/
Yeah, them Rams are still wondering how Seattle got 7 points.
Cooks bobbles ball, ball touches ground on winning TD earlier in the season:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzUGKd6qI0w
“NFL explained why the Steelers’ game-winning TD against the Patriots was overturned. Here’s the flaw.”
Cowboys win by three because of wacky Oakland touchback.
And now everybody in Dallas is a Tampa Bay fan, LOL!
Some suggestions for The NBA. 1. Remove the nets, then teams can argue if the shot went through the hoop ala NFL arguments about a legal catch.
I thought I've seen it all in the NFL. Boy, was I wrong.
The receiver caught the ball, made an aggressive move towards the goal line. His knee hit the ground and he lunged towards the end zone and clearly "broke the plane".
TOUCHDOWN!!!
He did have control of the ball after his initial contact with the ground.
The Panthers are too good for Tampa. Sorry ‘bout that.
It’s a playoff game which ended with a controversial call. Lots of unhappy Steeler fans! Quizical Patriots fans! No one’s very happy. Good! Poetic justice!!!
As a Cowboys fan, I know a lot about the lawyer dissection of a catch. Another reason why the NFL play is causing the sport to lose interest with the fans. Games come down to paragraph descriptions, multiple replays, and endless ref flags wrapped around commercials.
You’re missing three things. First, the receiver was never touched by a defensive player. So the ball was NOT dead when his knee touched the ground. Second, if you watch the video, the ball touched the ground. And as soon as that happens, it’s considered a factor in his getting control of the ball which instantly negates the catch. Third, the precedent for defining a “football move” has been to take steps while maintaining control of the ball. He took no steps after the ball contacted him. Keep in mind that this rule was set up the reduce the number of fumbles that were occurring when receivers got hit by a defender (or in this case, the ground) before the receiver could make a “football move”. That call was not confirmed by the officials on the field. It was confirmed by the NFL review team ostensibly consisting of the best officiating minds in the league. With the advent of incredibly precise and revealing video capabilities, officials are required to parse plays literally to the millisecond. As long as the rules are applied consistently, no one should have a beef.
“He took no steps after the ball contacted him.”
He technically became a runner when he made his football move by stretching for the goal line.
Refs are not there to ensure a fair game, they are there to make sure their “right” team wins....
And they wonder why their ratings keep dropping
Ho hum - what a waste of time...
Painful........
Suffice it to say........... the damn rule needs to be changed.
That was a catch and a TD, as I have known it for 65+ years of watching football.
________
You're right. I learned that rule over night. The possession rule is DIFFERENT for a runner with the ball and a receiver who catches a ball.
The rule needs to be changed........... because the Steeler receiver plainly caught and controlled that ball before his knee hit the ground, then he reached over the goal line, slightly losing control of the ball.
Oh well........... it's over, it's nearly 2:00a.m., and they'll all play another day.
... great post.
The receiver caught the ball, made an aggressive move towards the goal line. His knee hit the ground and he lunged towards the end zone and clearly "broke the plane".
TOUCHDOWN!!!
___________
Apparently not with today's NFL rules.
This relatively new rule is absurd.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.