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NFL supports decision to not overturn Seahawks’ touchdown
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000066164/article/nfl-supports-decision-to-not-overturn-seahawks-touchdown?module=HP11_breaking_news ^ | National Football league

Posted on 09/25/2012 10:45:44 AM PDT by djf

In Monday's game between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks, Seattle faced a 4th-and-10 from the Green Bay 24 with eight seconds remaining in the game.

Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson threw a pass into the end zone. Several players, including Seattle wide receiver Golden Tate and Green Bay safety M.D. Jennings, jumped into the air in an attempt to catch the ball.

While the ball is in the air, Tate can be seen shoving Green Bay cornerback Sam Shields to the ground. This should have been a penalty for offensive pass interference, which would have ended the game. It was not called and is not reviewable in instant replay.

When the players hit the ground in the end zone, the officials determined that both Tate and Jennings had possession of the ball. Under the rule for simultaneous catch, the ball belongs to Tate, the offensive player. The result of the play was a touchdown.

Replay Official Howard Slavin stopped the game for an instant replay review. The aspects of the play that were reviewable included if the ball hit the ground and who had possession of the ball. In the end zone, a ruling of a simultaneous catch is reviewable. That is not the case in the field of play, only in the end zone.

Referee Wayne Elliott determined that no indisputable visual evidence existed to overturn the call on the field, and as a result, the on-field ruling of touchdown stood. The NFL Officiating Department reviewed the video today and supports the decision not to overturn the on-field ruling following the instant replay review.

The result of the game is final.

Applicable rules to the play are as follows:

A player (or players) jumping in the air has not legally gained possession of the ball until he satisfies the elements of a catch listed here.

Rule 8, Section 1, Article 3 of the NFL Rule Book defines a catch:

A forward pass is complete (by the offense) or intercepted (by the defense) if a player, who is inbounds:

(a) secures control of the ball in his hands or arms prior to the ball touching the ground; and

(b) touches the ground inbounds with both feet or with any part of his body other than his hands; and

(c) maintains control of the ball long enough, after (a) and (b) have been fulfilled, to enable him to perform any act common to the game (i.e., maintaining control long enough to pitch it, pass it, advance with it, or avoid or ward off an opponent, etc.).

When a player (or players) is going to the ground in the attempt to catch a pass, Rule 8, Section 1, Article 3, Item 1 states:

Player Going to the Ground. 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 throughout the process of contacting 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. If he regains control prior to the ball touching the ground, the pass is complete.

Rule 8, Section 1, Article 3, Item 5 states:

Simultaneous Catch. If a pass is caught simultaneously by two eligible opponents, and both players retain it, the ball belongs to the passers. It is not a simultaneous catch if a player gains control first and an opponent subsequently gains joint control. If the ball is muffed after simultaneous touching by two such players, all the players of the passing team become eligible to catch the loose ball.


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: alteredtitle; chat; nfl; officiating; seattle; sourcetitlenoturl; vanity
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To: Ronald_Magnus

Cannot tell from these selective pictures/video what Jennings left leg does. Inconclusive at best...which is why the NFL said there wasn’t enough evidence. They did not confirm the call.

I have no dog in this fight (college football fan) but that call appeared to me to be totally blown by the rule of simultaneous possession that I heard.

The biggest problem is the officials losing control of these games. 24 penalties in both of the Sunday night and Monday night games. This will get worse now.


61 posted on 09/25/2012 12:10:31 PM PDT by Wyatt's Torch (I can explain it to you. I can't understand it for you.)
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To: MHGinTN

The sportsbooks reportedly won $150 million on last nights game (some estimate more).


62 posted on 09/25/2012 12:14:31 PM PDT by lwd
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To: jayrunner
I watched the game. In a Raiders-Stealers game, Franco Harris caught the “Immaculate Reception.” One of the referees said afterwards, “We asked the ground crew about security and upon being told there wasn’t any, we signaled fair catch.”

I had the same feeling last night, there was about a 3 second break between the words “We have reviewed the play.” and “It was a touchdown.”

The Seahawks fans were screaming. Could you image the rage if the decision would’ve been “Interception”?

Funny you mention that. I had the same feeling last night too. It's been 40 years since that game but I thought to myself that the ref's biggest concern was safely getting outta Seattle as the fever pitch was VERY high at that point. I guess I should leave SOME room for ineptitude though...lol
63 posted on 09/25/2012 12:18:40 PM PDT by copaliscrossing (Progressives are Socialists)
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To: djf

The bad calls changed the outcome and shifted an estimated $500M in bets.

Good thing it was just an accident. With that amount of money sloshing around, people might think those refs, or those who hired and placed the refs, or those who review the refs, or those who have something on those who reviewed ro hired or placed those refs, might have been paid off.

Fortunately, there’s not nearly enough money in that $500M to pay so many people to go against their consciences.

:: whew! ::


64 posted on 09/25/2012 12:20:56 PM PDT by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
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To: RainMan

>>While both players were still in mid-air, Tates left arm was between Jennings chest and the ball. Tates right arm was outside both Jennings arms, but still on the ball. Possession requires being on the ground and in control. By the time they were on the ground and in control, it was still being held by both men.<<

I respectfully disagree. Having your hand on the ball is not “possession” by any possible definition. When Jennings hit the ground, Tate just had a hand on the ball and was not even CLOSE to possession. Jennings hits the ground on his butt in contact with Tate making him down by contact WITH possession of the ball.

Until Tate wrested it from Jennings well after they were on the ground he did not come close to any definition of “possession.”

I agree Jennings should have batted the ball away and certainly created the situation. But that is like blaming the guy who hits the brakes for the car behind him rear-ending him.

Bad call by the refs.

Not counting the non-interference call and the false interference call.

Home cookin’ is alive with the replacement refs.


65 posted on 09/25/2012 12:26:02 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (We canÂ’t just leave it (food choice) up to the parents. -- moochele obozo 2/12/2012 (cnsnews))
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To: Ronald_Magnus

Look at your own replay.

Tate has a HAND on the ball. Jennings rolls away (down by contact when his butt hits the turf) with both hands on the ball while Tate has one hand on the ball and other on Jennings’ helmet.

Piss poor call.


66 posted on 09/25/2012 12:31:14 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (We canÂ’t just leave it (food choice) up to the parents. -- moochele obozo 2/12/2012 (cnsnews))
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To: Ronald_Magnus
What do you think about THIS one?
67 posted on 09/25/2012 12:32:40 PM PDT by RckyRaCoCo (I prefer liberty with danger to peace with slavery, IXNAY THE TSA!)
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To: freedumb2003

YOU watch the replay. BOTH of Tates’ hands reach up and grab the football.


68 posted on 09/25/2012 12:34:17 PM PDT by Ronald_Magnus
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To: djf
With this announcement, to my mind the NFL has become as believable as Professional Wrestling. As far as I'm concerned, the refs are there to steer the game to the desired, pre-determined outcome, and they will make their calls accordingly.

I'll still enjoy watching the athletic play, but I won't bother rooting for one team over another any more.

69 posted on 09/25/2012 12:35:11 PM PDT by Bear_in_RoseBear (Gentlemen may cry, "Peace, peace," but there is no peace. The war is actually begun!)
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To: RckyRaCoCo

Refs called it no catch for Johnson, and the NFL later backed them up. Concerning last nights play, the refs called it a TD, and the NFL just now backed them up.


70 posted on 09/25/2012 12:39:12 PM PDT by Ronald_Magnus
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To: Bear_in_RoseBear

I think NFL’s hands were tied in this one.

If they had reversed any of the rulings, then EVERY game from EVERY weekend would be appealed to them, which would be totally unworkable.

They can’t set that kind of precedent, it would destroy football as we know it. Luv it or hate it...


71 posted on 09/25/2012 12:41:45 PM PDT by djf (Political Science: Conservatives = govern-ment. Liberals = givin-me-it.)
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To: RainMan
Either you're a Seahawk fan or you have the Obama mentality whereby you believe your explanation supercedes reality..

I watched a Titan's defensive back on Sunday "bat the ball down to the ground" on what was the supposed final play of the Titans-Lions game. That resulted in the batted down pass being caught by the Lions and a TOUCHDOWN which sent the game into overtime.

Your explanation holds as much plausibility as Obama's Foreign Policy.

72 posted on 09/25/2012 12:45:45 PM PDT by VideoDoctor
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To: Ronald_Magnus

>>YOU watch the replay. BOTH of Tates’ hands reach up and grab the football.<<

Since when are NFL footballs yellow with a big G on them? Soccer, maybe...


73 posted on 09/25/2012 12:49:58 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (We canÂ’t just leave it (food choice) up to the parents. -- moochele obozo 2/12/2012 (cnsnews))
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To: djf

Referee Bill Leavy admitted to blowing calls in that Super Bowl four years after the fact.


74 posted on 09/25/2012 12:51:43 PM PDT by flair2000
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To: freedumb2003

I assume you’re saying one of Tate’s hands grabs the defender’s helmet, but I don’t see that.


75 posted on 09/25/2012 12:56:33 PM PDT by Ronald_Magnus
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green bay played horribly. they should’ve played better and they wouldnt be in this position.


76 posted on 09/25/2012 12:58:02 PM PDT by snowstorm12
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To: Ronald_Magnus
Tate is bringing the ball to his body as he's going to the ground. Are you and I looking at the same slow mo?

The ball hits the fingertips of his fully extended left hand with no sembloence of control. Jennings gets two hands on the ball and secures it to his chest on the way down, and maintains control when his feet land. The Seahawk, still has that left hand stuck in there since Jennings is controlling the ball against his chest.

After Jennings feet touch, he starts to fall forward at which time the Seahawks right hand comes around, grabs the helmet, scoots over the facemask, and then squirms in to where Jennings is still controlling the ball.

I guess we are both seeing what we want to see...

77 posted on 09/25/2012 12:58:41 PM PDT by !1776!
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To: !1776!

“I guess we are both seeing what we want to see... “

What I see is the same thing the NFL sees.


78 posted on 09/25/2012 1:02:43 PM PDT by Ronald_Magnus
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To: djf
Ha Ha!
79 posted on 09/25/2012 1:04:03 PM PDT by IslamE (epiphany)
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To: Ronald_Magnus
BOTH of Tates’ hands reach up and grab the football.

BOTH of them, except for the RIGHT one, which solids grabs ahold of Jennings RIGHT forearm while BOTH BOTH of Jennings hands are controlling the football...

;)

80 posted on 09/25/2012 1:04:09 PM PDT by !1776!
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