Green Bay v. Seattle last play 09/24/2012

[icwhatudo]

Here is the full statement from the NFL:

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.

[The KG9 Kid]

Sports experts (lawyers) are saying that the NFL's explanation for this is an entirely new application of the rule and -- for the reasons mentioned above -- irrelevant to the incident.

Photos prove that Tate 'caught' Jennings and momentarily had his hand on the ball, then lost it. On his weak side, he dropped the arm from any presumed contact with the ball to make contact with the ground as they fell. The other arm was not on the ball, but horse-collaring Jennings. That's not 'control' and would be ruled an incomplete reception, but somehow Tate gets the touchdown because he was seen briefly touching a ball he could have never caught and possessed. The fact remains that only Jennings maintained complete possession and control of the ball. The last thing you're missing is that the booth reviewers cannot overturn the ruling on the field under the circumstances. That's not the same as assent, it's an obligation.

In short, the NFL just invented their reasoning for why the ruling stands. For obvious political reasons, naturally, during the referee lockout. They have to call an end to the furor, even if they know they're absolutely wrong and their explanation is pure fantasy. Positively medieval Catholic.

Stand your ground if you choose; that's your prerogative. No sports fan outside of a fraction of Seattle fans and players agree with you. The NFL's explanation didn't make anyone say 'Oooohh. Now we see. Thanks for setting us straight NFL.' If you just want to be contrary because it's hip to be contrary, then that's different -- but you're going to find that you're the odd man out for the rest of your life taking the opposing viewpoint on this incident whenever historic sports trivia is the subject.

[NowApproachingMidnight]

Seattle is great, however the men on your football team are all acting like little Obamas.

[GilesB]

You are most welcome - thanks for the kind words.

[GilesB]

You are confusing “catch” with completion.

The catch is a necessary part of a completion, the first part. “A forward pass is complete...” It doesn't say a forward pass is CAUGHT or is a CATCH - although common usage equates catch and completion, further examination of the two rules together makes it clear that they are not used interchageably in the rulebook.

(a) “secures control of the ball in his hands or arms prior to the ball touching the ground” (that's the catch - Jennings did that)
(b) “touches the ground inbounds with both feet or with any part of his body other than his hands” (this, with (c) is the maintains control part. What is implied, though not clearly stated, is that the player maintains control as they touch the ground - Jennings did that)

Tate did neither a nor c, despite what the NFL said - they are lying out of their beast of burden, and they know it.

“Simultaneous Catch. If a pass is caught (part a, above) simultaneously by two eligible opponents, and both players retain it (parts b and c above), the ball belongs to the passers. It is not a simultaneous catch if a player gains control first (part a above) and an opponent subsequently gains joint control. (this is exactly what Tate did)”

If your interpretation were correct, the simultaneous catch rule would not contain the catch and retain wording, it would simply say “complete”. In the SC rule, they briefly restate the completion components (a) - gaining control or “catching” and (b),(c) retaining control.

I don't expect you to concede this, but it is patently clear that the use of the word “catch” is not synonymous with “complete”, as you are trying to do. I could win this point easily and soundly in any debate forum or in court. It is really not in dispute.