Well, this morning the football world is complaining about a call that the refs got absolutely correct. Sure it took a replay to get it right (overturned completion) but in the end, the NFL came through on this one. It boggles my mind that so many still have no idea that a receiver must maintain possession throughout the act of a catch when they go to the ground. Maybe us Packers fans just know it because of Calvin Johnson and Co. who did not know the rule back when it was instituted.
Here is Mike Pereira, former Vice President of officiating but no longer working for the NFL. This guy is the number one go-to guy when it comes to parsing out the NFL rules:
This is one of the more consistently called rules in the entirety of the NFL and it was correctly overturned to an incomplete pass. Congrats to the NFL for getting this one RIGHT and congrats to Mike McCarthy for throwing in the challenge flag. The Packers move on to Seattle!
Go Pack!
Of course people are going to complain when a correct call goes againt them, but don’t say much when a call goes in their favor even though the call is wrong
It’s not that simple Brady.
This new rule is completely ridiculous, does nothing but create drama and confusion, and is not understood by any fan or player, let alone consistently defined by referees or Mike Pereira.
The play was correctly overturned as “part” of the rule is stated. He did not maintain control all the way to the ground.
But the rest of this rule states that the player must make a football move, which would have taken the “control to the ground” part of the rule out of the equation. This was clearly a catch and fumble (which he recovered in the end zone) by Bryant, according to this new rule.
I’ve not been able to find anywhere which defines exactly what a “football move” consists of, and it’s clear that Mike Pereira didn’t address that part of the rule either. That’s why i pay little attention to Mike Pereira. In my opinion, he’s nothing but a paid drama queen by the media.
In this case, Bryant came down with control of the ball and 2 feet on the ground. Then he transferred the ball to his left hand while making another step towards the end zone. If a full step and transferring the ball to one had after establishing 2 feet down and control is not a football move, no one knows what is.
There is no doubt in my mind that Bryant made a catch in that situation, and that the ground caused a fumble as he went to the ground, which he also recovered.
All of this is why I much, much prefer the old rules. They were more logical, gave receivers due credit for tough catches, were easily understood by everyone, and easily reviewed by officials. I’m paraphrasing the old rules:
1) When a player has established control of the ball and 2 feet, 1 knee, 1 elbow, or butt touch the ground in the field of play, it is a completed catch. (In this case, Bryant came down with control of the ball and 2 feet down, then took a big step towards the end zone – clearly a completed catch.)
2) After contact from an opposing player, when 1 knee, or 1 elbow, or 1 butt touches the ground as the player has control of the ball, the play is over and the player is down at that point. (In this case Bryant is laying on the ground with the ball 1 foot from the goal line after Shields made contact with him, clearly 1st and goal Dallas at the 1 foot mark.)
3) The ground cannot cause a fumble. (In this case, he would not have benefited from the extra half yard gained by fumbling and regaining control of the ball in the end zone. It would have been Cowboys’ ball 1st and goal at the one foot mark.)
There were still 4 minutes left in the game at that point. Rodgers and the entire offense had been playing great in the 4th quarter, so no reason to believe we wouldn’t have drove down for a game winning TD/FG, or possibly game tying FG (if the Cowboys had successfully converted a 2 point play).
But I don’t think anyone in the football world should be happy with the way that play was reviewed. In a game of inches, completed passes need better and clearer definitions than this new rule provides. Players around the NFL and fans of every team were left scratching their heads after this review – for good reason. This rule sucks. I’m glad to have the win, but not how that particular play contributed to it.
On to Seattle. Go Pack go!
David . . . . I like the way you look at this. I definitely thought that it was at least a fumble and recovery in the end zone as you suggested. Almost every Packer fan always seem to feel that any controversial call that goes against them is a bad call while every one that goes in their favor is spot on. I hope you will spread your philosophy throughout the Packer community. I’m tired of the whining on both sides when Pack and Hawks play.
David, the problem with your events ignores the fact that Bryant didn’t have control of the ball going down right away. Shields knocked the ball loose and Bryant had to re establish the catch going down. Meaning no two feet down. When he finally re established the catch is when he tucked it in his left arm on the way down and then the arm and ball hit the ground forcing it loose again. No catch. Refs got it right. Watch the full replay from reverse angle and you will see with your own eyes it is 100% true. Shields saved the day for the Packers.
Exactly!! Thank you!!
Finally someone actually makes sense. Thank you
Lost in all the hupla over the incomplete pass is the play call itself. Plenty of time left… Fourth and 2 with arguably the best running back and O-line in the league and you throw up what was basically a Hail Mary that pretty much ended the game for Dallas? COME ON MAN !!!
I thought he dropped it..glad it went our way..GOPACKGO
I want to make clear of the play and why it is not a catch.
First we would not be debating any of this if it was not for Shields defensive play on the ball.
Shields knocked the ball loose as soon as Bryant caught it.
Just enough to be noticeable and disrupt the whole process of the catch. The ball knocked loose forced Bryant to try and re establish possession while heading to the ground. In this process of heading to the ground and ones self preservation arms become extended. Bryant at this point seems to have regained control of the football cradling it with one hand and forearm. Bryant uses one foot to push towards the goal line while falling. This is not considered a football move when vertical and going to the ground. Once Bryants arm hits the ground the ball comes loose a second time with the ball clearly touching the ground. This is not a fumble as the player has not made a football move after a clear catch. It was not until Bryant rolled into the end zone that he gained complete control of the ball, by that time it was too late because the ball hit the ground. Hence incomplete pass. If Shields does not knock that ball loose Bryant has two hands on the ball and most likely a TD. Shields is the hero here that no one has talked about on this play. To Mr. Shields I tip my hat. Good play sir. Good play.
Great explanation and great point! Thank you
Nice explanation Richard, except that it’s not based upon what actually happened. Watch the play again. I’ve just watched it again and again, rewinding and pausing during every aspect of the play and replays. I’m watching it on NFL Game Pass as I post this. I can’t stand the Cowboys, probably the team I like beating the most. I can’t stand officials screwing up reviews either.
The play on the field was correctly ruled a catch. The ref immediately spotted the ball at the 1 foot mark because Bryant’s right elbow had been down before the ball came out of his left hand. In order to make that call, the ref believed Bryant had exhibited control with 2 feet down, performed a football move while transferring the ball to his left hand and diving from his left foot toward the end zone, and was down by contact before the ball came out. There is no fumble after being down by contact.
It was the right call. It required irrefutable evidence to overturn the call on the field.
The bobble was never part of the decision to overturn the play, and it didn’t happen when you seem to think it did. It happened 3 feet in the air, before either of Bryant’s feet touched the ground. Shields’ hand made contact with Bryant’s hand and the ball as they both went up for it. Bryant slightly bobbled the ball at that point. Bryant regained control with 2 hands before either foot touched the ground. Shields fell away from Bryant after the initial contact, and his hands were never close to Bryant again. In fact, Bryant tripped over Shields’ feet on his 2nd of 3 steps, or he wouldn’t have gone down at all.
The call was overturned for 1 reason. The NY officials felt Bryant had not exhibited a football move prior to the ball making contact with the ground. That made the fumble relevant, as he had to maintain control all the way to the ground. If a football move had been awarded, the play was called correctly on the field.
If, after establishing 2 feet down with control (which I’ve not seen anyone but you argue differently), another step and dive and transferring the ball to one hand is not a football move, there is no such thing as a football move.
Never did Bryant lose control of the ball after both feet were on the ground, until the ball hit the ground a full 2 steps later. That’s a catch according to current NFL rules.
How many times have we seen fumbles overturned because a knee or elbow hit the ground before the ball came out? The only difference in this case, is that the NY officials ruled there was not a football move prior to the elbow hitting the ground. Wrong call, stupid rule.
I’m all for Packers’ fans having differences of opinion. Diversity is strength. But this is not that. This is you basing your argument on skewed information. If you watch the play a few more times and still believe there was irrefutable evidence of a bobble later on, I’d have to question your eye sight. Go Pack go!