Quote:
Originally Posted by squiggs96
Let's suppose James was standing in the endzone. Roethlisberger throws him the ball. James jumps up and secures the ball between both hands while in the air. Now further suppose that either James is pushed out of bounds by a receiver, or comes down with one foot out of the back of the endzone on his own, or before he gets the second foot down in the endzone he drops the ball, or a defender rips the ball out before he gets to the ground. All four of these would result in an incomplete pass, and no TD. This is despite James having possession of the ball and the ball breaking the plane.
You need to have possession of the ball and make a catch in order for you to be able to break the plane. By not completing the catch he hasn't made a catch. You can't break the plane if you haven't made a catch. When the ball is being thrown threw the air, no one has possession of it. The reason that it's different for a runner, is possession is continuous from when the QB hands it off to the runner, or if someone picks up the fumble. Possession hasn't been established on a throw. Of course there are different standards for different types of plays.
The rule was enforced properly. You can debate whether the rule is good or not, but there should be no debate on if it was enforced correctly. The ball moved and the runner didn't make a catch. Whether that's in the middle of the field or the endzone, it's still not a catch. Here's a pretty clear view of him not completing the catch: https://twitter.com/michaelFhurley/s...93913336016901. The ball moves and hits the ground. That's not a catch in the NFL. He did not have complete control of the football. Here's the former VP of officiating, Blandino, whom I am no fan of, explaining it: https://twitter.com/DeanBlandino/sta...51139127500800 |
So if James is touched by a Patriot defender and does not reach to break the plane of the goal line, is it then a catch?
The only reason it wasn't a catch was because of a football move to break the plane?
Here is a TD from Xavier Grimble last season at 14 seconds of the clip. Does he not have possession here either then?
Also, the NFL's explanation says that Roethlisberger completes the throw. So how can he complete the pass if it's ruled an incomplete pass?
https://twitter.com/NFLFootballOps/s...59627295764480
Your scenario where he catches it in the endzone and does not come down cleanly with the ball isn't comparable. James came down with the ball outside of the endzone (both feet/legs) and then reached across the goal line.
Ridiculous.