^^^ my comments to your post. it was definitely incomplete pass according to the rule as written.
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?
- if he holds onto the ball then yes and down by contact. if he didn't control it then incomplete
The only reason it wasn't a catch was because of a football move to break the plane?
- not really, but by reaching he caused the ball to move and wasn't touched. this was in the same motion of catch going to ground, must maintain control which he clearly didn't
Here is a TD from Xavier Grimble last season at 14 seconds of the clip. Does he not have possession here either then?
- Grimble play is different in that his lunge is after the catch and he remains upright by putting the hand on the ground. he's considered a runner at that point. James never remained upright and lost possession going to ground
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?
throw and pass are 2 separate things. Thrown was complete to receiver however receiver lost control of the ball after the catch going to the ground.
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
- James stretched out for the goal line while still going to the ground in the motion of the catch. if he was say a yard short lunged then got up and lunged again and fumbled after the 2nd attempt it would have counted. because it was still in the motion of the original catch he has to maintain possession
|