Quote:
Originally Posted by mrkajz44
The issue is the rule is trying to be a catch-all rule, but as we all know, each catch can be very different from the next, so a blanket rule doesn't really work.
The spirit of the rule is for the guys going out of bounds and making the amazing catches with two pinkie toes in bounds and then landing OB and the ball jars loose. Just because he had his fingertips around the ball for half a second doesn't mean he actual caught it if he loses the ball going to the ground.
However, this rule is applied as a blanket to all catches now. When he make the move to push the ball over the goal line for a touchdown, I think everyone can agree he caught the ball and had possession. The problem is he is subject to this blanket rule where possession must be maintained to the ground.
What's the solution? You could make the "going to ground" rule apply to catches where the player goes out of bounds only. I know that makes things more complicated, where there are different rules for different catches. However, is that not better than the alternative that we live with right now?
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Maybe but then there would be more fumbles on catches that weren't really catches.
My favorite challenge in football is the one where a team challenges that their own receiver didn't catch the ball.