Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Did the Refs make the right call on Monday Night Football? Perhaps

I don't have a dog in this hunt.

I know most people think the Packers were robbed of a win by the replacement refs, especially Packer fans, but I think it's possible that the officials made the correct call, and I'll tell you why.

For a little background, you may remember a little officiating controversy revolving around a "non-catch" that Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions made a couple of years ago.  Here it is:


To nearly everyone on the planet, this looked like a catch.  But according to NFL rules, Johnson did not "complete the process" of making the catch when he let go of the ball and ran out of bounds.  This became known as the "Calvin Johnson rule".  Apparently the guy who nick names rules was on vacation that week.

Flash forward to now.  Monday Night Football.  Seahawks vs. Packers.  Last play of the game.  Hail Mary! 

This was called simultaneous possession which is rewarded to the offense resulting in a game deciding touchdown for Seattle.  Oops?   Maybe not.  Let's look a little closer.

At this point, Jennings has his hands on the ball, but there can be no catch yet because he hasn't come down inbounds with both feet.  He's still up in the air.

Another view.

Only one foot down.  Still not a catch but both offensive and defensive players have hands on the ball.  You might even say Tate is the only one with possession at this point.

Another view.

Here you see both players with possession with the act of making the catch being complete.

Another view of both players on the ground with possession with the process of making a catch completed.

A lot of things can happen from the time the ball is first contacted to the time it is considered "caught".  I'm sure there is plenty of wrestling going on in the pile, but I cannot see anything that makes me think that the replacement referees made the wrong call on this play.  AND the NFL has come out in support of the call, mostly because of the inconclusive replay.  But at any rate, the game is official.  Seachickens win!






No comments:

Post a Comment