NFL morning after: Bad rules a big problem for the NFL PFT

[cowboyjoe]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...ng-after-bad-rules-a-big-problem-for-the-nfl/


No one knows what constitutes a catch. Late in the Cowboys’ win over the Giants, Dallas’s Dez Bryant grabbed a pass from Tony Romo, went to the ground and then lost possession. The officials ruled it incomplete, and I think the officials got it right. But the NFL’s convoluted rules about what constitutes a catch make it almost impossible for anyone to say with any confidence what will or will not be ruled a catch, and there were plenty of fans on Twitter saying they were sure Bryant had caught the pass. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett seemed to think it was a catch, too, as he called a timeout in the hopes that the extra time would trigger the replay assistant to tell the referee to review the play — which he didn’t do. The NFL simply has to do a better job of explaining what makes a catch and what makes an incompletion, so fans and coaches aren’t left confused at big moments in big games.
Forward progress isn’t clearly defined. The biggest play of the Giants-Cowboys game came when Giants receiver Victor Cruz caught a pass, was wrapped up by two Cowboys, then had the ball ripped out of his hands. The officials ruled it a fumble, and Dallas’s Jeff Heath picked it up and ran 50 yards for a touchdown. Giants coach Tom Coughlin said after the game that it was “unbelievable” that the officials didn’t rule Cruz’s forward progress had been stopped, but I can believe it because I see forward progress ruled inconsistently every week.

 

[rcaldw]

Anyone surprised that the guy writing the article seemed to side with the Giants on both calls?

 

[theebs]

Last year when the ball was ripped from Dez when the whistle should have blown I don't recall anyone nationally saying anything. Then a week later against Washington they blew the whistle to soon and Dez was robbed of a big play after he broke loose.

So I am not losing any sleep over the Cruz play.

 

[xwalker]

I agree that the rules regarding what is a catch are confusing. Why not just say it's a catch if the WR has possession of the ball when he is down. Why does he need to maintain possession after being down?

I don't see any way to remedy the forward progress ruling. That's always going to be a subjective issue.

 

[Future]

If Cruz' play isn't a fumble, then AP didn't get a TD on that run where Heath lifted him off the ground.

 

[Hook'em#11]

It was a catch. He came down with the ball. Defender on his back. Established possession still..

Writer is blind.

 

[Don Corleone]

Cruz was fighting for extra yards. He should have just gone down.

 

[Cowboys22]

Cruz was fighting for every inch he could get right up until the ball was ripped out. It doesn't matter if he was going sideways or backwards. He was fighting to get free and did not go to the ground. If a player refuses to go down even after being wrapped up by several players and continues to fight to get free and gain more ground, then the ball is still live if he coughs it up. The exception is once he starts to get driven back for 3-5 yards and has lost all momentum and the official deems he has no chance to break free. That didn't happen with Cruz. He was not being driven back. Even if all he was doing was trying to fall forward, that ball is live. If Coughlin doesn't like it, then instruct his players to go to the ground and stop fighting for extra yards.

 

[DogFace]

If Cruz' play isn't a fumble, then AP didn't get a TD on that run where Heath lifted him off the ground.

Exactly. Cruz was still fighting and moving forward.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

If Cruz' play isn't a fumble, then AP didn't get a TD on that run where Heath lifted him off the ground.

bingo

 

[john van brocklin]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...ng-after-bad-rules-a-big-problem-for-the-nfl/


No one knows what constitutes a catch. Late in the Cowboys’ win over the Giants, Dallas’s Dez Bryant grabbed a pass from Tony Romo, went to the ground and then lost possession. The officials ruled it incomplete, and I think the officials got it right. But the NFL’s convoluted rules about what constitutes a catch make it almost impossible for anyone to say with any confidence what will or will not be ruled a catch, and there were plenty of fans on Twitter saying they were sure Bryant had caught the pass. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett seemed to think it was a catch, too, as he called a timeout in the hopes that the extra time would trigger the replay assistant to tell the referee to review the play — which he didn’t do. The NFL simply has to do a better job of explaining what makes a catch and what makes an incompletion, so fans and coaches aren’t left confused at big moments in big games.
Forward progress isn’t clearly defined. The biggest play of the Giants-Cowboys game came when Giants receiver Victor Cruz caught a pass, was wrapped up by two Cowboys, then had the ball ripped out of his hands. The officials ruled it a fumble, and Dallas’s Jeff Heath picked it up and ran 50 yards for a touchdown. Giants coach Tom Coughlin said after the game that it was “unbelievable” that the officials didn’t rule Cruz’s forward progress had been stopped, but I can believe it because I see forward progress ruled inconsistently every week.

I remember a similiar call going againts the Cowboys when receiver Roy Williams "fumbled" the ball, against the Bears. I think both of those calls were bogus.

 

[Nova]

On the Heath TD:

When I saw it live, I was more concerned that Cruz may not have actually caught it. But he did so I have no idea why they were complaining.

Cruz literally never stopped moving forward. I've just watched it on rewind about 5 times, and he is actually falling forward when it is ripped away.

Why on earth would they blow the whistle or assume his forward progress had been stopped?

 

[dragon_mikal]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...ng-after-bad-rules-a-big-problem-for-the-nfl/


No one knows what constitutes a catch. Late in the Cowboys’ win over the Giants, Dallas’s Dez Bryant grabbed a pass from Tony Romo, went to the ground and then lost possession. The officials ruled it incomplete, and I think the officials got it right. But the NFL’s convoluted rules about what constitutes a catch make it almost impossible for anyone to say with any confidence what will or will not be ruled a catch, and there were plenty of fans on Twitter saying they were sure Bryant had caught the pass. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett seemed to think it was a catch, too, as he called a timeout in the hopes that the extra time would trigger the replay assistant to tell the referee to review the play — which he didn’t do. The NFL simply has to do a better job of explaining what makes a catch and what makes an incompletion, so fans and coaches aren’t left confused at big moments in big games.
Forward progress isn’t clearly defined. The biggest play of the Giants-Cowboys game came when Giants receiver Victor Cruz caught a pass, was wrapped up by two Cowboys, then had the ball ripped out of his hands. The officials ruled it a fumble, and Dallas’s Jeff Heath picked it up and ran 50 yards for a touchdown. Giants coach Tom Coughlin said after the game that it was “unbelievable” that the officials didn’t rule Cruz’s forward progress had been stopped, but I can believe it because I see forward progress ruled inconsistently every week.

The fact that this writer thinks the Dez catch was incomplete pretty much invalidates the rest of his article. Guy is either a blind Giants homer or just blind.