The Calvin Johnson Rule Does Not Apply

[Yakuza Rich]

he must maintain control of the ball throughout the process of the catch when he goes to the ground....he didn't maintain possession when he hit the ground

You like to ignore the 'process of the catch' for whatever reason.

The process of the catch was completed. He could advance the ball and he tried to after he caught the ball. He didn't maintain control of the ball *when he was trying to advance the ball.* But, the ground can't cause a fumble.





YR

 

[TheCount]

Well, that's sort of the problem. He's caught the ball. He's hauled it in, secured it, moved it from hand to hand and he's ready to do the next thing. He has absolutely no reason to think he hasn't caught the ball. None. It's a completely absurd rule that makes players stop trying to advance the ball because they're afraid it won't be ruled a catch,

To be clear, the only reason I would say it isn't a catch is because it was ruled a catch on the field and I didn't see an angle where it was clear the ball hit the floor.

That's the real reason they overturned it and the only thing that really matters in this discussion, not all the hand to hand stuff. If there was no definitive replay that showed the ball hitting the ground, with no chance that Dez's hand was underneath, they shouldn't have overturned it.

 

[starman22]

Whether Dez caught the ball in play, on the sidelines or in the end zone, he must maintain control of the ball throughout the process of the catch when he goes to the ground, clearly he did not, the ball came lose when he hit the ground, so therefore it would be an incomplete pass regardless where he caught it on the field...it was the correct call, I hate the rule, always have, but it's the rule....

If this play was entirely in the endzone, Dez would not have tried to reach out the ball and it would have been a catch for a TD.

 

[TheCount]

so if he runs 10 yards down the field then stops. and the ball comes out, then thats not a catch????

He wouldn't have been going to the ground in that scenario.

 

[Ken]

lions player on twitter ...

I don't get it Lions player....how does this relate to Romo throwing a TD and then Stafford fumbling the not once...but twice?

I'm really getting sick of this nonsense...

 

[MagicMan]

Agree that Dez had caught the ball and had switched it to his left hand so he could extend himself and was diving to the end zone when he hit the ground. He was not falling to the ground attempting to complete the catching process. So this in fact is the secondary act that constitutes a completion and makes him a runner than a receiver.

Do not see any comparison to the CJ rule. Two completely different plays. But the NFL will stick to the myth that "he was still trying to complete the catching process". But well, it will be a long off season. Guess the Packers turn will be coming up next week. Stay tuned.

 

[tyke1doe]

I would like to see it where it has gone against other teams.

Like I said, it makes no sense. If that was the case, you could have a receiver catch a pass, run 10 yards and fumble the ball and it would have to be called an incomplete pass.

And you run into issues like we have here...was he taking 3 steps or was he falling down? The extension of the left arm makes those a moot point because it was clear he was trying to advance the ball.

YR

Actually, no, that's not the case. Dez never establishes that he's a runner. He catches the ball and in the process of catching the ball he tries to extend. But in so doing, the ball comes out. If Dez had caught the ball, stopped, secured the ball, starts running and then falls and the ball comes out, then the catch is not at issue.

 

[The Quest for Six]

If this play was entirely in the endzone, Dez would not have tried to reach out the ball and it would have been a catch for a TD.

it doesn't matter if it's in the end zone, side line or field of play, it's an incomplete pass

 

[Deep_South]

He wouldn't have been going to the ground in that scenario.

OK, let's say he goes ten yard, trips and lands on the ground and the ball pops out....

 

[Yakuza Rich]

falling towards the end zone off balance isn't a football move...

He also took 3 steps. So you can say he was falling and others can say he was taking 3 steps.

It doesn't matter because he extended his arm. You can't extend the ball with your arm unless you have control of the ball. And you extend the arm to hopefully advance the ball. Making a 'move' to advance the ball is a 'football move.'

He lost control of the ball as he was making a football move. He didn't lose control of the ball in the process of the catch.





YR

 

[JoeBoBBY]

He wouldn't have been going to the ground in that scenario.

well what f the defensive guy was slowly dragging him down to the ground....

 

[TheCount]

Please stop with the "if dez just secures the Ball" nonsense. If he puts it across the endzone...which we have seen him do many times....you would be the first to say how amazing a play it was.

I just can't believe that the NFL thought this was the way to call that play. Could you imagine if the cowboys score there...or don't and its because of a Romo gaffe....could you imagine Rodgers on a bum leg going down the field and then winning it.

All of that was taken away on a play where the wr advanced the ball 5 yards.........INC!

I'll let your childish rebuttle slide since there's obviously a lot of emotion flowing right now, but my "nonsense" really isn't all that outlandish of a statement.

If he scores, then obviously - as a Dallas Cowboy fan - I'm ecstatic. That doesn't change what I'm saying. If Romo closes his eyes and throwing the ball straight up in the air, that's still a stupid decision even if a Cowboy receiver comes down with it.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

Yeah, you can reply with goofy sarcasm if you want but it's the truth. Obviously it's in his nature to try and score there, but if you want to think of the play situationally, 1st down is the play that has to be made there if nothing else.

He made the first down and tried to do more. Most players would. It's just a bad overturn.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

it doesn't matter if it's in the end zone, side line or field of play, it's an incomplete pass

I explained why you are wrong. It does matter. You're just being stubborn about it.






YR

 

[BourbonBalz]

Whether Dez caught the ball in play, on the sidelines or in the end zone, he must maintain control of the ball throughout the process of the catch when he goes to the ground, clearly he did not, the ball came lose when he hit the ground, so therefore it would be an incomplete pass regardless where he caught it on the field...it was the correct call, I hate the rule, always have, but it's the rule....

Wrong. The process of making the catch was complete when he made a football move, which happened before the ball came out. The ball came out when he was stretching it towards the end zone, not in the process of making the catch. That's the difference. He didn't drop the ball to the ground while making the catch. Again, the process of making the catch had already been complete by the NFL's own rules. They simply didn't apply their own rules properly.

 

[The Quest for Six]

You like to ignore the 'process of the catch' for whatever reason.

The process of the catch was completed. He could advance the ball and he tried to after he caught the ball. He didn't maintain control of the ball *when he was trying to advance the ball.* But, the ground can't cause a fumble.





YR

you're ignoring the basics of the ruling which is, read it again....he must maintain control of the ball throughout the process of the catch when he goes to the ground,

 

[The Quest for Six]

I explained why you are wrong. It does matter. You're just being stubborn about it.






YR

i know the rule, you apparently don't..I explained it to you, the NFL explained it to you and you still ignore the ruling...Dez must maintain control of the ball throughout the process of the catch when he goes to the ground,

 

[JoeBoBBY]

Wrong. The process of making the catch was complete when he made a football move, which happened before the ball came out. The ball came out when he was stretching it towards the end zone, not in the process of making the catch. That's the difference. He didn't drop the ball to the ground while making the catch. Again, the process of making the catch had already been complete by the NFL's own rules. They simply didn't apply their own rules properly.

you're ignoring the basics of the ruling which is, read it again....he must maintain control of the ball throughout the process of the catch when he goes to the ground,

he had already MADE THE CATCH!!!!

 

[TheCount]

OK, let's say he goes ten yard, trips and lands on the ground and the ball pops out....

You guys watch the game, you know what the result of that scenario is.

What you're trying to say is that Dez's going to the ground is equivalent to securing the ball and running 10 yards and it's not. You all know that.

 

[Wezsh0T]

He also took 3 steps. So you can say he was falling and others can say he was taking 3 steps.

It doesn't matter because he extended his arm. You can't extend the ball with your arm unless you have control of the ball. And you extend the arm to hopefully advance the ball. Making a 'move' to advance the ball is a 'football move.'

He lost control of the ball as he was making a football move. He didn't lose control of the ball in the process of the catch.





YR

This is where I have a problem with overturning the call on the field. While I believe he completed the catch and made a football move. The whole act is somewhat debatable. If it is debatable, then why was it overturned? You must have clear, conclusive, evidence.