Lions: A new Calvin (Dustin) Johnson?

[Shripe]

So I'm not sure how many of you guys were watching the Bears/Lions game (I was only watching it to see the Bears lose... if only!), but we almost have another Dustin Johnson situation. Coincidentally, it was all because of Calvin Johnson. He comes down with the game-winning TD, yet without thinking, he figures he's completed the catch adequately enough (cockiness?) and sets the ball down as he was still coming down to the ground. Clearly he ought to have known that he needed to complete the entire process of the catch, especially when there's so much on the line. I'm half expecting football fans on both sides to be saying "It's the rule" or "Let him have the TD," much like we had at the PGA. Another Johnson rules situation here?

[Shripe]

I called it. They just mentioned Dustin Johnson's gaffe in reference to the Calvin Johnson incomplete catch call during halftime of the Boys/Skins game. Perhaps this one should be called the "grounding of the ball" gaffe?

[alf174]

Not even close. Even here on Detroit's sports news they are not blaming the official. Johnson made a mistake (while in a rush to celebrate?).

[Mattplusness]

Lions will never be good. End.

[Shripe]

Lions will never be good. End.

Well, that was a given. Just saying, I found it funny that they echoed my thoughts at halftime. It's a completely different situation, yet they happened to agree with my gut feeling after that happened. O.o

[SouthernILGolfer]

I thought it was pretty funny, im a rams fan but I root for the bears as well. Johnson got so cocky about making the apparent winning catch, that he tried to celebrate before he even caught the ball. All he had to do was secure the ball and then could have celebrated all he wanted to. He wanted to taunt the fans but his stupid act cost his team the game.

[stacks04]

I dont understand the cockiness part? If the official has signaled td, then he simply rolled over and got up. He set the ball down on the out of bounds line at the rear of the endzone and got up. Then proceeded to celebrate with team mates. I personally feel it was a bad call. I understand the rule because you need to have complete control of the ball for it to count even on a regular play to make the yardage gain count. He did have complete control and had landed and rolled with complete control of the ball. I am not a lions fan never was never will be, but this ruling was bogus.

[golfnuub]

i think instead of trying to show off with a one handed TD catch and celebration like he did he should of secured the ball with both hands before hitting the ground...

[JWL1957]

I like the rule, and I like the call.

[Mrd19abhs]

I dont understand the cockiness part? If the official has signaled td, then he simply rolled over and got up. He set the ball down on the out of bounds line at the rear of the endzone and got up. Then proceeded to celebrate with team mates. I personally feel it was a bad call. I understand the rule because you need to have complete control of the ball for it to count even on a regular play to make the yardage gain count. He did have complete control and had landed and rolled with complete control of the ball. I am not a lions fan never was never will be, but this ruling was bogus.

He def never rolled over and "set" the ball down. the ball popped outta his hand when he hit ground. Now i agree he was in a rush to celebrate but he didnt set ball down it popped out. good overturn of call on field.

[stacks04]

Here is the clip, you can clearly see him catch the ball, land in bounds on his arse, slide back a bit, then roll to his knee and put the ball in his hand down to the ground to get up. His feet had touched the ground, his arse did also. The ball then touched the ground. All the rules say is the player must remain in control of the ball after being grounded. Which he did.

Forward pass rule as per rulebook on nfl.com
"A forward pass is complete when a receiver clearly possesses the pass and touches the ground with both feet in bounds while in possession of the ball. If a receiver would have landed in bounds with both feet but is carried or pushed out of bounds while maintaining possession of the ball, pass is complete at the out-of-bounds spot."

I dont know how much longer you folks would like to have the receiver hold onto the ball, maybe get up take it home, sleep with it like a childhood stuffed animal, get it notarized (in front of the nfl commissioner of course).

[iacas]

Forward pass rule as per rulebook on nfl.com

That rule has changed this year. You can be pushed out and it is not counted as a completed pass.

He was falling to the ground and didn't possess the ball long enough. No catch. I've got nothing against or for either team in this, and to me that's not a catch. Remember they looked at Santonio Holmes' Super Bowl winning catch to see if he maintained control all the way to the ground. He did, and it was a catch. This guy didn't, so no catch.

[sean_miller]

Watching the video, I'd say he caught it . . . and then he didn't. No catch.

[jamo]

That's absolutely no catch, and it's a great rule. Replay (and the ref's original call) got it right (yeah, that's right Bud Selig, I'm talking to you! The Little League World Series has better replay that the MLB World Series).

[stacks04]

That rule has changed this year. You can be pushed out and it is not counted as a completed pass.

The rule is a direct quote from the nfl rule page on there site. If its wrong then their site is not updated. I also have no stake in this matter, but how long is long enough to maintain possession of the ball after the feet are in and touched. Everybody keeps talking "process" yet I see no mention of process in any rule on their site. Just the above quote, if someone can post a link or the new rule I would be much abliged.

[jamo]

The rule is a direct quote from the nfl rule page on there site. If its wrong then their site is not updated. I also have no stake in this matter, but how long is long enough to maintain possession of the ball after the feet are in and touched. Everybody keeps talking "process" yet I see no mention of process in any rule on their site. Just the above quote, if someone can post a link or the new rule I would be much abliged.

There used to be a rule where if you had caught the ball in the air, and were hit out by another player so much that you could not get your feet down, as long as you maintained possession all the way to the ground you would be awarded with a catch. They changed that, I believe last year actually, so that no matter what you need both feet down.

That's not really the issue here though. The issue is that (in all the football I've ever watched) you have to maintain possession of the ball when you go to the ground. I just looked it up on nfl.com, and like you, could not find said rule. I don't know that to tell you. Like iacas said, and like I remember, they reviewed the Santonio Holmes play for just this reason. You need to maintain possession of the ball when you go to the ground. I'm not an NFL expert, but maybe their rules are left up to some discretion of the officials, and the "contact with the ground" rule is just something that has evolved over time. I don't know, but every time this happens in a game, Phil Simms or whomever is doing the color commentary will say something about maintaining possession of the ball when you go to the ground.

[sean_miller]

There used to be a rule where if you had caught the ball in the air, and were hit out by another player so much that you could not get your feet down, as long as you maintained possession all the way to the ground you would be awarded with a catch. They changed that, I believe last year actually, so that no matter what you need both feet down.

Whatver they decide, they're pretty good at being consistent, unlike baseball. One umpire's catch and fumble during transfer is another umpires dropped ball. Same goes for traps v. catches. Heck even with the video replay for foul balls over the fence, they still F'd one up a couple weeks ago. Don't get me started on the strike zone.

[stacks04]

Don't get me started on the strike zone.

:D Understand that sentiment.