Pro Rules vs. College Rules on Catching a Pass (Dez Bryant and Dallas Cowboys)

[Snuffy Smith]

I think, if I read the rule correct, it doesn't matter; the ground can cause a fumble. In the eyes of all of the officials, he didn't make a "football move" (I hate that term), so he had to retain control of the ball after he hit the ground. He didn't, hence the call; as per the rule, it's the correct call. Whether the rule is crap or not is another issue.
If he doesn't extend his arm all of this is moot. How many times have we seen players fighting for extra yards and losing the football? More than once or twice....
I don't know what the college rule is...

You are correct. They kept referencing the Calvin Johnson "no catch" as application of the same rule. He was in the end zone & made the "catch" with both hands as he was falling down. He reached with 1 hand to brace himself and the other hand with the ball hit the ground & the ball popped out = no catch.

 

[Hooks4bama]

Thanks. So, according to rule, the refs made a good call.

Correct

This coming from a Cowboy fan too. Can't say they blew the call as they stuck to the rule.

 

[bamagradinATL]

Can't make a gif at work, as it would show it more clearly. But from this angle, yes the ball hits the ground and pops up. The ground caused the fumble, but that rule doesn't apply when falling to the ground after a catch.

VIDEO

Correction: The ground can't cause a fumble, but it can cause an incompletion.

 

[colbysullivan]

Yeah I'm not really sure where the controversy is. Watching it live, I thought it was clearly a catch, but then they showed the reverse angle. You can clearly see Bryant falling down and the ball pops out after it hits the ground. The ground CAN cause an incompletion as several of the posters have said.

 

[Jessica4Bama]

Did the ball ever hit the ground? I have looked and looked again at replay. I never saw the ball hit the ground. The back of his hand hit the ground and the ball bounced up from his hand, but he regained total possession again. This should be a catch in college or the NFL.

So, if the ball NEVER touches the ground but the back of his hand does, it is still an incomplete pass? That rule needs to be changed!

Just going off memory here, but I believe when he juggled it in the air and then regained control of it, his head and back were out of bounds. But I think it did hit the ground when he tried to extend it into the end zone.

 

[Go Bama]

Whether or not the play was called correctly, that's a bad rule. He controlled the ball for 5 yards with both hands on the ball before changing to holding it with his right hand. In the mean time he's taking two steps and stretching for the goal line.

The rules committee needs to revisit what's a catch and what's not. Not only was that a catch, it was a great catch at a crucial time of the game.

 

[Hooks4bama]

Whether or not the play was called correctly, that's a bad rule. He controlled the ball for 5 yards with both hands on the ball before changing to holding it with his right hand. In the mean time he's taking two steps and stretching for the goal line.

The rules committee needs to revisit what's a catch and what's not. Not only was that a catch, it was a great catch at a crucial time of the game.

He did not take steps toward the goal line. He was falling toward the goal line and stretched out. That is why the call went the way it did.

 

[TideEngineer08]

It's a convoluted rule that needs to change.

 

[Go Bama]

He did not take steps toward the goal line. He was falling toward the goal line and stretched out. That is why the call went the way it did.

No, man, he took two steps. I just re-watched it. Again, not arguing with the call, I'm arguing with the rule. He controlled the ball. That should be a catch.

 

[JustNeedMe81]

We keep having same issues over and over here on college and NFL Level... they need to clear up the rules a little. In college, we've had several issues... That LSU game with Reid, Slyve and Auburn, I'm sure there's more.. and NFL: Johnson, Bryant, and all... I hope they both adjust the rules to be consistent... The way I look at it, you catch the ball you maintain controll of the ball as you go down or cross the line and its a wrap. No need to make it harder than it is already.

 

[BamaMTA06]

The rule makes sense to me. That call is consistently made every week. The only time it is controversial is when it is a key play. Everyone around the NFL except the Cowboys have agreed it was the correct call. As Dante Stallworth tweeted, steps don't count as a football move when you are falling to the ground.

 

[CraigD]

So if he'd stumbled all the way down the field out of balance and the same thing had happened, it would still have been an incomplete pass? Absurd. The fact that Mike Pereira is on one side should be all you need to know.

Not so sure about that, but I'll have to work hard to come up with a reason that is defensible.

 

[CraigD]

I hate that the rule took away a great catch in a clutch moment of a critical game. How much more "big time" can you get? To have that taken away by the niggles of a convoluted rule is sad. I hate it for Dez Bryant. Per the rule, however, I agree that the correct call was made.

I think what needs to be done is to further specify what is a "football move". What if I catch it flat footed, stand still for 5 seconds, then fall over and use to ball in one hand to cushion my fall (a la Calvin Johnson)? By rule, I am not sure that's a catch. I haven't made a football move of any sort, but I clearly held onto the ball for a substantial amount of time. Athletes today are so awesome that they can catch the ball, get feet down, and make a move (like lean, stretch, twist, etc) in a split second. I think the "football move" thing is the part that needs work... or maybe have another way stated in the rule book to consider control of the ball to be established.

 

[bamatex82]

Control of football - check. 2 feet in bounds - check. Third foot came down in bounds, which you say is not a step, was used to lunge into the the end zone. I call that a "football move." Stupid rule. Yes, I am semi-like the Cowboys, but that doesn't cloud my eyes. Even by the stupid rules, he committed a football move. I keep wondering why they stretch the definition of a catch beyond common sense. The refs should not have to decide what a "football move" is. Control and feet in bounds should be enough. They don't have the same definitions on a hand-offs to rbs or to special teams catches, so what makes the pass play so special?

They were not steps - he was falling down. Had he not been falling down, they would have counted.

 

[Tide1986]

Strangely enough, it's one of the few rules changes that actually disadvantages the offense. I guess there's some solace in that fact.

 

[CoastGhost]

I disagree with the replay official(s) and everyone who agrees with them! Whether he was falling or flying, he took two steps. Reaching/lunging forward was/is a football move. I hate the Cowboys but I think they got ripped off last night.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

I think the NFL rule is stupid, but I can see why they overturned it based on what the rule states. As soon as I saw the ball pop up and then he caught it again, I said that may not be a catch. Sure enough it got challenged.

I think they will look hard at this rule in the off-season.

they didn't look at it after the Calvin Johnson no catch why would they look at it now?

 

[bamatex82]

I disagree with the replay official(s) and everyone who agrees with them! Whether he was falling or flying, he took two steps. Reaching/lunging forward was/is a football move. I hate the Cowboys but I think they got ripped off last night.

That's why I said semi-like, lol. It's a love hate thing for me. So, I do consider myself unbiased. However, it's funny people like you who hate the Cowboys say it was a completed pass. Common sense says it was. If common sense says it should be a completed pass then the rule should change.

 

[TideFan in AU]

There is no way falling to the ground is a football move. It was a good call, as Pereira and the NFL said.

 

[CoastGhost]

There is no way falling to the ground is a football move. It was a good call, as Pereira and the NFL said.

And I say you, Pereira and the NFL should be banned from making any important decisions for several weeks