Stoney's He-Man Steeler Haters NFL Playoff Thread ... No Yinzers allowed

Here's the thing: If he had been bobbling the ball AT ALL, then yeah, I can see how there might have been a question.

He had full control of the ball and took three steps, then slammed the ball on the turf lunging for the goal line.

It all evens out because of that shitty PI reversal last week, but that doesn't make it a good call by any stretch.

 

The rule might be crap, but it is the rule. You have to maintain control through the catch all the way to the ground. He didn't.

 

Yep, joe king.

Hokie, I can see you aren't going to come off it, and a lot of that is because the definition has changed so much from what we all grew up watching for decades, but this one isn't really controversial. It's letter of the law.

 

H_P it appears as if you are contending Bryant caught the ball, with complete and full possession, took three running strides and only then dove toward the goal line? Would that be accurate?

 

That ball didn't hit the ground.

 

Yes. That is exactly what happened. If he hadn't lunged for the goal line and instead just wrapped up the ball and fell down, there never would've been a challenge.

The catch was one part of the play. The lunge was a separate, "football act." The only way the NFL can justify that challenge is to say, "Well, payback."

 

Not wrong at all, you don't understand the rule.

I hate the rule, but you have to apply it correctly.

 

Control on the way to the ground means nothing here. You have to control it as you hit the ground.

He took one step as he came down and stumbled on the first after that and was going to the ground. Was that one step a football move? Maybe, but it was really part of coming down from the leap. Was the reach? Maybe, but that's debatable at best. He really didn't stretch the ball much out in front of him, not any more that if you're bracing for the fall.

 

OK, thanks for telling me what I don't understand. Appreciate it.

 

No problem.

 

It's impossible to lose when you're in Grand Cayman.

 

Exactly. According to the rule, it is irrelevant if he bobbled the ball before it slipped out. He was going down as he caught it. That he managed to stumble a few steps doesn't matter. He has to keep control as he hits the ground. I agree the rule is crap, but they enforced it correctly.