Calvin Johnson Play (1 Viewer)

[CalBear]

could you imagine the revolt if Peyton Manning or Brett Favre had thrown that pass? Rule probably would have been changed while the ref was reviewing the play under the hood.

After the play, it was third down at the 25 yard line with 24 seconds left. Reasonable bet Manning or Favre still gets in the end zone and makes the discussion needless.I don't think the reaction would have been any different, though.

 

[Brian Sinclair]

Other: When he flicked the ball away with his fingers. Touchdown.

 

[Limp Ditka]

The NFL is such a huge corporation now it has become sickning. They are a complete dictatorship in my eyes and the players association is the weakest I have ever seen. They are getting jobbed on many fronts.

Those guys who make millions to play a game are getting "jobbed"You lack perspective.

Yeah actually they are....billions upon billions are being made by the NFL owners and league. These players can't walk when they are 50 and a growing number of them are jello in the brains. The so called millions? Elite players make millions. Not every player. I have plenty of perspective. You want to talk about millions upon millions go talk about MLB, and NBA players. Even NHL players. Go talk about NBA, and MLB guaranteed money. You are making a blanket statement.Football players have a very weak union and bad leadership and are being raped. They are underpaid compared to other major sports. And their average career lifespan is far shorter than MLB or NBA players. They barely get any medical benefits post NFL. And most players don't make zillions of dollars.I understand they do make a lot of money. But just because they do does not mean they should not have the right representation for their worker rights and making sure they are doing good for that 3rd string long snapper. That is where you are being simple minded in that statement.They are getting hosed in the real big picture.You can have your opinion...I have mine.

 

[Da Guru]

This play is being talked about on National Sports Shows and commentators are all speaking about it. Maybe it will be enough for the NFL to look at the rule and make it more logical.

On another note looks like the Lions will draft a pick or two higher because of that rule.

 

[atcdav]

(1) ref put his hands up as a TD, right the the play was over and the ball dead. (2) CJ was down when both feet hit the ground, then his ### and then his hand, all befreo the ball.

 

[FDC]

The link below is a good explanation on this subject by the VP of officiating for the Louis Murphy TD call in 2009.

What caught my attention was how he focused on one key point...

AFTER the player makes contact with the ground possession must be maintained.

To me Calvin clearly was going to the ground and did not maintain control after he touched the ground. Pretty cut and dry when considering how the rule is written:

Item 1: Player Going to the Ground. If a player goes to the ground in the act of

catching a pass (with or without contact by an opponent), he must maintain control

of the ball after he touches the ground, whether in the field of play or the end zone. If

he loses control of the ball, and the ball touches the ground before he regains control,

the pass is incomplete. If he regains control prior to the ball touching the ground,

the pass is complete.

Link:

http://www.freep.com/article/20100913/BLOG...Johnson-s-catch

 

[Stinkin Ref]

as soon as that ball touched a blade of grass it became incomplete.....even if he still had it in his hand when he got up, it would have been ruled incomplete.......

 

[GOroute]

in 3 major leagues. have calvin in every league. so sure i am biased, but enough. it was a td. everyone i have spoken with knows and agrees. td. forget fantasy for a moment. calls like this change everything. it's pathetic, nfl should feel shame!

 

[Ilov80s]

The link below is a good explanation on this subject by the VP of officiating for the Louis Murphy TD call in 2009.

What caught my attention was how he focused on one key point...

AFTER the player makes contact with the ground possession must be maintained.

To me Calvin clearly was going to the ground and did not maintain control after he touched the ground. Pretty cut and dry when considering how the rule is written:

Item 1: Player Going to the Ground. If a player goes to the ground in the act of

catching a pass (with or without contact by an opponent), he must maintain control

of the ball after he touches the ground, whether in the field of play or the end zone. If

he loses control of the ball, and the ball touches the ground before he regains control,

the pass is incomplete. If he regains control prior to the ball touching the ground,

the pass is complete.

Link:

http://www.freep.com/article/20100913/BLOG...Johnson-s-catch

That play is entirely different because Murphy hitting the ground is part of the complete act of the catch and fall. Calvin came down and never lost control of the ball until he made a second act of putting the ball on the ground. The rule clearly says

Item 1: Player Going to the Ground. If a player goes to the ground in the act of catching a pass (with or without contact by an opponent), he must maintain control of the ball after he touches the ground, whether in the field of play or the end zone. If he loses control of the ball, and the ball touches the ground before he regains control, the pass is incomplete. If he regains control prior to the ball touching the ground, the pass is complete.

If Calvin Johnson loses control of the ball and the ball touches the ground it is incomplete. Calvin never lost control of the ball, he intentionally placed the ball on the ground and let it go after he had maintained control after falling to the ground. It does not say how long he must be on the ground with possession and it does not say anything about a process.

 

[Ilov80s]

as soon as that ball touched a blade of grass it became incomplete.....even if he still had it in his hand when he got up, it would have been ruled incomplete.......

False.

 

[Neofight]

as soon as that ball touched a blade of grass it became incomplete.....even if he still had it in his hand when he got up, it would have been ruled incomplete.......

¿Qué?

 

[Limp Ditka]

as soon as that ball touched a blade of grass it became incomplete.....even if he still had it in his hand when he got up, it would have been ruled incomplete.......

False.

That's why he stinks.