Gaffney's Touchdown (2 Viewers)

[Weapon of Mass Instruction]

I know, I know -- another thread.

I hate the Ravens with a passion. However, I think that the Gaffney TD was absolutely the incorrect call. I have seen MANY calls just like that be overturned. He did not have the ball secured. No question about it.

Does anyone have access to the exact terminology of what determines "control"?

 

[BLOX]

It was a catch. He just moved the ball to his other hand. He had established control with his left hand before moving it to his right hand.

 

[The Rook]

i don't think he had control either.

however, if they overturn it, i don't think it would have mattered. i assume the two unsportsmanlike penalties would have still stood which would be half distance to the goal (twice) and automatic first down. i'm guessing patriots would end up scoring and the ravens would have just had less time to try for their desperation score.

 

[Gopher State]

clearly no control, it was not a catch

 

[saintfool]

It was a catch. He just moved the ball to his other hand. He had established control with his left hand before moving it to his right hand.

my thinking exactly.

 

[David Yudkin]

5:35 into this video for the replay for those that need irrefutable video evidence . . .

LINK

 

[lebrija]

It was a catch. He just moved the ball to his other hand. He had established control with his left hand before moving it to his right hand.

Why would he move the ball to his other hand? Was he about to get hit on the left side, so he moved it to the right or did he do it to get get better control

 

[Ron_Mexico]

Bobbling the ball and putting the ball away are 2 different things.

Gaffney was putting the ball away.

 

[Max Power]

5:35 into this video for the replay for those that need irrefutable video evidence . . .

LINK

The NFL.com Replay is hardly irrefutable. They zoom in on the feet and we can't even see the ball during that replay.That being said, the call could have gone either way. Due to the ruling on the field being a catch, there was not enough on the replay to overturn it.

 

[Weapon of Mass Instruction]

5:35 into this video for the replay for those that need irrefutable video evidence . . .

LINK

The NFL.com Replay is hardly irrefutable. They zoom in on the feet and we can't even see the ball during that replay.That being said, the call could have gone either way. Due to the ruling on the field being a catch, there was not enough on the replay to overturn it.

Only problem is that the Ref that ruled it a catch -- was looking at Gaffney's back at that point and couldn't even see his hands and the ball. All he saw was the feet in -- after what he supposed was a catch -- and then ultimately Gaffney showing the ball.

 

[David Yudkin]

5:35 into this video for the replay for those that need irrefutable video evidence . . .

LINK

The NFL.com Replay is hardly irrefutable. They zoom in on the feet and we can't even see the ball during that replay.That being said, the call could have gone either way. Due to the ruling on the field being a catch, there was not enough on the replay to overturn it.

Only problem is that the Ref that ruled it a catch -- was looking at Gaffney's back at that point and couldn't even see his hands and the ball. All he saw was the feet in -- after what he supposed was a catch -- and then ultimately Gaffney showing the ball.

It is what it is, and the ref made the best call he could from his perspective. I agree Gaffney's body shielded the ref from the ball. But he had to call something.

 

[tdoublebb]

Definite catch.

 

[thehornet]

catch.

12-0

 

[Neo]

Bobbling the ball and putting the ball away are 2 different things.Gaffney was putting the ball away.

Great posting. I can't believe people really think that wasn't a catch.

 

[Godsbrother]

It is what it is, and the ref made the best call he could from his perspective. I agree Gaffney's body shielded the ref from the ball. But he had to call something.

Agreed. 99% of the time the refs do a great job, especially considering the speed of the game and the complexitity of some of the rules. Every once in a while they blow a call (although in this case I think it could have gone either way) and a team has to overcome it in order to win.What bugs me is that whining about calls has become epidemic among football fans. I guess it is to be expected with all of the angles and frame-by-frame of modern instant replay but it really has gotten out of hand. I don't have a problem if someone says the officials got a call wrong but when you start blaming the refs for losing then you have become a cry baby.

 

[Two Deep]

As George Castanza once said. "I think it moved"----the ball that is, I don't believe he had control and I'm usually right about these things.

 

[KnowledgeReignsSupreme]

My initial reaction was that it was't a catch. Wasn't the best replay. I think it's one of those calls that would have been upheld either way because the video evidence wasn't there to refute what was called on the field.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

he clearly had control of the ball the entire time and got 2 feet down in bounds. obvious catch, IMO.

 

[phthalatemagic]

Wasn't a catch, but we cannot say why it was ruled a catch in this thread.

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

what would happen if we got all the whiny Pat haters from this year and put them in a room with all the whiny Pat homers from c. 2002?

I'd hide in my bathtub.

 

[KnowledgeReignsSupreme]

Actually the more suspect TD was the one Wilcox caught for the Ravens in the back of the end zone. I could swear, because he was all alone in the end zone, that he got extremely lazy and may have grazed the back line with his foot when he took his time bringing it down.

 

[Dodge]

The ball was moving around and it was not secured by the time the 2nd foot got down.

No catch.

 

[Two Deep]

Actually the more suspect TD was the one Wilcox caught for the Ravens in the back of the end zone. I could swear, because he was all alone in the end zone, that he got extremely lazy and may have grazed the back line with his foot when he took his time bringing it down.

I saw the same thing, it was worth somebody taking a look at, I was surprised when nobody did.

 

[porkins]

Wasn't a catch, but we cannot say why it was ruled a catch in this thread.

TOXIC WASTE

 

[Finless]

He had control. He was shifting the ball in towards his body for protection, force of habit. You don't need to have the ball wrapped up with 2 arms of securely gripped with 2 hands to be in control.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

Does anyone have access to the exact terminology of what determines "control"?

Here's the rulebook.

 

[Finless]

Wasn't a catch, but we cannot say why it was ruled a catch in this thread.

TOXIC WASTE

 

[Synthesizer]

There's no way that is "irrefutable evidence" to overturn the call on the field.

 

[Finless]

Bobbling the ball and putting the ball away are 2 different things.Gaffney was putting the ball away.

This is the only correct answer. Anyone who couldn't see that clearly has the blinders on. Can anyone honestly say he was juggling the ball If you can answer yes, you are a troll or blind.

 

[freelander]

Bobbling the ball and putting the ball away are 2 different things.

Gaffney was putting the ball away.

This is the only correct answer. Anyone who couldn't see that clearly has the blinders on. Can anyone honestly say he was juggling the ball If you can answer yes, you are a troll or blind.

If only it was "put away"before he left the endoze.

 

[Finless]

Bobbling the ball and putting the ball away are 2 different things.

Gaffney was putting the ball away.

This is the only correct answer. Anyone who couldn't see that clearly has the blinders on. Can anyone honestly say he was juggling the ball If you can answer yes, you are a troll or blind.

If only it was "put away" before he left the endoze.

Is there supposed to be a link somewhere in here?

 

[freelander]

no, sorry, just emphasis on before

 

[Franknbeans]

that ball was moving = no control

cow poop

 

[KnowledgeReignsSupreme]

Bobbling the ball and putting the ball away are 2 different things.

Gaffney was putting the ball away.

This is the only correct answer. Anyone who couldn't see that clearly has the blinders on. Can anyone honestly say he was juggling the ball If you can answer yes, you are a troll or blind.

If only it was "put away" before he left the endoze.

Is there supposed to be a link somewhere in here?

 

[LILB811]

Bobbling the ball and putting the ball away are 2 different things.Gaffney was putting the ball away.

This is the only correct answer. Anyone who couldn't see that clearly has the blinders on. Can anyone honestly say he was juggling the ball If you can answer yes, you are a troll or blind.

This is the truth. The more they slow the replay down, the more it looks like he's bobbling the ball because he's tucking it in. He had possession of the ball the whole time.

 

[off]

How come I get the feeling people are voting along lines of team rooting interest ...

 

[bcr8f]

Bobbling the ball and putting the ball away are 2 different things.Gaffney was putting the ball away.

While he was moving it to the other hand it wasn't controlled and was moving the whole time.

 

[Two Deep]

Bobbling the ball and putting the ball away are 2 different things.Gaffney was putting the ball away.

This is the only correct answer. Anyone who couldn't see that clearly has the blinders on. Can anyone honestly say he was juggling the ball If you can answer yes, you are a troll or blind.

What are you a"dummy"...

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

I voted for the third option based on my view of it last night during the game. But after watching the replay a few more times today, I'd change my vote to the first option (except without the word "clearly").

I think he "juggled" it after it had already been a complete pass.

 

[Mungo Burrows]

Not even close to a catch. If you look at exactly 5:59 of the link Yudkin gave you can see the ball is not in either hand as he goes out of bounds. Folks may not like frame by frame analysis of a play, but that's what instant replay is for. And saying he was "putting the ball away" is laughable. He's supposed to have already put it away before going out of bounds.

A team going for an undefeated season makes for great theater and greater ratings. Clearly a catch.

 

[Phurfur]

We are all seeing the same thing so at this point half the people hear don't know their football.

 

[tombonneau]

Shocking that a team whose head coach constantly criticizes the officials didn't get the break on this close call.

I'm sure things will get much better for the Ravens after they handled last night's officiating with such tact & aplomb in post-game interviews.

 

[Perfect Tommy]

Players don't suddenly decide to flip the ball to the other hand while catching a TD pass near the sideline. And he doesn't have control because he thinks it. He has to actually HAVE the ball before to qualify as having the ball. By the time he actually had the ball, his foot was up. He only got one foot down. It was not a catch. The Patriots probably would have won anyway. But that was a huge break. Looks like they might need room for two asterixes in the record book.

 

[dickey moe]

what would happen if we got all the whiny Pat haters from this year and put them in a room with all the whiny Pat homers from c. 2002?

John Madden would gargle mayonnaise.

 

[ipljeff]

Pats hater here

Clearly a catch

 

[Phurfur]

I checked the box score, yes it was a catch.

 

[Banger]

I'm not even sure why it was an issue. Yes it was at a big point in the game but I thought it was a no brainer. Definitely a catch.

 

[WiDDoW_MaKeR]

It was definitely a catch. There was no bobbling what so ever. He kept his fingertips on it at all times, and was putting the ball away. That is control over the football. If he was bobbling the ball, then both hands would have came off of the football, and he would have been fighting to bring it in. He had it secure.

 

[bryhamm]

Actually the more suspect TD was the one Wilcox caught for the Ravens in the back of the end zone. I could swear, because he was all alone in the end zone, that he got extremely lazy and may have grazed the back line with his foot when he took his time bringing it down.

I thought the same thing initially as well. But on the replay, his toe on his 2nd foot clearly touches before his heel hits the back line. As soon as his toe touches in bounds it is a TD.

 

[mozzy84]

who cares they would have gotten the ball on the one yard line and scored anyways.