Would some other refs have ruled Eli in the grasp... (1 Viewer)

[redman]

Speaking of no-calls, how did Brady not get hit with an intentional grounding that time late in the game he was about to get pounded by what seemed like 12 Giants defenders and just threw the ball into the ground from the pocket?

Is this the play where he was in the end zone. I wanted to see a replay to see if a player was in the vicinity, but never saw one. Another poster said Faulk was in the vicinity, but I would want to see the play again. I remember thinking at the time that it could have been intentional grounding in the end zone which would have been a safety. 12-7 Giants at the time if called. I don't know, but in the end it really didn't make a huge difference.

Correct. Supposedly the ball was tipped at the LOS by a Giants lineman, but I didn't see that. I had the same question.

 

[redman]

Kinda looked like the only reason Carey didn't blow the play dead is because his view was obstructed by all the linemen.Ed Hochuli stops that play, IMO. Eli looked like he was about to get DRILLED by three guys.

In 99 out of a hundred times, the play is stopped. the Pats linement looked more concerned with getting a late hit PF than hitting him while he was held up. It's an opinion call, and they didn't make it. Conversely, if it was blown dead, the Giants fans take the other side and say let him play. Crucial play, but they had another down. to me, the two plays that lost the game were the two INT's missed. Samuel should have made the play and failed. Merriweather was a bit tougher, but a makeagle play. There's always next year.

I would like to see ONE play where this is called. I have never seen it called where the defender only has the jersey for a second, which is the case here.

That penalty hasn't been called like that since the first year the in-the-grasp rule came out and they were overzealous in calling it.

 

[GregR_2]

Speaking of no-calls, how did Brady not get hit with an intentional grounding that time late in the game he was about to get pounded by what seemed like 12 Giants defenders and just threw the ball into the ground from the pocket?

Is this the play where he was in the end zone. I wanted to see a replay to see if a player was in the vicinity, but never saw one. Another poster said Faulk was in the vicinity, but I would want to see the play again. I remember thinking at the time that it could have been intentional grounding in the end zone which would have been a safety. 12-7 Giants at the time if called. I don't know, but in the end it really didn't make a huge difference.

There was another thread this was discussed in... I believe the one about how well of a game it was officiated. There is a more complete post I made there including the text of the rule. But the short of it is, it is not intentional grounding if the QB initiates a throwing motion towards an eligible reciver, and a defensive player makes significant physical contact with him that affects the throw.Stallworth was on that side of the field to where I think the QB gets the benefit of the doubt he was trying to throw towards a receiver. It doesn't have to land near him, which it didn't. Given how the ball came out like a wounded duck, it appears either Kawika Mitchell tipped it when he hit Brady, or the hit affected the throw. Both conditions would be met so that wouldn't be intentional grounding.

 

[BaBastage]

Straight from the rule book: "Officials are to blow the play dead as soon as the quarterback is clearly in the grasp and control of any tackler, and his safety is in jeopardy."At no point was he in the control of a tackler, thus it wasn't in the grasp...

Plus, the one thing I think is being overlooked, is that according to the rules, there are TWO criteria.Criteria #1 : "Clearly in the control of any tackler"Criteria #2 : "Safety in Jeopardy"It's a judgement call, but I didn't see Eli in the control of a defensive player, and at no time did his safety appear to be in jeopardy. (It's not like he was about to be speared while someone had a hand on his jersey.)In the end I think it was the right no-call. I can only imagine the outrage if he'd gotten the pass off, it was complete, called back, and the Giants lose the game. Probably would have earned the Pat's another "*" on their win.

 

[Neo]

Ref Close to Whistling Play Dead

 

[cmap]

Clarification on the rule -

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...heref-headlines

What were the problems with the NFL's "in the grasp" rule that caused it to be repealed? --Bill Vollmer, Steger, Ill.

The old "in the grasp" rule required the referee to blow the ball dead whenever a defensive player had a solid hold on the quarterback, even if he did not take him to the ground. The position of the referee made it impossible to see the football and the action by the defensive player in may cases. A great number of "in the grasp" calls were made while the ball was actually loose or being fumbled by the quarterback. The whistle killed the play and if the defense recovered, they could not keep the ball because of the whistle. This rule put the quarterbacks and the referees at a great disadvantage. The rule was put into the game to give added protection to quarterbacks, but it just didn't work out. Under present rules, "in the grasp" is called when a defensive player has hold of the quarterback with another defensive player bearing down, ready to hit the defenseless quarterback.

 

[pats3in4]

It seems that the in the grasp rule has not been enforced as stringently as it had been say 10-20 years ago. In the 90's NO question Eli would have been called down and we would have missed out on one of the all time great plays in NFL history.Perhaps as a backlash back in the day they changed the way this is called, because I see it FAR less than I did before, really called now when the QB is in more direct danger of getting hit, not just being pulled down.

I was going to post the exact same thing. There was a time when a lesser "in the grasp" was called regularly. Just ask Randall Cunningham.

Two s. I'm a homer Pats fan and was glad "in the grasp" wasn't called. It was the right non-call.

 

[Koya]

Ref Close to Whistling Play Dead

"I anticipated a sack," said Carey, a veteran of 18 NFL seasons who became the first black Super Bowl referee. "I didn't assume that was going to happen, but rarely do you see a quarterback escape when he's got that much weight on his back and being dragged by two or three guys who had a hold of him. I could see his head was just straight ahead. He was trying to break free with desperation. Then all of a sudden he spun out and then he started to come right back at me." From that article. What a great ground zero point of view. Eli really became a man on that play. What an incredible, legendary effort.

 

[mad sweeney]

Speaking of no-calls, how did Brady not get hit with an intentional grounding that time late in the game he was about to get pounded by what seemed like 12 Giants defenders and just threw the ball into the ground from the pocket?

Is this the play where he was in the end zone. I wanted to see a replay to see if a player was in the vicinity, but never saw one. Another poster said Faulk was in the vicinity, but I would want to see the play again. I remember thinking at the time that it could have been intentional grounding in the end zone which would have been a safety. 12-7 Giants at the time if called. I don't know, but in the end it really didn't make a huge difference.

Correct. Supposedly the ball was tipped at the LOS by a Giants lineman, but I didn't see that. I had the same question.

I don't think that's the play he's asking about. That one should've been a roughing call IMO unless blows to the head are waived of if you tip the ball or his arm first. I believe the play in question is when Brady basically threw it at the feet of the RB who was trying to set up for a screen. Which should pretty much answer why it wasn't grounding.

 

[glock]

Ref Close to Whistling Play Dead

"I anticipated a sack," said Carey, a veteran of 18 NFL seasons who became the first black Super Bowl referee. "I didn't assume that was going to happen, but rarely do you see a quarterback escape when he's got that much weight on his back and being dragged by two or three guys who had a hold of him. I could see his head was just straight ahead. He was trying to break free with desperation. Then all of a sudden he spun out and then he started to come right back at me." From that article. What a great ground zero point of view. Eli really became a man on that play. What an incredible, legendary effort.

:goosebumps: