lions got effing robbed

[Raider4ever]

I'm just saying that I played and respect what other players do (i.e. O-Line) so Calvin Hotdog can cost his team a game. And if I had to absorb the beating O-Lines take during NFL pass-protection, I would be sorely torqued if some hot-dog wanted to do a dice-roll with the ball before the ref raised his arm.

[Born2Fish]

Looks to me that he didn't "hotdog" it at all. His momentum carried his hand over and he lost control of the ball. Can you also see him after the call was upheld? Did he run around like an arrogant fool and whine and cry? NO, he smiled about it and shook his head and went about business. I am a Vikings fan through and through and I still think he was robbed. Call was right, but he was robbed.

[Cooter]

Note the ref says 'After review the ruling on the field stands' - but right after the catch you can see the side judge raise both arms for a TD. Did any other officials make an initial ruling?

[LMITOUT]

The ref that was staring right at the play called it a TD while another that was a ways away overruled him. Makes a lot of sense, don't it?

What I see after watching the replays last night is a common problem in sports and that's the desire to have all attention on oneself, yelling "Look at me...Look at me...Look at how great I am". If you notice on the video after he caught the ball, which he clearly did, he was already trying to roll over to get to his feet because he couldn't wait to stand up and start running his mouth and prancing around....look at me, look at me.

And yes, he did pout and cry when it was being reviewed, shaking his head that they would doubt how great of a catch it was.

The refs followed the rule, but there should be some common sense in interpreting the rule and the what the spirit of the rule is.

The other problem in this instance is the player (and I use the word player as in pretty much any player in any sport these days) who apparently is in desperate need for attention on every play. The jumping around and carrying on after every routine tackle or catch is ridiculous.

[FISHINGURU]

It's no different then the plays called back when a guy makes a catch in bounds but is bobbling the ball as he hits the ground out of bounds. It isn't a catch unless you catch the ball and maintain possession, Megatron didn't, plain and simple.

I know even when you play back yard football if a guy makes a catch but drops the ball when he hits the ground its incomplete. If you want to say its a catch then obviously he fumbled the ball and it went out of the back of the end zone for a touchback.

[LMITOUT]

He didn't drop the ball. He caught it and even held it out to show off. There was no bobbling. He only lost control of it when he rolled over to sprint out of the endzone to show off as I said in my last post. If he would have just stopped for one second and then got up there would have been no controversy, but he continued the motion into the effort to get to his feet.

There is equal blame to go around. One is the rule and the ref's interpretation of the rule, and second was Johnson's inability to wait to beg for attention.

[tadster]

he clearly had control of the ball, got both feet down, as well as his rear end. that was a td...no matter what the zebras say. some of those guys have no business officiating at this level period.

[RiverFish]

Funny how the lions always find a way to lose. I love it!

[james_walleye]

he clearly had control of the ball, got both feet down, as well as his rear end. that was a td...no matter what the zebras say. some of those guys have no business officiating at this level period.

You werent watching this in realtime were you? They had the head of officials on the broadcast as the play was being reviewed and he explained why the play was called imcomplete and after reviewing play, why it would still be ruled imcomplete. So the head of officials agreed with the call. Its not the official that needs blame. It doesnt matter if he had control and had 2 feet down, thats not the rule anymore. The rule obviously needs to be reviewed and change.

[RiverFish]

I agree with reviewing the rule. But I think the NFL is trying to take most of the gray area out the referee's hands. They took the pushing the WR out of bounds rule out of the books.

They are taking the gray area out of this rule as well.

[LMITOUT]

You werent watching this in realtime were you? They had the head of officials on the broadcast as the play was being reviewed and he explained why the play was called imcomplete and after reviewing play, why it would still be ruled imcomplete. So the head of officials agreed with the call.

What did you expect him to say? He's going to stick by the side of his referee "brothers" and not contradict them. They're all in cahoots. Having him chime in about those calls is completely pointless and simply a way to fill time.

[tadster]

yes James, I was watching the game. I know there was a rule change, but how was his move not completed being on the ground? absolutely ridiculous. by the way, you did see that the official with the best look at it called it a TD? this league is getting ridiculous.

[Tip Up Rookie]

the "process" is complete [PoorWordUsage], that was a catch. If the refs would have called it right, the lions would have been halfway to matching thier win totals from 2009.

[tadster]

BTW james,

here is the rule:

"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."

he still had control of the ball when he fell on his rear end. lost control when he rolled over. that is a catch even by their new rule. he clearly still had control of the ball after ''touching the ground''

[RiverFish]

Tadster,

Look at the rule you posted, "after he touches the ground". Notice it does not say when he touches the ground.

When he fell his arm came through and he hit the ball on the ground, losing possesion of it.

Do I agree with the rule, probably not. But the play was reviewed correctly.

[Dark Cloud]

Hey Rick, Im just getting to read some threads(wicked busy day), but I did notice your comment back on the first page.

Would have been nice to see the Lions pull it off. I really like how the coach handled it - with lots of class...

[creepworm]

I dont think he was turning to get up faster to showboat. It is just reaction to fall forward rather that straight onto your back. When I slip on the ice and am about to fall flat on my back, I usually spin in the air and land on my front side to brace myself.

[LMITOUT]

He couldn't get up fast enough to showboat.

[Steve Foss]

When I slip on the ice and am about to fall flat on my back, I usually spin in the air and land on my front side to brace myself.

You must be a young person! Or a cat.

[Born2Fish]

Riddle me this then. How many NFL players would of done the EXACT same thing had they just caught the winning TD catch with 20 seconds left in the game? I am gonna go out on a limb and say 98% of them. Anyone is going to get up and be pumped they just caught the winning ball. I watched Greg Lewis do it last year against the 49ers. No one bagged him for being a showboat.

[goblueM]

BTW james,

here is the rule:

"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."

he still had control of the ball when he fell on his rear end. lost control when he rolled over. that is a catch even by their new rule. he clearly still had control of the ball after ''touching the ground''

funny, it sure looked like he touched the ground, oh, say with his two feet, knee, and butt BEFORE the ball came down

and holy heck LMIT, could you be more of a wet blanket? You must never have played sports. players are excited when they score, particularly when its a game winning score

and Johnson is not a showboat, he's one of the humblest players in the league

[zepman]

I agree goblueM...especially under the circumstances.

[FISHINGURU]

INCOMPLETE PASS, all day, everyday!

[ozzie]

Yeah he wanted to get up and say "look at us we just took the lead with 20 seconds left and our starting QB is on the sideline!!" He wasn't saying "look at me look at me" but even if he did could you blame the guy he just caught what should have been a game winning td on the road against a division rival that has kicked their butt for many years!! I think I would wonder about the guy that catches a game winning td and just walks to the sidelines like nothing happened.......Calvin Johnson is a humble person it appears just look at his comments after the game....he basically says that it is what it is and that is the rule and there is nothing he could do about it now.

[PierBridge]

. . .

If the player loses the ball while simultaneously touching both feet or any part of his body other than his hands to the ground, or if there is any doubt that the acts were simultaneous, it is not a catch.

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.

To bad the ball slipped out of his hand when inexplicably touched the ground with the ball and it came out!