Lions v. Bears
September 12th, 2010 at 4:21 PM ^
It's that or the tuck rule.
September 12th, 2010 at 4:52 PM ^
September 12th, 2010 at 4:22 PM ^
If it looks like a catch, feels like a catch, smells like a catch, and tastes like a catch, you can bet the NFL will still somehow come up with an abitrary rule that can make it an incompletion.
September 12th, 2010 at 4:48 PM ^
I think that's the essence of it right there. If it wasn't in the endzone, it's a catch no question. Absolute tomfoolery.
September 12th, 2010 at 4:22 PM ^
I still don't understand what the ruling was. And then I saw Medenhall get into the endzone and hurl the ball away. What's the difference?
September 12th, 2010 at 4:25 PM ^
The rule is that you must control the ball through the entire process of hitting the ground. So technically as the last part of him hit the ground and he willingly dropped the ball to go celebrate (anything else is of course a penalty), he did not technically "complete the catch" and thus it is not a completed pass.
Of course, to anyone watching he obviously completed the catch, but that doesn't matter.
September 12th, 2010 at 7:04 PM ^
Would it still be an incompletion if, while falling down, he intentionally spiked the ball in celebration?
September 12th, 2010 at 4:27 PM ^
Apparently, Mendenhall completed the process. Maybe there is no process when you run into the endzone. I would love for the NFL to explain why and what the difference is between the running/passing processes.
September 12th, 2010 at 4:25 PM ^
I am a packers fan so I couldn't care less who wins that game but that was the worst call i have seen in my life by a mile... wow... just wow.
September 12th, 2010 at 4:27 PM ^
Jim Joyce disagrees.
September 12th, 2010 at 4:23 PM ^
Just repeat "Denard Robinson" over and over again and it will make you feel better.
September 12th, 2010 at 4:23 PM ^
I want to die
September 12th, 2010 at 4:24 PM ^
Even by that rule it was still a touchdown. He came down with the ball and was in the act of getting back up when dropped out of the back of the endzone.
Two feet, knee, elbow, shoulder...
September 12th, 2010 at 5:10 PM ^
Don't forget his butt was on the ground as well
September 12th, 2010 at 5:49 PM ^
with the endzone to have a TD??? So if he did this on the one yard line, would that fall under 'break the plane'? Probably! Oh, I was soooo pissed...
September 12th, 2010 at 5:53 PM ^
anger double post...
September 12th, 2010 at 4:24 PM ^
he had one foot, two feet, and ass down on the ground in the endzone all with the ball under control....of course it was not a catch. fuck the nfl, that was beyond a robbery
September 12th, 2010 at 4:59 PM ^
September 12th, 2010 at 6:34 PM ^
Does anyone know what play or plays last year inspired the pussies in the NFL officiating committee to come up with this ridiculous "process" rule? Isn't it a ref's fucking job to make judgment calls?
This post from a Bear's fan, mind you.
September 12th, 2010 at 4:28 PM ^
sorry
September 12th, 2010 at 4:24 PM ^
they make up rules as they go along.. i see players all the time drop the ball after hitting the ground... i guess it doesn't matter that he got to feet in.. he also had his ass on the ground along with being touched by a defender.. total bullshit call
September 12th, 2010 at 4:27 PM ^
Good point, I forgot he was also down by contact.
Without a doubt the worst call I have ever seen in professional football.
September 12th, 2010 at 7:15 PM ^
I've been watching football for about 42 years. Worst fucking call I can ever remember. I understand the "control" part of the rule, but Calvin caught the ball, both feet down, KNEE down, hip down, still controlled the ball in his hand when he downed the ball on the ground.
WTF was left to do? Rub his scrotum on the ball before handing it to the ref? I saw TWO cases over the weekend where guys dropped the ball before crossing the goal line. Both were counted as TDs.
September 12th, 2010 at 4:26 PM ^
This rule is ridiculous!!! He had two feet down, possession of the ball, then he set the ball down to go celebrate.
September 12th, 2010 at 4:26 PM ^
We get robbed again...jim joyce...We have some bad luck. I blame Calvin a little but it should be a catch. He dropped the ball getting back up to his feet. What's the difference if some catches it in the endzone then throws it away. Isn't that the same thing.
September 12th, 2010 at 4:27 PM ^
That was such BS. It was clearly a touchdown yet the NFL is determined to have these insanely idiotic and unncessary rules that make their just take away from the actual on-field product. Heads up to the NFL, the fans hate these rules.
September 12th, 2010 at 4:27 PM ^
1) f Notre Dame player drops ball before crossing goaline - TD
2) If Calvin Johnson catches ball, gets two feet in bounds, and his butt touches the ground - not a TD
September 12th, 2010 at 5:28 PM ^
3) And if a Notre Dame defender shoves the qb in the face and grabs his mask it's not a penalty.
September 12th, 2010 at 4:28 PM ^
One of the worst calls in the history of sports. Detroit teams have been getting fucked by the long dick of terrible officiating this year.
Even by their definition, it was still a touchdown. After he had possession, he committed a second act of stretching out the ball. 2nd act. Touchdown.
September 12th, 2010 at 4:28 PM ^
LOUCKOUT PLEASE, save me from this bullshit, if i cared about the Lions half as much as I do Michigan i probably would have punched a hole in the wall by now
September 12th, 2010 at 4:29 PM ^
I no longer believe in the NFL officiating because of that idiotic decision
September 12th, 2010 at 4:32 PM ^
what a story it could have been 2 have the lions start out 1-0.. especially with an ending like that.
i think this catch will be seen tommorow all over the news and may even change some rules if enough people get pissed.. Fuck the NFL.
September 12th, 2010 at 4:35 PM ^
I've just been looking at pictures of Denard smiling... it's the only cure for such anger
September 12th, 2010 at 4:36 PM ^
Probably the worst call i've seen in a very long time. Sheer bullshit.
September 12th, 2010 at 4:41 PM ^
It just seems like you can make those sort of bad calls against the Lions in the NFL and get away with it. I guess a Chicago home opening victory is more important to the NFL then the Lion's ending their long road losing streak!!! Oh well, I feel sorry for them but at least we have our wolverines!
September 12th, 2010 at 5:46 PM ^
I wouldn't put it past the refs to hose the Buffalo Bills in a similar fashion, but I feel your pain.
September 12th, 2010 at 4:49 PM ^
Jim Schwartz says so.
September 12th, 2010 at 4:53 PM ^
Jim Schwartz is a class individual who wants his team to move on to the next game.
For me? Fuck the NFL.
September 12th, 2010 at 4:54 PM ^
Well, the former head of officiating said on the air while they were reviewing it that it was an incomplete pass. So the Lions didn't get screwed by the refs. The rule is dumb, but it's the rule, made as part of the NFL's continuing effort to remove as many judgment calls as possible from their refs (see: tuck rule, no more completions on force outs, all contact to head of QB is a flag no matter what, etc.)
Maybe the Lions should be (and I'm sure Schwartz is) more concerned that they were outgained by 300 yards by a team whose defense sucked last year and whose line couldn't block anyone in the preseason.
September 12th, 2010 at 4:55 PM ^
September 12th, 2010 at 4:55 PM ^
is that there is still a judgement call, which is "did he start a second move"?
if, for example, he had performed the exact same catch and then kind of twisted towards the goal line in an attempt to score a TD, it would be considered a second move and thus not part of the initial process.
it is always a judgement call.
at some point, you just have to go with what's obvious: he caught it.
September 12th, 2010 at 5:07 PM ^
Who cares what the rule says. We all saw it. It was a catch by any definition. If it doesn't piss you off that the nfl can find a way to call a perfectly good catch, not a catch then you need to grow a pair.
September 12th, 2010 at 6:26 PM ^
Backus whiffed on at least four different occasions on pass pro. He looked like a rocket league offensive lineman. He and Raiola need to be jettisoned now. The Lions' investment in Stafford was compromised because he sucks.
September 12th, 2010 at 4:53 PM ^
I don't even know what to say. I'm fuming mad. On a scale of 1 to perfect game, that rates "Jim Joyce" except without the integrity of Joyce because you know you won't get an apology out of them, just some bull shit made up explanation.
September 12th, 2010 at 4:54 PM ^
I stopped watching the NBA twenty years ago. Today I stopped watching the NFL.
Ever heard of "fan loyalty" Roger Goodell? It's a double-edged sword.
September 12th, 2010 at 5:06 PM ^
I wish they would allow more common sense. The roughing penalties for grazing the qb's helmet with a pinkie really get me. I understand safety, but come on. It is getting less enjoyable to watch every year. They are turning an emotional, dramatic game and turning it into a beaurocratic nightmare.