Calvin Johnson No Touchdown Call – Deja Vu
Was watching live as Calvin Johnson made the spectacular catch that should have secured a victory for the Detroit Lions over the Chicago Bears. Unfortunately for Johnson and the Lions, the dreaded “must maintain possession through the process of the catch” rule nullified the touchdown, which led to a Bears victory.
While I feel for the Lions, I was shouting at the TV that they’d better not call that a touchdown. I was already familiar with the whole “process of the catch” rule. My Oakland Raiders got burned by the exact same rule in Week One of last season.
Admittedly, Johnson’s is a bit worse, as the ball hit the ground on what looked more like a secondary move. But both catches see the receiver in complete possession of the ball, in the endzone, with both feet planted on the ground. Both receivers, in complete possession of the ball, have their backside hit the ground. Both should have been touchdowns, but as the current rule is written, neither are.
The rule needs to be looked at, in my opinion. Doesn’t make sense to me that a running back can fall backwards into the endzone, break the plane, and then fumble the ball before he even hits the ground and be rewarded with a touchdown, while plays like this are not. That said, I’m glad they stuck to the book and made the right call based on their own silly rule. Because the media may have forgotten about this Louis Murphy call last season, but I certainly haven’t.
Guessing Murphy hasn’t, either.
That really is a stupid rule, but at least they are consistant.