The Call Explained

November 19, 2009 at 09:37am by Scott   •  3 Comments »

Mike Pereira, the head zebra of the NFL, broke down the Michael Clayton non-catch/interception from this past Sunday and said the same thing I did in the game summary about Clayton’s left foot never touching the ground. Ouch! I need to stretch this shoulder out more if I’m going to keep patting myself on the back like this. Or maybe I just need to figure out another way to congratulate myself.

From the Times’ transcription:

“If he comes down with both feet, so he’s planted with both feet on the ground, then he is hit by a defender and knocked to the ground and the ball comes out, (then it’s a) catch,” Pereira said. “Down by contact because he is not deemed to be going to the ground. So, that’s the key.

“Then it’s (a) catch and down by contact, as opposed to being hit before you get both feet on the ground. Now, you’re going to the ground and have to hold on to the ball throughout that whole process. The ball never hit the ground.”

I understand the rule and why they have it, but I still think it needs to be tweaked. Everything about the rule is relatively objective except when the play ends. Pereira just says that he has to maintain control “through the entire process”, but there is no set rule on when the catching process ends. Is it when he stops moving? Does a whistle have to blow? What if he stands up and tosses the ball to the ground? How do we know that’s not a live ball? It’s arguably the most important part of the rule, and yet it’s completely left up in the air. You know what else is left up in the air? Joe’s mom’s legs most every night Tuesdays through Saturdays.