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Originally Posted by FormerUmp
Because on a play like this, people see him catch the ball and control it enough to reach it across the goal line. They view that level of control as possession regardless of how the rule is written.
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Who cares what people think they see. They see their emotions, which we cannot officiate by or under those positions. The rule is defined just like how you enforce a penalty. If it was not that way, then everyone would be complaining about what the rule should be anyway. Who cares what "people" that have no skin in the game think? Even coaches and NFL people know the rule and that is why you do not see coaches and administrators in the NFL complaining.
Quote:
Originally Posted by FormerUmp
They see a player with a knee down in-bounds, control of the ball and the ball breaking the plane. It makes sense that people would see that as a touchdown, even if it isn't by rule. The rule is a little counter-intuitive that way.
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OK, this is not college football. The play would not be over even in college. If you are not giving the ball to the other team if that ball pops out at the 50-yard line, then you cannot tell me "It was a catch." Because if that ball popped up in the air outside of the goal line, you advocating giving a fumble or interception on some level? I doubt that seriously.
The NFL did not want cheap fumbles or catches. That is what Bill Polian said on ESPN the other day and said that was the case some years ago. And when I was a kid and saw the very first play, I never thought that was a catch, but the rules did not seem to be as defined.
Peace