Comments on: Lions’ Burleson scores, NFL still can’t figure out Calvin Johnson rule

By: contract

contract — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 22:29:06 +0000

“Everyone on here offering a “simple” rule of possession + two points of contact and no mas would be singing a different tune if a WR on their team gets two feet down, immediately gets popped and the ball comes loose (which happens pretty much every Sunday). ”

forthelove: You must be young, because many of us grew up with that rule, and never had a problem with it because it made absolute sense and everyone understood the rule.

When your WR fumbles the ball, you yell for a better WR, not for the NFL to change the rule.

By: gamewarrior405

gamewarrior405 — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:47:25 +0000

Central, did you even watch the game. The 49ers did nothing to win that game, the Lions did everything to give them the win.

It was truly a game of inches. The touchback instead of down on the 1/2 yard line. The 4th & goal completion was by an inch if that.

The 49ers were handed a 15 yard unsportsman for horse collar tackle which was obvious to anyone that it was not. Free 5 yards on the return that set up gaming winning TD.

In the end, Detroit beat themselves, not the 49ers.

By: gamewarrior405

gamewarrior405 — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:42:26 +0000

First, Megatron’s incomplete was a touchdown all day. The ball came out when he went to get up from the ground.

Burlesson was also a catch, due to the fact of interference from the field goal net. If you notice, when he gets up from the ground, the net is actually tangled in both hands.

Either way, the NFL was wrong to institute such a vague rule to begin with.

By: davidpom50

davidpom50 — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 20:53:46 +0000

I’m really torn on this one. If Johnson’s wasn’t a TD last year, then this one wasn’t either. The rule seems to be that you have to control the ball until you stop moving/running/sliding on the ground, whatever. As a football fan, I think the rule should be changed, both were clearly caught and controlled, and if the play happened anywhere except the endzone, they’d be fumbles or catch & down by contact. As a 9er fan, I REALLY didn’t want that to be a TD.

By: truthserum4u

truthserum4u — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:46:38 +0000

Lions receiver Nate Burleson caught a pass in the end zone, stumbled to the ground as he crossed the end line and then dropped the ball as he hit the ground in the fourth quarter of today’s game against the 49ers. The official on the field, who was in perfect position to see the whole play, ruled it incomplete, saying Burleson didn’t complete his catch as he went to the ground.

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At what point did Burleson go to the ground?

He took 5 steps turned and put his hands to the ground to prevent himself from going down. He never went down to the ground. That’s the biggest difference between this and Clavin Johnson’s catch (which should have been a TD – put it down while getting up).

By: The Phantom Stranger

The Phantom Stranger — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 05:53:11 +0000

How about instead of referees they get 50 guys in a bar to make these calls?

By: granadafan

granadafan — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 02:21:48 +0000

That was a catch, end of. That said, why don’t players just remove all doubt and hold the damn ball with two hands all the way to the ground. Then stand up with the ball in the air to remove any doubt. Trying to go for style points is just crap. The points on the scoreboard are what matters.

By: centralchamps

centralchamps — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:20:00 +0000

otis52gsh says:
Oct 16, 2011 4:41 PM
That was no TD. He did not maintain possession all the way through. That’s the rule plain and simple. Right call until it was overturned. Lions got lucky again. Won’t happen next week against Atlanta. They will wipe the floor with Detroit. Funny to me that the lions FINALLY play a team with a winning record and lose. Can you say overrated?? I just did!! And let’s not forget the niners had like 15 penalties, they didn’t even play well and still beat the lions in their house. That really has to burn you fans who actually think this lions team is any good. Here comes the real Detroit lions.
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oh I’m sorry your life is so pathetic you have to belittle someone or the team so you feel a little better about yourself … get a life man!

By: nomoreseasontix

nomoreseasontix — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:11:51 +0000

After “the tuck rule”, you’re surprised that the NFL can’t get out of its own way?
There’s no consistency in many of the on field calls this year.
The NFL’s solution is to issue rule changes to justify bad on field officiating.

By: fooath

fooath — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 22:38:57 +0000

would be singing a different tune if a WR on their team gets two feet down, immediately gets popped and the ball comes loose
—————————————————-
That’s a “fumble”.

There wouldn’t be any interpretation. Go back to possession + two feet or body part.

By: forthelove

forthelove — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 21:26:06 +0000

Everyone on here offering a “simple” rule of possession + two points of contact and no mas would be singing a different tune if a WR on their team gets two feet down, immediately gets popped and the ball comes loose (which happens pretty much every Sunday).

Also, if that wasn’t ruled a catch, you’d better believe that’s the last time Burleson swings a football around like a loaf of bread.

By: mikea311

mikea311 — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 21:16:55 +0000

manningham had a similar the was challenged by the giants for a td and was not a td.

i agree the giants call was not a td but really they need to be consistent.

By: nahcouldntbethat

nahcouldntbethat — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:58:55 +0000

Why is breathing with clear possession of the football and both feet down not a catch?

This football move thing is stupid.

A receiver either has both feet down and possession of he does not. If he does it should be a catch. If he does not it should not.

How many angels can dance on the head of a pin? If you let the NFL try to figure it out you’ll never know.

By: amanistumor

amanistumor — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:48:42 +0000

For the easily confused…..

A Catch followed by FIVE steps is considered possession, it’s really that simple.

By: fatfreddystubbs

fatfreddystubbs — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:41:54 +0000

don’t have a rooting interest in either team, but this game is entertaining as hell, two young up and coming teams. that being said, i think you could read “war and peace” cover to cover in the amount of time this game is taking.

By: otis52gsh

otis52gsh — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:41:40 +0000

That was no TD. He did not maintain possession all the way through. That’s the rule plain and simple. Right call until it was overturned. Lions got lucky again. Won’t happen next week against Atlanta. They will wipe the floor with Detroit. Funny to me that the lions FINALLY play a team with a winning record and lose. Can you say overrated?? I just did!! And let’s not forget the niners had like 15 penalties, they didn’t even play well and still beat the lions in their house. That really has to burn you fans who actually think this lions team is any good. Here comes the real Detroit lions.

By: edukator4

edukator4 — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:40:57 +0000

the pettigrew td needed to be discussed by the refs too, despite him laying on his back for a full second then having willis rip it out.

By: jesterrecordz

jesterrecordz — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:37:09 +0000

the calvin johnson catch wasnt confusing at all. it was a touchdown. calling it incomplete is like is like marking someone’s answer on a test wrong because they didn’t shade in the whole bubble.

By: contract

contract — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:28:20 +0000

Go back to the old rule … control + 2 points of contact with the ground in the field of play = catch

Simple.

By: forthelove

forthelove — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:19:34 +0000

These Lions receivers need to tuck that ball into the chest and eliminate any questions. If Burleson tucks the ball into the chest and goes to the ground it’s a catch no problem, waiving it around in one hand and then using both hands (with the ball in one of them) to break a fall to the ground just makes unnecessary questions. Four point control, secure the football!

By: 13curtjp

13curtjp — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:15:15 +0000

Here’s an idea…if the receiver catches it and both feet are on the ground, that’s a catch…pretty simple

By: jdmp86

jdmp86 — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:12:41 +0000

Refs couldn’t figure it out, Mike Periera couldn’t figure it out. Change the damn rule already. When it looks like a touchdown to everyone watching it must be a touchdown. On top of that Mike Carey is has been screwing up calls all day.

By: your6ringsaremeaninglessnow

your6ringsaremeaninglessnow — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:12:26 +0000

It was TD, shouldn’t have been initially ruled incomplete. He made a football move after the catch, then released the ball.

By: xxwhodatxx

xxwhodatxx — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:10:36 +0000

Good for the lions but sickening none the less.