Dez Bryant’s infamous incompletion vs the Packers

On the afternoon of Dec. 13th, 2015 I was sitting on my Fantasy Football Commissioner’s recliner, enjoying an adult beverage when one of the most potentially exciting plays was about to happen on the biggest game of the day. 

there is a receiver and cornerback not pictured at the bottom frame [1]

It was fourth and two, on the opponent’s 32-yard line, and the offense (Dallas) appeared to be going for it.  On the left sideline of the ball, Dez Bryant was lined up against Sam Sheilds in man coverage and the next closest defender appeared to also be in man coverage.  Tony Romo calls out the offensive line protection, and then he looks over at Dez. It is clear that unless the Packers change their defense, Romo is going to throw the ball to Bryant, and the best route in this situation would be a go route[2]. After a second of hesitation, Romo receives the snap, takes a few small steps back in the pocket, and throws the ball deep down the sideline to Bryant. 

Sheilds is the only defender within at least ten yards of play.  Bryant jumps above/over Sheilds to initiate the process of catching the ball and while doing so the two make contact.  Bryant gains control of the ball, and while falling over Sheilds, he gets two feet down.  While still falling, he takes another half step and reaches out with the football tucked against his left forearm.  He dives out so neither his knees, thighs, nor hips will hit the ground (which would rule him down).  As he slams the ball onto the ground, it pops out of his possession only for a moment before he re-catches it in the end zone. 

It was incredible to watch in real-time, one the single best plays I have seen, but as I stated then and will state now: if while reaching out, the ball hit the ground, instead of his arm or knees/thighs/hips and that caused the ball to not be in his possession, it should be ruled incomplete; and that is what happened.  

The NFL’s definition of a catch is “A player who goes to the ground in the process of attempting to secure possession of a loose ball (with or without contact by an opponent) must maintain control of the ball throughout the process of contacting the ground, whether in the field of play or the end zone. If he loses control of the ball, and the ball touches the ground before he regains control, there is no possession.”  The wording of the rule is very clear, and the play in question is almost a perfect example of the rule in action.  Since Dez was going to the ground while attempting to secure possession, the ball is the only thing that cannot hit the ground for the pass to be ruled complete.  If he would have turned his arm so that his left forearm would hit the ground instead of the ball, and then ball popped out of his possession for a moment before he re-secured it, it would have been complete.  But that is not what happened.  Again, it is disappointing that such an amazing play was not rewarded, but that is just the way the game goes and it happens all the time; an example we see just about every game is when a long gain or turnover is nullified by a penalty of some sort. 

I realize this is an unpopular opinion to have, but the rule is very clear and as a former official[3], I respect the rules that are in place and think that the catch rule should not be changed.

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 [1]  Image from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htkujk6I3Bg

 [2] Dez Bryant is 3 inches taller and 30 lbs. heavier than his counterpart on defense.  Dez is known as the most physical WR in the league.  If Bryant does not get jammed at the line of scrimmage and escapes down the sideline before the blitz gets to Romo, no one on the defense is in position to make a play except the smaller Sheilds.

 [3]  I was a soccer referee on and off for eight years