It was a completed pass, as much as I hate to admit it. He did take 2 steps, had possession of the ball, and was tripped up. The ball came out when he hit the ground. But in my opinion it was a completed pass.

 

I wish the play was on youtube, so it can be viewed again.

It was a completed pass, as much as I hate to admit it. He did take 2 steps, had possession of the ball, and was tripped up. The ball came out when he hit the ground. But in my opinion it was a completed pass.

 

He took 2 step and had possession but the defender was engaged with him at the time he made the catch. By rule he has to keep possession through contact with the ground.

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80e3622b

 

Go to about 0:42 seconds to watch the play and replay.

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80e3622b

 

Go to about 0:42 seconds to watch the play and replay.

 

If that is a correct call, then it is a bad rule...

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80e3622b

 

Go to about 0:42 seconds to watch the play and replay.

 

Here is another angle of the play, 42 seconds into it also.

 

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80e3622b

The one thing that everybody seems to be forgetting is that after he took two steps, he the put his other hand on the ground to extend the football. At that point the rule of continuation through the ground is removed. He made the catch, got two feet down, then put his hand down while having control of the ball the entire time. Once the ball breaks the plane of the goal line the play is over. BTW doesn't a body part other than feet equal two feet? I know a shin or a back side does, but I don't know if a hand equals two feet or not. Even if it only equals one, then he took three steps after the catch and made a football move.

The one thing that everybody seems to be forgetting is that after he took two steps, he the put his other hand on the ground to extend the football. At that point the rule of continuation through the ground is removed. He made the catch, got two feet down, then put his hand down while having control of the ball the entire time. Once the ball breaks the plane of the goal line the play is over. BTW doesn't a body part other than feet equal two feet? I know a shin or a back side does, but I don't know if a hand equals two feet or not. Even if it only equals one, then he took three steps after the catch and made a football move.

 

He did not keep position for the entire continuation to the ground. Continuation to the ground is not removed until his entire body hits the ground.

Here's Tomlin's take from the Post-Gazette:

Disagreement

Tomlin did not agree with the call that overturned Santonio Holmes' touchdown reception against Baltimore. Referee Bill Carollo ruled Holmes did not complete the play before he fumbled when he hit the ground. To complete a play, a receiver must make what is described as a "football move."

"They said it was an incomplete pass," Tomlin said. "They said that he didn't establish a football move and that as he gained possession of the football he was in the process of going to the ground and, when that occurs, he has to maintain possession of the ball through contact with the ground.

"So the side step that he had after he caught the ball was not believed to be a football move."

 

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/09021/943195-66.stm

Tomlin is right... He took two steps AND put his left hand on the ground to stay up longer, yet, it wasn't a football move.

We are beating a dead horse... :deadhorse:

 

I disagree with the call, but it didn't cost Pittsburgh the game and they are moving on to the Super Bowl.:ylsuper:

He did not keep position for the entire continuation to the ground. Continuation to the ground is not removed until his entire body hits the ground.

 

Post #53 says what I was saying. It was a bad call. I'm glad it had no bearing on the outcome of the game, but it was a bad call. The football move takes away any continuation rule. Two steps, a hand down, and a stretch move to me are all football moves. He did all three.