Don’t Hate The Call, Hate The Rule.

When is a catch, not a catch?  That's the question that Cowboy fans were asking themselves after Sunday's NFC playoff game against Green Bay.  Late in the fourth quarter, on 4th and 1, Tony Romo hit wide out Dez Bryant on a deep pass down to the Green Bay one yard line.  First and goal Dallas!  Or was it?

After watching a replay of the catch, Bryant lost control of the ball when he hit the ground.  The Packers challenged the play.  And much to the dismay of Dallas fans, the play was reversed.  But was it the right call?  Let's look at the rule as it is stated in the NFL Rule Book.

 Player Going to the Ground. If a player goes to the ground in the act of catching a pass (with or without contact by an opponent), he must maintain control of the ball after he touches 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, the pass is incomplete. If he regains control prior to the ball touching the ground, the pass is complete.

If you watch the replay of the Bryant "catch", this sums up the play exactly.  He did not retain control of the ball after coming into contact with the ground.  Don't hate the ref, hate the rule.  And that's something that all football fans, including Packer fans, can agree on.  The right call was made.  The RULE needs to be changed.