The biggest ruckus emerging in the aftermath of the NFL's Week One competition was the controversial non-reception ruling against Calvin Johnson and the Detroit Lions in their loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday.? Many have since displayed displeasure with the ruling, but regardless of how unpopular the call has been with most fans in the days following, it was indeed the correct call based on the league's rule on receptions.
Whether you agree with the rule or not, it clearly states that if a player goes to the ground while making a catch, he must maintain possession of the ball all the way through the fall. That means he must have possession until his momentum from the fall ends completely.
On Sunday, Johnson had not yet stopped the momentum from the fall when the ball was clearly jarred loose from his hand when it struck the ground. Just to be clear, Johnson was not in the process of voluntarily releasing or spiking the ball when it came out. He was not in the process of using the ball as an aid to get up as has been suggested by some. He was, though, holding the ball in his right hand as he rolled over (as a continuing motion from the fall) and the ball struck the ground causing it to slip out of Williams' grip. You can see it clearly in this video at the 39-second mark.
That, by rule, is not a reception.
It may not make sense when you watch the replay. It may not seem fair. But it was called correctly on the field.
And that's why maybe the NFL needs to look at revising the rule. If 99-out-of-100 drunks in a bar think it's a touchdown, it should be a touchdown.
