FanPost

Jeff Fisher chimes in on the "ground rule".....


Sorry I don't have a clip to share but I heard this on a radio interview yesterday. A caller asked Fisher about CJ's catch and, since Fisher is on the Rules Committee, whether it will be reviewed or altered.

Fisher flatly said "No" and went on to explain it in detail saying that it is a "cut and dried rule" with no gray area.

This is how the NFL Rules Committee looks at it (which isn't exactly spelled out in the rule itself IMO): When a player catches a ball as he is going to the ground, he has to get up with control of the ball, period. That is what is meant by "finishing the catch". The "second act" principle in this scenario is getting up with the ball in hand, you CAN'T have a "second act" or "football move" like changing hands or taking a step if you are in the process of falling.

Basically, according to Fisher, CJ had two choices here, cradle the ball into his chest and not let go of it, OR stay on the ground until he can securely get up without dropping it.

Of course this opens up other discussions like "what if a defender slaps the ball out of his hand before he can get up". From what Fisher said, it sounds like that would be an incompletion unless the play is blown dead first.

Going forward, this is something that players (and fans) will have to get a firm grasp of because it ISN'T going to change, nor are they going to consider changing it. If you are going down while making a catch, HANG ONTO THE FUCKING BALL, even if that means you stay on the ground to make sure you have it. Save your celebrations for after you hand the ball to the ref.

From now on I will certainly be watching games closely to see how consistent the Refs are with applying the rule as Fisher explained it.

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