Rules question: Bryant TD catch

[rem524]

That catch by Bryant was truly amazing but I am not sure it should be considered a catch. I know that, outside of Cincy, I am a minority of about 1. I'm open to being corrected on this.

My understanding is that you have to get both feet down (or a foot and an elbow) once you have established (and maintain) control of the ball. Bryant had the ball in his hands briefly but lost control. I think he only regained control once it was fully pinned against the back of his right leg. From that pount, he put his left leg down and somersalted out of bounds. If his right leg or an elbow doesn't touch in bounds, should that be a good catch?

I don't doubt that he maintained control once it was against his leg but I don't think he got a second foot or arm down. What did you see?

 

[91Joe95]

As awkward as it looked, he had the ball pinned against his body the entire time with his hand.

 

[dbsteel]

It was pinned, not even moving.

 

[rjg82]

It was a catch. And could not be overturned after it was called a catch on the field

 

[psu1969a]

That catch by Bryant was truly amazing but I am not sure it should be considered a catch. I know that, outside of Cincy, I am a minority of about 1. I'm open to being corrected on this.

My understanding is that you have to get both feet down (or a foot and an elbow) once you have established (and maintain) control of the ball. Bryant had the ball in his hands briefly but lost control. I think he only regained control once it was fully pinned against the back of his right leg. From that pount, he put his left leg down and somersalted out of bounds. If his right leg or an elbow doesn't touch in bounds, should that be a good catch?

I don't doubt that he maintained control once it was against his leg but I don't think he got a second foot or arm down. What did you see?

Per John Madden, one knee = two feet.

 

[rem524]

As awkward as it looked, he had the ball pinned against his body the entire time with his hand.

Thanks for the replies. I thought he had it in his hands, then kind of pinned to the side of his leg but moving and then finally controlled it against the back of his leg. To me, it was moving until it got to the back of his leg. From that point, only his left foot went down and his right foot couldn't because it was pinned by his arms holding the ball.

 

[rem524]

Per John Madden, one knee = two feet.

That could be it. Did one of his knees come down in bounds? His right knee was pinned to his chest and I thought he propelled himself with his left foot but I'm not sure.

 

[KnightWhoSaysNit]

I stand corrected. I had posted that it was not a catch but I was fooled by the TV replays that were available from CBS. The line they were showing that the second foot hit was not the out-of-bounds line but was instead just art work in the end zone. This video shows that it was a catch. He "controllably" rolled the ball with one hand on his leg while having one foot down. The second came down on a line but that line was fully within the end zone.

http://nesn.com/2016/01/martavis-bryant-makes-incredible-circus-touchdown-catch-for-steelers-video/

 

[rem524]

That catch by Bryant was truly amazing but I am not sure it should be considered a catch. I know that, outside of Cincy, I am a minority of about 1. I'm open to being corrected on this.

My understanding is that you have to get both feet down (or a foot and an elbow) once you have established (and maintain) control of the ball. Bryant had the ball in his hands briefly but lost control. I think he only regained control once it was fully pinned against the back of his right leg. From that pount, he put his left leg down and somersalted out of bounds. If his right leg or an elbow doesn't touch in bounds, should that be a good catch?

I don't doubt that he maintained control once it was against his leg but I don't think he got a second foot or arm down. What did you see?

Looks like Dean Blandino, the NFL VP of Officiating, doesn't think Bryant's amazing play was a good catch. In his words:
"I don't think this is a catch. If I just had a blank slate and I could say, do you think it's a catch or not a catch? I would said no catch."

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on...d-martavis-bryant-td-vs-bengals-wasnt-a-catch

It comes down to when you consider Bryant having control. I didn't think he did until his right lower leg kicked up and helped secure the ball against the back of that leg. To me, that was when the ball stopped moving against his body.