The Second Act and I'm no George Clooney

By now, most everyone has seen the clip of Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson's game winning touchdown grab.  Yes, the end of the previous sentence completed with the "strikethrough" effect is quite applicable.  It was criminal for Johnson's grab to be ruled incomplete.  Is the NFL rules committee deliberately trying create havoc on a weekly basis?  Um, hard to say after one week, but worth a harsh look after the break...


For those of you who somehow managed to sleep through the opening weekend of NFL action, this was by far the most controversial call this past Sunday.  A quick recap:  The Lions trailed the Chicago Bears 19-14 with under a minute left to play in the 4th quarter.  Shaun Hill appeared to find Johnson in the back right corner of the end zone for what was ruled by one of the on field officials as the game-winning TD.  We should note another official had money on the game disagreed and felt it was an incomplete pass.  Johnson clearly has possession of the football in one hand, both feet in bounds, and he goes to the ground.  Touchdown, right?  What happens next is crucial.  At the end of the play, Johnson uses the ball as a spring to return to his feet, the ball leaves his possession as one would expect, and Johnson deliriously begins to celebrate with his teammates.  The ruling on the field is determined to be an incomplete pass.  Additionally, the play was reviewed by the competent replay official upstairs and upheld.  Incomplete pass.  The Lions had two more opportunities to score, but ended up losing the game 19-14.  A very deflating play for a franchise that needs something good to happen to it for the first time in about a decade.  Click the link below to view the play.
Calvin Johnson Non-TD catch

For comparison sakes, let's go back to this past January's Superbowl.  After a touchdown, the Saints are attempting a 2 point conversion.  Drew Brees finds Lance Moore right at the goal line.  In this video, Moore appears to be bobbling the ball, possibly secures it once more, then has the ball dislodged by the defender's shin in the act of defending the play.  This play is reviewed upstairs and is ruled a catch and a good 2 point conversion.  Click the link below to review this play.
Lance Moore 2pt. Conversion

The aspect of the rule here which is being interpreted in each of the above scenarios is known as "the second act."  It was ruled in the Johnson catch that he committed a second act when the ball was dislodged by him springing to his feet.  The rule states that if a receiver is going to the ground while catching the football, he must maintain possession of the ball throughout the act of going to the ground.  My opinion, and for those of us not sniffing glue, is that Moore's catch should have been ruled incomplete while Johnson's catch should have been ruled complete.  Johnson clearly has possession of the ball, while in Moore's play it is not clear.  Yet, the NFL officials ruled in opposite fashion in each instance.

Some things in life are egregiously unfair:  the fact I do not look like or have the bankroll of Brad Pitt or George Clooney comes to mind along with not being the founder of Facebook.  Never mind the fact that I am about as technologically savvy as George Constanza on his best day.  Perhaps the NFL will see fit to review this rule and make the appropriate tweaks so game winning touchdowns are not ruled incomplete.  The Lions deserved better.