The NFL on Tuesday defended the controversial reversal of a 19-yard touchdown catch made by Raiders wide receiver Louis Murphy just before halftime of Oakland's 24-20 Monday night loss to the Chargers. The league office issued a further clarification of its officials' ruling on whether Murphy maintained possession of the ball. While Article 7 of the 2009 NFL Rule Book was applied in making the booth decision to reverse the touchdown, the NFL also is further citing its rule book for an explanation: "In last night's game between the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders, the Raiders faced a 3rd and 5 from the Chargers' 19 with 0:50 remaining in the second quarter," the explanation reads. "The ruling on the field was a completed pass for a touchdown. "The instant replay assistant stopped the game for an instant replay review to determine if the receiver maintained possession of the ball after he hit the ground. "Rule 8, Section 1, Article 3, Item 1 of the NFL Rule Book (page 51) states that 'if a player goes to the ground in the act of catching a pass (with or without contact with an opponent), he must maintain control of the ball after he touches the ground, whether in the field of play or in 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."' "The instant replay review determined that Raiders wide receiver Louis Murphy did not maintain possession of the ball after he hit the ground. Thus, the on-field ruling of a touchdown was reversed by referee Carl Cheffers to an incomplete pbutt." Source: Fanhouse.com
Of course the NFL backs the call the NFL's officials made - their beef was that he didn't get up with the ball in his hands but clearly you could see his elbow & butt hit the ground before the ball came out, so I guess they were pissed he didn't get up and spike the ball? The NFL backing their refs after a dumb call is no different than you sticking up for your buddy when he's drunk, its a commitment - NFL officiating is still a wing of the NFL.
proof that this call is bs [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ra_miAb8VeA&annotation_id=annotation_365216&feature=iv"]YouTube - Louis Murphy TD called INCOMPLETE (Mike Pereira talks posession)[/ame]
as soon as his butt hits and he clearly has possession, it's a catch and the whistle should blow. i don't care what happens afterwards. the nfl is too heckin strict on these catches.
It's the same thing that happened to Holmes against Baltimore last season in the playoff game, he had possession and even re-adjusted the ball but after he hit the ground it popped out, it was a very iffy call and I don't agree with it, but you have to go with what the rule states until it is changed.
Worst call of the season so far. Could have changed the momentum of the game completely. :icon_confused:
^^^^^this....thats what the rule states....the referee did his job. I'm not saying it's right but its the rule. 90% of the time the rule is good, but like anything it's not 100%. I feel for Raiders fans because this is one time I don't think the rule worked properly, but its still a rule
