Shields gets his hand in enough where he keeps Dez from immediately controlling the ball. Having control of the ball and going to the ground was all happening at the same time. There was never a point of having two feet and control to establish possession and than a separate move with the ball.

There are catches all the time in the game, that are not completed passes. It takes a catch plus fulfilling the rest of the criteria of a completed pass.

Originally Posted by: PackFanWithTwins 

We did not get one call. The ruling on the field was in favor of Dallas. As were most of the calls, such as the bogus PI on Tramon and the worst spot of the football in 40 years. The only reason the Packers benefitted from this call was because Mike McCarthy challenged it. It was his last available challenge. Granted it was with ~4 min left and there was only 2 min of game to worry about.

Packers had 10 accepted penalties for 87 yards. Dallas had..... 5 penalties for 35 yards.

Packers did not get one call.

Originally Posted by: QCHuskerFan 

I think the play was a catch, it is just that they need a rule to remove the subjectivity like as musccy says the force out rule. Competition committee will probably remove it as Jerry is an influential owner, but I think adding uncertainty to the game and more pressure on the refs is going in the wrong direction. I still find it ironic that the Cowboys are bitching about the Calvin Johnson rule after last week.

Originally Posted by: TheKanataThrilla 

Problem is, I have yet to hear anybody with an idea on how to change the rule that will actually make the game better. The rule is written to leave about the least amount of judgment to the officials. Only judgment is did the player possess the ball and make a subsequent move or long enough to have been able to make a move. Every option I have heard either adds more judgment or makes more real incompletions completions.

This rule was revisited after the Calvin incident and wasn't changed than either.

Originally Posted by: PackFanWithTwins 

I'm not speaking for Kanata, but I never said change the rule. As written, it's not a catch, I acknowledge that. I also understand why the rule is written to remove subjectivity from a major aspect of the game - THE CATCH!

That said, I just don't see the play the same way as you do. Yes, Shields touched the ball, but from that point on, my two eyes see control of the ball, two feet down, no bobbling, no dropping - only contact with the ground causing the ball to come loose. To me, the (justifiable) technicality of the rule was the reason for the incompletion, not him juggling it, or Shields making a play on the ball.

Originally Posted by: musccy 

I think if Shields doesn't cause Dez to juggle the ball even for that fraction of a second. Control and possession gets established a fraction sooner which then could have made him turning his body and going for the goal line be considered a separate move. But because of that little delay, he doesn't establish control until he is already turning and going down which makes that all part of the process.

Originally Posted by: PackFanWithTwins 

I agree that Shields delayed him gaining possession/control. I still feel like he did enough after that point. I'm ultimately bickering over an irrelevant point. I'm arguing about what I think "seems" like a catch, not what rules say. IMO, the technicality in the rule caused the incompletion, not Dez "dropping" it or Shields breaking it up.

Originally Posted by: musccy 

What does it for me, is that I can see during slo-mo where he gains control of the ball, and than watching at full speed. There is no separation in acts that would be possession and than a separate move. His is falling, while gaining control and extending the ball out. It is all part of the same motion.

Originally Posted by: PackFanWithTwins 

We did not get one call. The ruling on the field was in favor of Dallas. As were most of the calls, such as the bogus PI on Tramon and the worst spot of the football in 40 years. The only reason the Packers benefitted from this call was because Mike McCarthy challenged it. It was his last available challenge. Granted it was with ~4 min left and there was only 2 min of game to worry about.

Packers had 10 accepted penalties for 87 yards. Dallas had..... 5 penalties for 35 yards.

Packers did not get one call.

Originally Posted by: QCHuskerFan