The Pittsburgh Steelers dominated in a powerful 26-18 win over the struggling New York Giants on “Monday Night time Soccer,” however the rating may’ve been much more disparate if not for one barely controversial play.
Steelers broad receiver George Pickens appeared to make a powerful landing catch within the again proper nook of the tip zone within the second quarter, however it was dominated incomplete as a result of he didn’t get each toes down inbounds.
Nevertheless, NFL punditry lit up online with debate over whether or not the catch ought to’ve stood as a result of Pickens obtained his proper foot down twice.
The league stipulates {that a} participant should have each toes or a single elbow, knee, thigh, shin or buttocks down inbounds for a play to be thought-about a landing catch.
It appears ridiculous that getting the identical foot down twice — a tricky factor to do whereas being pressured out of bounds — is just not thought-about two-foot inbounds.
Pittsburgh quarterback Russell Wilson seemed to agree post-game.
“We get the identical foot down twice, and it is clear one after which one other one, quantity two, it is nearly such as you get a knee down, and it counts as a landing. And getting two rights [feet], possibly it ought to rely. However I do not know,” Wilson mentioned.
A rule change will unlikely be thought-about as a result of any such play is so uncommon, and it did not occur in a playoff or playoff-affecting sport.
However whereas we’re at it, why not reevaluate the force-out rule? Underneath the outdated guidelines (changed after the 2008 season), a catch would’ve been referred to as full if a defender pushed him out of bounds earlier than he may get each toes down.
The outdated force-out rule would’ve benefitted Pickens in Monday’s contest and eradicated the two-feet controversy, particularly because the officers initially dominated it a landing.
Granted, reviving the force-out rule may elevate extra questions than solutions. However in hindsight, it appeared lots easier than the 2010 “Calvin Johnson rule,“ which led to the “finishing the method of the catch” phrase followers hear lots these days.
Pickens has had two touchdowns referred to as again Monday for failing to finish the method. Maybe the method must be reevaluated but once more.
