NFL Rules Discussion

The first catch was definitely not a catch. He was clearly bobbling the ball before he got 2 feet in. If you get a foot down then bobble, the foot no longer counts. Only after you establish complete control do the feet count.

And based on the current rule, the second catch wasn't a catch either. The lack of consistency is the whole issue here. The Ertz catch has ALWAYS been ruled incomplete. ALWAYS! I never once saw a reception stand after replay showed he didn't complete the process ALL THE WAY TO THE GROUND. It's irrelevant that he then caught it after the bounce because the bounce is indication that it hit the ground. And the Bert Emanual rule is thrown out too because the ball clearly moved when he hit the ground because it bounced 6 feet in the air. That's not maintaining control by any definition. But for some reason in this particular case they decided Ertz established himself as a runner, which is even more baffling when you consider all the other catches that have been ruled incomplete when it appeared the receiver as making a "football move" AKA establishing themselves as a runner. Like Dez Bryant extending the ball toward the pylon vs Green Bay a few years ago. How do you extend the ball without establishing yourself as a runner? How do you come down in the EZ, take 3 steps, roll over on your ass and elbow, get up, then drop the ball trying to spike it and have that not be considered the receiver establishing himself as a runner, like Calvin Johnson did some years ago.