When you’re watching a game, it’s becoming harder and harder to determine what a catch is in the NFL. You hear terms like “process of completing the catch” or “make a football move” when seeing a replay.
It doesn’t happen as often as some of the more common catch terms, but “joint possession” creates a lot of uncertainty when the cornerback and wide receiver both come down with a pass.
If a player from both teams comes down with a pass, the offense will get credit for the completion and retain possession. The NFL rules state: “If a pass is caught simultaneously by two eligible opponents and both players retain it, the ball belongs to the passers.
It is not a simultaneous catch if a player gains control first and an opponent subsequently gains joint control. If the ball is muffed after simultaneous touching by two such players, all the players of the passing team become eligible to catch the loose ball.”
The Fail Mary
In 2012, the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers played on Monday Night Football during the officials’ strike. The game had replacement officials, and they made the game-deciding call on the last play. With Seattle down five points in the final seconds, Russell Wilson threw a Hail Mary pass into the end zone that ended up in the hands of wide receiver Golden Tate and Packers safety M.D. Jennings.
One official called it an interception, and another called it a touchdown. As a result, players, coaches, and fans were confused. The ruling on the field ended up being a Seahawks touchdown, and the call stood after replay review. This play became known as the “Fail Mary,” and it was the final call by replacement officials. The league and officials agreed to a new labor deal before the Thursday night game was played.
He's always had a flair for the dramatic.
The time Golden Tate took center stage on Monday Night Football with two touchdowns, including the infamous "Fail Mary" game-winner.
(Sept. 24, 2012) @ShowtimeTate @Seahawks pic.twitter.com/sAcZeaGGJn
— NFL Legacy (@NFLLegacy) October 30, 2018
The NFL released a statement saying officials determined that both Tate and Jennings had possession and that the ball belonged to Tate, the offensive player, under the rule for a simultaneous catch.
The league went on to say referee Wayne Elliott determined that no indisputable visual evidence existed to overturn the call on the field, and the NFL Officiating Department supported the decision not to overturn the on-field ruling following the instant replay review.
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Many have argued that it was not a simultaneous catch because Jennings appeared to gain control before Tate did.
The league also said there was a missed offensive pass interference penalty on Tate earlier in the play that would have given the Packers the win if it had been called.
