Hey Cowboy fans

[Sky King]

Supporters of this being a catch are searching in vain for a loophole, i.e., football move, elbow to ground, etc. As tough as it is to accept the refs called it faithfully according to the rule. But I expect this one to forensically be examined to the Nth degree and the mention that it had occurred with a wealth of time still left on the clock to be conveniently censored from their narrative.

In the end, the Dallas defense came up short and I expect that the continuing narrative is going to overlook that point altogether. A championship team would still have had plenty of time to get the ball back and make a statement. Left-handedly they did. They're not quite a championship team. Good but not good enough. For those that cannot accept that reality there will always be the "catch."

Life is full of disappointments and nobody died. meh

 

[Legalizeit]

All good man. Good luck vs Seattle. Should be an entertaining game.

Good luck next year bruh.

 

[greenandgold]

Get over it Cowgurlz fans. It was NOT a bad call, according to the rule as it is written it was NOT a catch. I agree, it's a horrible rule, but it IS a rule. It was not however a gift of the referees that effectively ended the game. You had over four minutes left to stop the Packer's offense. Your team failed to do so. Even if you had scored, that would have left those four minutes for Rogers to pick you apart like he did all fourth quarter. The call contributed to the Packers win, it did not GIVE the Packers the win. They finished that part with no referee help.

 

[greenandgold]

P.S. Change that rule, it does suck.

 

[Beagle]

Supporters of this being a catch are searching in vain for a loophole, i.e., football move, elbow to ground, etc. As tough as it is to accept the refs called it faithfully according to the rule. But I expect this one to forensically be examined to the Nth degree and the mention that it had occurred with a wealth of time still left on the clock to be conveniently censored from their narrative.

In the end, the Dallas defense came up short and I expect that the continuing narrative is going to overlook that point altogether. A championship team would still have had plenty of time to get the ball back and make a statement. Left-handedly they did. They're not quite a championship team. Good but not good enough. For those that cannot accept that reality there will always be the "catch."

Life is full of disappointments and nobody died. meh

You talk like you trounced us

 

[Beagle]

He'd be NUTS to leave. There are only a few backs in the league that are really special and will get yards without a great line. I'm not sure that he's one of them and he should stick with that team as long as they have the best line in football. Then again, it may be that he was playing for this coming contract and doesn't care how many yards he actually gets from now on, as long as he gets paid. I guess we'll find out.

Yeah. I think we'll cut him and try to hang on to Bryant. Randall's looking like a useful replacement for old Soapy Mits

 

[Sky King]

You talk like you trounced us

No, the Packers did not do that. But the counterpoint to the catch is that it was not a game-ender. My guess is that this is going to be ignored as much as possible by those who want to blame the call of the refs and not the shortcomings of the Dallas D.

After the Packers got the ball back I made the comment that I hoped the Packer D was not on the field at the end of the game. I can imagine that there were some Dallas fans saying the same thing about their defense, too. To advance to the next game the Dallas D had to make a stop. They didn't. That does not make the Packers a championship team either. It just means that they get to try at least once more to prove that they are. This year, anyway, it appears our team is just a shade better than yours. Whether that's good enough to bring home another trophy is another matter.

 

[Bridcarper]

The Cowboys played well. They are a very good team. The Packers had to earn it and that makes the victory taste all the sweeter.

Yep, the Cowboys have been very good this season and very entertaining to watch too. Was really worried going into yesterday's game given the momentum they had going in to it. But that victory was all the more sweeter for it. Top performance Packers - you did us proud.

 

[Beagle]

I guess it's a fair point. Plenty of Cowboys fans are calling foul....all part of the healing process. I haven't seen a single one try to claim that the Packers are not worthy of the title shot though. If we'd lost to the Eagles the internet would crash under the weight of indignation

 

[longtimefan]

He took 3 steps. Here's the issue. You don't lunge for the goal line unless you know you have the ball. What's tough for Cowboys fans is knowing the type of player Dez is and his abilities. Dez ALWAYS fights for more yardage and he's anywhere near the goal line, he'll fight like his life depends on scoring. Sometimes a gift and a curse. His actions tell me I have caught the ball.. now I'm trying to score. Back to the steps though, at what point have you actually "caught" the ball as you're stumbling to the ground? It can be assumed that one can take 4-5-6 steps while stumbling attempting to maintain balance?

He took 3, but the actual officiating guy that was on the phone determining the call said dont worry about the steps..

I dont know exactly why, but since he made the call and said leave the steps out, thats what I do

 

[Mklangelo]

I agree that the Cowboys fans who have come here were absolutely fine. It will probably be way different with the Seahawks fans this week.

Of that I have no doubt.

 

[Mklangelo]

He took 3, but the actual officiating guy that was on the phone determining the call said dont worry about the steps..

I dont know exactly why, but since he made the call and said leave the steps out, thats what I do

I just hate it when calls become so much of an after game discussion. It seems to be happening WAY too much.

 

[Beagle]

I just hate it when calls become so much of an after game discussion. It seems to be happening WAY too much.

Never a truer word said.

 

[GoPGo]

P.S. Change that rule, it does suck.

And put more subjective judgment calls in the hands of the officials? No thanks!

 

[greenandgold]

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[longtimefan]

Dez was on on field after the reversal with out helmet on..why no flag AGAIN

 

[greenandgold]

And put more subjective judgment calls in the hands of the officials? No thanks!

What, you don't think taking three steps with the ball firmly in hand should NOT be a catch? It's in the ref's hands to call these non catches. They even called it a catch. It took a red flag from the Packers head coach to change their call.

 

[GoPGo]

He took 3, but the actual officiating guy that was on the phone determining the call said dont worry about the steps..

I dont know exactly why, but since he made the call and said leave the steps out, thats what I do

It's because they weren't deliberate steps. Steps imply control. He was stumbling to the ground and the momentum of his leap to make the catch was what took him there. Hence, the requirement to control the ball all the way down. This is exactly how Blandino explained it on NFL Network and it makes perfect sense. If he was in control of those steps, then he should have been able to stay on his feet if he had opted to. When you look at it, there's no way he could have stayed on his feet.

 

[greenandgold]

Dez was on on field after the reversal with out helmet on..why no flag AGAIN

The way I read that penalty, it only occurs if he takes off the helmet ON the field of play. He clearly had it off already both times.

 

[GoPGo]

What, you don't think taking three steps with the ball firmly in hand should NOT be a catch?

Sure, IF the receiver is under control. But he wasn't. His momentum took him to the ground. His "steps" were stumbling to the ground.

 

[AmishMafia]

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Let me ask you this. If the rule you followed led you to this, of what use was the rule?

 

[longtimefan]

The way I read that penalty, it only occurs if he takes off the helmet ON the field of play. He clearly had it off already both times.

No, a players cant come onto the field during an intermission or official time out (not a team time out)

Its a judgement call...But two weeks in a row he did it..dd

http://mmqb.si.com/2015/01/06/dez-bryant-helmet-penalty-nfl-wild-card-mailbag/

This was after Det game ....

Dean Blandino clarified the Bryant play Monday, telling NFL Network and Mike Florio that it’s up to the judgment of the officials if a player who comes off the sidelines helmetless should be penalized.


If a player comes off the sideline without his helmet, Blandino said the officials have a choice: If the player argues and is belligerent, he should be flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. If he argues mildly or does something else, that is up to the officials’ discretion.

 

[AmishMafia]

I just hate it when calls become so much of an after game discussion. It seems to be happening WAY too much.

Product of lots more cameras and the high def. I support having one ref on the field and 5 studio refs. Course the one guy better be pretty tough to break up fights and all.

 

[Beagle]

I think some of these guys just aren't up to the job, that sideline ref who gave Witten a first down that was called back, made two absolute howlers.
Then again, with so much scrutiny it can't be an easy job

 

[PackerfaninCarolina]

Sometimes its best to be gracious, in victory or defeat. Poor winners are as bad as sore losers. There were some miscues on both sides but overall it was an exciting playoff game.

Very much this. In some ways, I don't mind that much that Cowboy fans are upset about the call. I guarantee you, even if you do watch that replay over and over, each person will see in their mind what they want to see to make it a catch or not a catch and whether or not it follows all the rule protocols. And to be fair, I do hope something is done about the rule in the future so that better rulings are made. Plus let's not act like we wouldn't be pissed if some dumb rule or bad officiating judgment screwed us over as well.

But one thing is for sure, and that is that there will always be controversy in the league, and that goes all the way back to the immaculate reception, but as has been said before, you don't win games on just one play. Add in plays such as Bailey's missed FG, Murray's fumble, and failure to stop the big 5 minute offense we ran to close the game out which did have 3rd downs we had to convert, and that probably won't be talked about by the media, and that all adds up to a Packer win, even if it wasn't nearly the ending we had imagined.