If you’ve had even the slightest bit of social network exposure since January 11, 2014, chances are you’ve seen a comment stating, “Dez dropped it” or “Dez caught it” with no further explanation. People unfamiliar with football will glance over the comment unfazed, but NFL fanatics will understand the reference to the 2014 NFC Divisional Playoff game between the Cowboys and Packers. Dez Bryant’s non-catch on fourth and two in the fourth quarter resulted in Green Bay receiving the ball back with four minutes to go and running out the clock with the help of an impressive Randall Cobb catch. Had Bryant’s catch been ruled complete, Dallas would have almost definitely scored and taken a one- or three-point lead in a scenario that would have called for a two-point conversion attempt. Could Green Bay have still driven down the field in the remaining time and scored a touchdown or field goal to take the lead? Absolutely, but speculation is something fans never shy away from.
Dez Dropped It
Fans who believe Bryant caught the ball will cite Article 3 of the NFL rulebook and argue that Bryant had secured possession and become a runner given his clear attempt at lunging for the pylon. What many fans overlook is Item 1 of the Article which explains what a completed catch is for a receiver going to the ground. Bryant did not remain upright long enough to be considered a runner and therefore this item kicks into play. Item 1 states that a player going to the ground during the process of a catch must maintain possession of the ball after contact with the ground. Bryant’s initial contact with the ground came as a result for his lunge at the pylon, but it also resulted in him losing control of the football. Due to the fact that Bryant did not break the plane in his attempt at reaching paydirt, he was still required to maintain control, which he did not. Fans, including myself, were puzzled as to why such a clear attempt at reaching into the end zone did not qualify as a football move. These same fans neglected to take into account Item 1 which forced Bryant to operate under different guidelines. The call was confirmed as correct by Vice President of Officiating Dean Blandino as well as former Vice President of Officiating Mike Pereira.
The Packers would go on to be beaten by the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game, paving the way for another one of the NFL’s all-time most controversial calls in Super Bowl 49. Again speculation dominated the sphere of social networking NFL fans who scrutinized Pete Carroll’s decision to throw the ball on the one-yard line with one the great NFL power running backs in Marshawn Lynch. Had it been Dallas and DeMarco Murray in that situation, the outcome may have been different. However, as a result of Dez Bryant’s correctly ruled non-catch, this scenario exists only in the minds of those who imagine it. Those who relentlessly declare that “Dez dropped it” on the irrelevant status updates of sports pages all across social media will be written off as trolls looking to rouse all who stumble upon their amazingly early reply. However, what these same readers do not know, and even some of those who claim it to be true, is that they are undeniably correct. Dez dropped it.
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