Flasback: Manning Calls Vanderjagt An 'Idiot Kicker'

Polamalu's interception stands after all
Monday, January 16, 2006

By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Upon further and further review, Troy Polamalu's interception stands.

Matt Freed, Post-Gazette
Troy Polamalu sees the ball drop to the ground after an apparent interception. However, the play was ruled an incomplete pass after Indianapolis challenged the call.
Click photo for larger image.

The NFL today admitted that referee Peter Morelli erred when he overturned Polamalu's interception in the fourth quarter of Sunday's AFC divisional playoff game between the Steelers and Colts in Indianapolis.

Polamalu intercepted Peyton Manning on a play that started with 5:33 left and the Steelers leading 21-10. Polamalu fell to the ground and rolled over, untouched. As he stood up to run, his left knee knocked the ball out of his arm. Polamalu fell on the ball and the officials ruled it an interception and a recovery of his own fumble.

Colts coach Tony Dungy challenged it, and after looking at replay, Morelli overturned it and called it an incompletion.

"Before he got up he hit it with his leg with his other leg still on the ground," Morelli told a pool reporter after the game. "Therefore, he did not complete the catch. And then he lost the ball. It came out and so we made the play an incomplete pass."

Wrong, his boss said today.

"The definition of a catch -- or in this case an interception -- states that in the process of making the catch a player must maintain possession of the ball after he contacts the ground," said Mike Pereira, NFL vice president of officiating, in a statement.

"The initial call on the field was that Troy Polamalu intercepted the pass because he maintained possession of the ball after hitting the ground. The replay showed that Polamalu had rolled over and was rising to his feet when the ball came loose. He maintained possession long enough to establish a catch. Therefore, the replay review should have upheld the call on the field that it was a catch and fumble."

Morelli further tried to explain his decision on Sunday when he said that Polamalu "never had possession with his leg up off the ground doing an act common to the game of football. He was losing it while his leg was still on the ground."

Wrong again, Pereira said.

"The rule regarding the performing of an act common to the game applies when there is contact with a defensive player and the ball comes loose, which did not happen here."

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