NO)..if one has possession when he comes down, then that player is the player with possession. The GB player CLEARLY had possession all the way down and even had the ball after he hit the ground when the play is supposed to be dead.
“The GB player CLEARLY had possession all the way down and even had the ball after he hit the ground when the play is supposed to be dead.”
Thats the hard thing for people to understand. All that can be true and it still doesn’t matter as long as the receiver established even partial control prior to both of the defenders feet coming down. It doesn’t matter the defender got it first-It doesn’t matter the defender kept it in his hands all the way down-It doesn’t matter that he still was holding it after the play is dead-IF IF IF the receiver in any way got his hands on the ball before BOTH the defenders feet came down.
Here is the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hTFMD5NX1Q Freeze frame it at the following points: At :46 the defender clearly has the ball first but his feet are not down. At :47 Tate clearly has his hands on the ball while both defenders feet are way up in the air. At :48 Tate can be seen pulling at the ball as the first foot of the defender lands. At :49 Tate can be seen arching his back trying to pull the ball out of the hands of the defender who’s other foot then finally lands. At THAT point it is IMHO a simultaneous catch and by rule the catch goes to the passing team.
No dog in this fight, just interesting debate.