Every NFL fan knows the league's catch rule is basically impossible to interpret. Nobody knows from week to week what will be called a catch and what won't. There's something about completing the process of the catch or making a football move or becoming a runner or some other nonsense, and none of it makes any sense.
But at the very least, I think we can all agree that when a receiver drops the ball on the ground, then traps it behind his legs, it is not a catch. At least, I thought we could agree on that before Sunday's Lions-Giants game and this play involving Odell Beckham Jr.
This "catch" by Odell Beckham Jr. was a really bad call. https://t.co/6XLRxW7GyPpic.twitter.com/tKGaFvts4r
— SB Nation GIF (@SBNationGIF) December 18, 2016
The refs gave the Giants a catch on this play. This is the ball on the ground pic.twitter.com/079gjv0bUe
— Isaac (@WorldofIsaac) December 18, 2016
Yes, this play really was called a catch. I'm just as confused as you are.
This is not a questionable call or a close call or an interpretation or anything like that. This is a ball straight-up dropped on the ground, then trapped against a player's legs. It's fairly obvious the ball hit the ground, too. Pretty plain to see to anyone with eyes. And yet, a catch.
Amazingly, the Lions didn't challenge the play. It was only a 4-yard gain, so they decided it wasn't worth burning one of their two challenges. Either that, or Jim Caldwell thought it was a catch, too.