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Detroit Lions Receiver Again Forcing NFL To Change Rules

By Erik Lambert

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Oct 18, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate (15) scores a touchdown while being pressured by Chicago Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller (23) during the second quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

By this point, those in charge of the NFL rulebook must tremble in fear every time the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions get together for a football game.  It seems whenever that happens, something occurs that draws their efforts in question regarding the clarification of what exactly constitutes a catch.

Back in 2010, it was the Lions feeling the sting when a seemingly game-winning touchdown by Calvin Johnson in the final seconds was nullified because, according to the rules, he didn’t possess the ball all the way through contact with the ground.

Fast-forward five years later, the same two teams, another back-and-forth game, but this time it was the Bears who felt themselves robbed.  Trailing 14-13 late in the first half, Chicago needed a stop in the red zone to prevent falling further behind.  Matthew Stafford then threw a slant pass to Golden Tate.  What followed was chaos and confusion.

Arguments raged that Tate never had full possession on the play and it should’ve been an interception for the Bears, which the original call was ruled.  The fact that it was soon overturned following an instant replay despite such limited evidence caused an uproar everywhere, with most people either siding with Chicago or criticizing the NFL for continuing to lack clarification on what a catch actually is.

This, in turn has created an undercurrent amongst the league executives that it may be time to put somebody new in charge of the rulebook.

This is hardly consolation for the Bears, who will view that phantom touchdown as the reason they lost that game, eventually decided in overtime 37-34.

There is no question that something needs to change if the NFL doesn’t want to lose credibility.  Either way, one can imagine a lot of people will be bracing for the worst the next time the Bears and Lions mix it up.

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