A Giant Whine....

[jdrats]

As reported by the GBPG:

http://blogs.greenbaypressgazette.com/blogs/gpg/insider/2011/12/06/did-giants-get-robbed-by-officials/

"Did the New York Giants get robbed by the officials in Sunday’s 38-35 loss to the Packers?
Giants coach Tom Coughlin thinks so."

"Coughlin said Monday he was shown evidence that Ballard got his knee inbounds in the end zone, which should have made it a touchdown.
'I just saw a picture which made me sick to my stomach, which FOX produced and showed, that he’s in, Coughlin said."

Here is a link to the photo in question.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a54/JCapace/389484_10150599973924377_418837579376_11892851_1242151001_n.jpg

Two thoughts here:
1. You can't really tell a thing from the photo. It is too dark to actually tell if his knee is even making contact with the ground, and, because of the angle of the shot, you can't actually see where the front of his knee is.

2. If you want to make a catch and ensure it counts as being inbounds, you should simply get two feet down. Ballard seemed to have plenty of time to tap his left toe, but never did. If Coughlin needs a coaching example of this, he can show his team several Packer highlights.

[hoosier]

It must have been something he (Coughlin) ate, because as you say the photo is inconclusive and, even if it were conclusive, the replay officials don't look at photos, they look at film. On second thought this is probably just Coughlin trying to rally his troops and convince them that at 6-6 they're still not out of the hunt. If the NFC East weren't so weak this year we would not have to listen to crap like this.

[pbmax]

Burnett shows you what a knee off the ground looks like and Ballard's looks different, but you can't tell if its contact or just closer.

Would have been a bigger deal but it was the first half.

[Pugger]

It must have been something he (Coughlin) ate, because as you say the photo is inconclusive and, even if it were conclusive, the replay officials don't look at photos, they look at film. On second thought this is probably just Coughlin trying to rally his troops and convince them that at 6-6 they're still not out of the hunt. If the NFC East weren't so weak this year we would not have to listen to crap like this.

Yes, with the Cowgirls' loss they are still in the hunt of the NFC Weak.

[gbpackfan]

I'm so sick and tired of the crying coming out of New York lately. There are numerous calls that the officials missed against the Giants. I don't hear anyone crying about that. The Giants had a chance to take the game into OT. The Packers had 58 SECONDS and were at their own 20. If the Giants D can't keep us from going right down the field for a chip shot FG, then they don't deserve to win. PERIOD! The Giants have lost 4 games for a reason. Maybe if they weren't so focused on looking back (and the refs) they would be more focused for their next opponent(s). Bitches bitch, winners win! Good day.

[mraynrand]

It must have been something he (Coughlin) ate, because as you say the photo is inconclusive and, even if it were conclusive, the replay officials don't look at photos, they look at film. On second thought this is probably just Coughlin trying to rally his troops and convince them that at 6-6 they're still not out of the hunt. If the NFC East weren't so weak this year we would not have to listen to crap like this.

Coughlin used the same technique in '07, especially after their loss to the Patriots in the season finale. If you can play that well against them, there's no reason you can't beat them. Stubby used the same argument when Flynn almost led them to a victory over the Pats last year, except that they did it without Rodgers. So Rodgers comes back and they're totally confident. The problem for Coughlin is that the Giants aren't as good as they were in '07.

[hoosier]

It's true, the comparisons between the 2011 Giants and the 2007 version are lame. The 2007 version finished 10-4 after starting out 0-2. The difference in talent level, especially on defense, is clear. But I suppose if that is the only card Coughlin's got he has no choice but to play it, smelly as it may be.

[channtheman]

What about the missed field goal we had where the Giants used leverage? Or how about we don't play for a field goal with 44 seconds left from the Giants 30 yard line? If this as the last play of the game, AND you could actually tell if it was a TD (you can't), this would actually matter. Watching the play during the game it looked like the middle of his knee came down halfway in bounds and half out of bounds.

[King Friday]

Where are the pictures showing Finley getting mugged 10 yards downfield? I'm guessing you could find 5 or 6 of those that didn't attract any laundry.

[George Cumby]

The knee looks down, but does he have "possession"? Whatever the hell that means, nowadays......

[hoosier]

The shadows and the slight downward angle of the camera make it impossible to tell what his knee is doing. Because of the lack of lighting you can't see where the knee ends and the ground begins. When you look at the video you can see that, as Ballard's momentum carries him out of bounds, his knee is moving more horizontally than vertically. It looks like his knee should have been able to touch down before he reaches the sideline, but for some reason it doesn't. 0:58 is the best view; there you can see that the impact of the knee causes the rubber pellets to fly both in the end zone and on the sideline chalk at the same time. Incomplete was the right call.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d824c71fd/Ballard-s-catch-a-touchdown

[RashanGary]

If it was ruled a touchdown, there's no way to overturn it. It was ruled out of bounds. That's going to stand. It's too close to call. The ref made a call on the field. It stands.

I thought the Jennings one was a crock of shit. He bobbled that thing the whole way. The only thing that made it seem like a catch was his body language. He made it look like he just grabbed it, took a few steps and then walked off like he just won the superbowl. How many milliseconds do both of your hands need to be on the ball with your feet down for it to be a catch. Had a guy hit him (even if he didn't go to the ground) and the ball popped out, would it have been a fumble? I just didn't see possession there, not at any time.

[mraynrand]

[pbmax]

What's clear from the video that is not clear from Granpa Tom's picture is that his knee is NOT down at that instant. But the little rubber pellets, when they pop up, seem to pop up from the blue, I am not seeing them pop up in the white like hoosier is seeing.

Either way, not enough to overturn, the pellets are indirect evidence at best.

[George Cumby]

If it was ruled a touchdown, there's no way to overturn it. It was ruled out of bounds. That's going to stand. It's too close to call. The ref made a call on the field. It stands.
I thought the Jennings one was a crock of shit. He bobbled that thing the whole way. The only thing that made it seem like a catch was his body language. He made it look like he just grabbed it, took a few steps and then walked off like he just won the superbowl. How many milliseconds do both of your hands need to be on the ball with your feet down for it to be a catch. Had a guy hit him (even if he didn't go to the ground) and the ball popped out, would it have been a fumble? I just didn't see possession there, not at any time.

I thought he had possession of it the way he transferred it to his left hand. My perception was that GJ demonstrated possession by one-handing it. But what do I know.