What is a hook? Super Bowl raises the question again

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) – A catch or no catch? That’s another good question.

And it was asked a few more times during the Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles.

From the players and coaches – and millions more on social media and in front of their TVs at home.

According to Rule 3, Article 7 of the NFL Rulebook: “A catch is made when a player secures possession of a pass, kick or fumble that is in flight.”

But on the NFL’s biggest stage, things were a little more complicated.

In Sunday’s second half, Philadelphia ranked third and 14th when Jalen Hurts found Dallas Goedert on the right touchline and the Eagles’ tight end caught the ball, wobbled it and caught it again while it was out of bounds .

The game was ruled a close on the field and the Eagles raced to the line of scrimmage. However, with the game ending on the touchline, the game was declared dead as Kansas City needed time to match Philadelphia’s substitutions.

That gave the Chiefs time to challenge the catcher. But a video review confirmed Goedert had secured the ball before it went wide.

The Eagles were at the other end late in the first half when Hurts’ deep pass to DeVonta Smith was ruled incomplete because he didn’t control the ball when it hit the ground.

Smith had made an acrobatic grip and secured the ball against his helmet – but the ball moved slightly as it hit the ground. It was initially classified as a catch but overturned on review.

“It is a catch or interception when a player, in an attempt to possess the ball, gains control of the ball before it touches the ground,” the NFL rulebook states, “and that control is maintained during and after.” the ball has touched the ground.”

The whole catch-or-not debate flared up again on Philadelphia’s opening second-half drive when Hurts threw a short pass to Miles Sanders – who was immediately thrashed by L’Jarius Sneed. The ball came loose and Nick Bolton – who had previously returned a fumble for a touchdown – picked up the ball and went into the end zone again.

The onfield official’s call was a Bolton touchdown, but a review overturned the call, with the game ruling an incomplete pass because Sanders never completed the reception.

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