After the Patriots’ 33-26 loss at Minnesota on Thanksgiving evening, NFL Senior Vice President of Officiating Walt Anderson defined why tight finish Hunter Henry’s obvious landing within the third quarter was overturned upon additional evaluation.
In an interview with Patriots pool reporter Mike Reiss, Anderson claimed that Henry misplaced management of the ball whereas it was in his arms.
A full transcript of their alternate is under.
Question: What did you see to find out New England’s Hunter Henry didn’t keep management?
Anderson: “He was going to the ground, the ball ended up touching the ground and then he lost control of the ball in his hands.”
Question: Can you clarify why he wasn’t granted possession earlier than the ball hit the bottom?
Anderson: “Because as he’s going to the ground, he has to maintain control of the ball upon contacting the ground. The term that’s commonly used is ‘surviving the ground’ – a lot of people refer to that. So, as he’s going to the ground, he has the elements of two feet and control, but because he’s going to the ground, he has to maintain control of the ball when he does go to the ground.”
Question: He has two arms on it. How a lot is that factored into this resolution, that he had two arms on the ball?
Anderson: “Well, if he had maintained control of the ball with two hands, even if the ball were to touch the ground, if you don’t lose control of the ball after it touches the ground, that would still be a catch.”
Question: Is there anything that I didn’t ask that’s essential so as to add to this dialogue?
Anderson: “No, we’ve pretty much covered all the elements of the catch that are required to make it complete.”
Asked in regards to the play post-game, Henry advised reporters: “I don’t know. They called what they called. I believe I caught it, but, I mean, they made a call, and (I) just have to live with it.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com