Tim there is no explaining that Cooks TD catch.
By the "rule" given last night that was a far simpler call to make in terms of a non-catch. However the same officials. (The exact same officials, mind you,) who reviewed last night reviewed Cooks "TD" and determined that was a valid game-winning catch.
The rule may be written down, but obviously it is highly subjective in its interpretation. In the Cook case, the New York review officials chose to ignore the "rule" and give Cook a TD. Last night they chose to follow the most stringent interpretation of the rule and dig up every angle they could to demonstrate to themselves that James did in fact fail to control the ball to their satisfaction as he lunged into the end-zone.
There is quantitative evidence that demonstrates for some reason the NFL review guys in New York decided to alter their interpretation of this rule over the course of the season. Why? Who knows. You'll go ******' crazy wondering that. But it can be definitively shown.
It wasn't just the Houston/Cooks catch. The same ref crew also determined the end of the Jets game that gave the *Pats a win.
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/...triots-calls-jesse-james/stories/201712180138
NFL rulings on touchdowns aided three Patriots wins this season
Contrary to popular belief throughout New England, the Patriots do have influence in the offices of the NFL.
His name is Alberto Riveron, and he is the NFL’s senior vice president of officiating.
Whether you agree (Patriots fans) with his call Sunday night robbing Jesse James of a touchdown or not (Steelers fans), Riveron has helped decide three victories for New England just this season.
This is not to accuse Riveron, in his first season on the job, of favoritism toward the Patriots, but here are the facts:
• New England’s Brandin Cooks caught a 25-yard touchdown pass with 23 seconds left to beat Houston 36-33 on Sept. 24. He caught the ball with both feet in the end zone but lost control as he hit the ground out of bounds. It was ruled a touchdown, and Riveron did not overturn it upon review.
An NFL source told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Cooks’ catch remained a touchdown because there was no good video angle that showed him losing control of the ball when he hit the ground.
• New York Jets tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins caught a 4-yard touchdown pass against the Patriots, and fumbled through the back of the end zone once he crossed the line. It was ruled a touchdown on the field. Riveron overturned it. The Patriots got the ball at the 20. New England went on to win 24-17 on Oct 15.
• Then, Sunday night Jesse James caught a pass from Ben Roethlisberger over the middle, was never touched as his knee hit the ground, stretched the ball over the goal line and only then seemed to lose control of it. Riveron overturned the score, putting the ball back at the 10. New England won, 27-24.
The Jets and the Steelers were incensed by Riveron taking the touchdowns away. Both believe their receivers made “football moves” — a factor in the rule — before losing control of the ball. In addition, many Steelers do not believe there was enough evidence that James even did lose control to overturn it, as the replay rules require.
Of course, if both Seferian-Jenkins and James had clearly held on, Riveron would not have had to overturn those two calls.
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