Bill B.

I am still shocked that this was called. How many times have you seen a QB just chuck the ball to get rid of it and nothing is called? I've seen QBs toss it out of bounds 20 yards over everyones head and intentional grounding is never called. Is it because it was in bounds, that they called it. Has anyone else ever seen this called before in any game? I thought it was a terrible call that put the Patriots in a big hole. If not for the safety, who knows how this game would have gone.

IllegalContact

unfortunately, it was the right call.

the rules for intentional grounding are ridiculous.

it doesn't get any more intentional than the ball spiking at the end of the game, but that's OK

manning threw a couple of balls out of bounds intentionally, and everyone knew it was intentional, but as long as certain conditions that have nothing to do with intent in place, then its not intentional.

I'm actually more pissed about the 12 men.....that was intentional.......should be a 15 yarder and a dead ball foul meaning no time lost.

if the league doesn't say something, I'd be putting 12 out there any time a team starts a drive inside the 2 minute warning....hell, put 15 out there and blitz the QB with 9 of them

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“ I think good coaches will coach with the personnel they have, and if you only have one (good) linebacker, you’re not going to play a 3–4. ”
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PatsSox363804

Letter of the rule its the right call but I cant believe they actually threw the flag. I didnt even consider that it was grounding until they dropped it and usually grounding calls are pretty obvious. I can't think of a time I saw them throw a flag on a ball that landed mid field and in that situation just an amazing call by the ref which changed the entire game right off the bat.

sambam94

according to the rule, it was probably the correct call, but it's very arbitrary. I don't see why a QB can't throw the ball to a spot on the field where no one can catch it. With the new rules to protect QBs, it especially makes little sense. I guess the QB is supposed to take the hit instead of throwing an incompletion.

I would change the rule to the defender has to be in the process of tackling the QB..if the QB grounds it in this situation, penalty. If the QB is not being tackled, he can throw it wherever he darn well pleases.

PatsSox363804

Just watched the play again and noticed 3 things:

1) Green Ellis was coming open right as Brady chucked that downfield. If Mankins doesnt Ole Tuck right on through Brady may have had the extra second to check it down. Even with how the play developed Brady should have just threw it at Lawfirms feet.

2) There was a receiver on the sideline at about the same distance and Brady could have thrown it out of bounds there and not got a grounding call.

3) The ball went about 10 feet over Branch's head and you could easily say that Brady threw it high because Tuck was in his face. If that is grounding then they should NEVER call PI when a ball is 10 feet over a receivers head.

Patspsycho

That is exactly the definition of intentional grounding.

If a QB could throw it anywhere at anytime, you would see very very few sacks. The game would become frustrating to follow.

BigHoss28

No, it was NOT the correct call. There must be clear intent to throw the ball away, which there wasn't.

Bertil

If that ball sailed out of bounds instead of the middle of the field, it would've been fine. there were receivers there. He didn't even have to leave the pocket. Brady's fault, pure and simple. If that was Eli, we'd be on board with the safety call. It was the right one.

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BigHoss28

No it wasn't. There was not clear intent to throw the ball away.

chicowalker

It was the correct call by the letter of the rules, but it really shouldn't be called, imo.

As others have alluded to, he wasn't about to be dropped by Tuck. But that is the rule, unfortunately, so the call was technically correct.

Refs should use some sense on a play like this, just as they do on holding calls on virtually every play and on PI calls. The Pats gained no advantage from him throwing it away. From that perspective, I thought it was a terrible call, particularly given the influence on the game.

(btw, one other issue I have with the rule is that it doesn't take into account miscommunications b/t QBs and receivers -- though I'm not saying that was the case here. saw this in a college game this year -- clearly they weren't on the same page, Qb threw to empty space and grounding was called)