The quote was from the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/14/AR2005101401828.html
IMO, his arm was coming back up, if it was coming back up, by definition, he tucked. I have heard of no one questioning this play except folks here. maybe Markbreit can clarify this particular play. Does he still do that weekly on his web site?
There has to be a tuck. I mean, this isn't something that is exclusive to the Patriots. We're debating a rule and you're acting as if its a partisan thing. This should be a completely neutral discussion. The Patriots won regardless. I said, IN THE STANDS LAST WEEK, that the officials got the call right when they gave Cleveland's Anderson the incompletion on a similar play.
I don't see what you're not comprehending. If the arm goes forward and it hits the ground at any time afterwards....its incomplete. Unless the ball was tucked away. If the quarterback is running with it in his open hand, if he is lifting....NONE OF IT MATTERS. Its actually a very simple rule, non-partisan and it concerns me you can't grasp it.
Maybe you should read your article closer and see what Joe Gibbs says in it:
"The tuck rule is the tuck rule," said Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs, who discussed the call with the NFL's officiating department. "It says you can pull [the ball] down and do anything you want for the next 10 minutes. It makes no sense to me. It's the way it's worded. I think everybody probably sees that and says it's a bad rule."
Think he knows anything about football and the rule?
Here is what Mike Pereira, Director of Officials, says (once again in the very article you cited):
"The rule is very specific," Pereira said. "We have to make our decision based on the rule. Intent doesn't factor into the rule. Does the ball come out after [the quarterback's] arm is going forward and before he tucks the ball back into his body? If so, then it's an incomplete pass."
Did you ignore that on purpose? He says right there if he doesn't tuck, its incomplete. Brady never came close to tucking, he was holding it out in the open the entire time.
You can argue its a dumb rule, whatever. But it is what it is.
J D Sal