According to NFL vice president of officiating Mike Pereira, referee Pete Morelli erred when he overturned an interception by Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers with 5:26 remaining in last Sunday's 21-18 win over the Colts in the AFC divisional playoff game.
"The definition of a catch - or, in this case, an interception - states that, in the process of making a catch, a player must maintain possession of the ball after he contacts the ground," Pereira stated. "The initial call on the field was that Troy Polamalu intercepted the pass because he maintained possession of the ball after hitting the ground.
"The replay showed that Polamalu had rolled over and was rising to his feet when the ball came loose. He maintained possession long enough to establish a catch.
Mike Vanderjagt shanks a field goal with 17 seconds to go in the game. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
"Therefore, the replay review should have upheld the call on the field, that it was a catch and fumble. The rule regarding the performing of an act common to the game applies when there is contact with a defensive player and the ball comes loose, which did not happen here."
Had the call stood, the Steelers would have regained possession at their own 48-yard line with an 11-point lead.
Instead, the Colts scored a touchdown and a two-point conversion, and could have tied the contest had kicker Mike Vanderjagt, from Oakville, Ont., not shanked a 46-yard field-goal attempt with 17 seconds to go.
"I had the defender catching the ball," Morelli explained. "Before (Polamalu) got up, he hit it with his leg with his other leg still on the ground.
"Therefore, he did not complete the catch. And then, he lost the ball."
It is worth noting that the NFL rarely made the result of its reviews public.
with files from Sports Network
