Steelers News: Jesse James overturned TD just the latest exhibit for changing the ‘catch rule’

Pittsburgh Steelers fans couldn’t escape it. ESPN, sports talk radio, NFL Network, heck even the ‘Pittsburgh Dad’ was screaming and yelling about Jesse James’ overturned touchdown against the Patriots in Week 15. While fans might have displayed anger, it was interesting to hear what Mike Tomlin’s thoughts were on the play, as a member of the NFL Competition Committee.

During his Tuesday press conference, Tomlin spoke multiple times about how the committee will have to re-visit ‘the catch’ rule, but NFL fans shouldn’t construe this as Tomlin “crying over spilled milk”, as he put it.

No, James’ catch-then-non-catch, is just one in a long line of missteps by the NFL trying to somehow over-complicate what should be common sense. Whether you are talking Calvin Johnson, Dez Bryant, or any other number of players and teams who have been a victim of this insane rule, Tomlin seems set on trying to get more clarity in a situation as dense as the San Francisco fog.

To give a perfect example, on Sunday in the Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers game in Charlotte, there was a play ruled incomplete, but upon further review the officials deemed one of his butt cheeks landed in-bounds, meaning the touchdown counted. Fans sat and listened as the announcers talked about one cheek, or two cheeks, equated in being in-bounds.

My, how far we’ve come in the sport of football.

I, for one, hope Tomlin and the Competition Committee at least bring some common sense back to the game of football.

For more news on the Steelers outside the walls of BTSC, check out some great content in the links below:

• Mike Tomlin: NFL's catch rule needs to be re-examined in offseason

The interpretation of what constitutes a catch in the NFL was dissected again in the wake of Jesse James' overturned touchdown catch Sunday night in the Steelers' 27-24 loss to the New England Patriots.

As one of four coaches on the 11-member NFL Competition Committee, the Steelers' Mike Tomlin has the power to clear up any uncertainty before the 2018 season.

Tomlin said Tuesday he plans to give it his best shot.

“I think that we all can acknowledge that all of this needs to be revisited,” Tomlin said. “Not just that play. We are having similar discussions week in and week out. As a member of the committee, I acknowledge that we've got our work cut out for us this offseason regarding a number of those things.”

• Kevin Gorman: Steelers will be defined by their response to this loss to Patriots

The Steelers spent a third consecutive day dwelling on defeat, something they escaped in the final minute so many times this season no one could comprehend the possibility of an opposite outcome.

Not the Steelers.

Not their fans.

Not this city.

It's a bad look, Pittsburgh, to continue complaining about the 27-24 loss to New England Sunday at Heinz Field, as if there is an NFL conspiracy against the Steelers.

I would like to think, after six Super Bowl championships, we're better than that. But based on the social media reaction since Sunday, I could be wrong.

Everyone is blaming everybody but the Steelers.

• WHERE WAS MARTAVIS?

Tomlin did not specify why wide receiver Martavis Bryant was not on the field for the final three plays against the Patriots. After Jesse James' touchdown catch was overturned into an incomplete pass, Bryant remained on the sideline. Eli Rogers and Darrius Heyward-Bey were on the field for the final two plays.

“We had a myriad of options and discussions going on relative to who was available, what plays we were going to run,” Tomlin said. “A lot transpired in a short period of time. The people we chose to put on the field are people we thought could help execute those plays.”