NFL Insider Mike Florio argued that the league should reconsider the requirements for a catch after George Pickens tapped the same foot twice on a potential touchdown reception in Week 8.
In the NFL, wide receivers are required to get both feet in bounds to complete a catch. Despite Pittsburgh Steelers receiver George Pickens’ impressive effort on a potential touchdown catch in Week 8, tapping the same foot twice doesn’t meet the requirement of having both feet in bounds.
But should it count? That’s the question Mike Florio posed on his podcast on October 29.
“Maybe they need to look at that rule. Maybe it should be two feet, not both feet. If you can actually take two steps with the same leg, maybe that should be enough for a catch,” Florio suggested.
Florio’s discussion stemmed from Pickens’ unique play during the Steelers’ Monday Night Football matchup against the New York Giants.
In the second quarter, officials initially ruled Pickens had caught a 9-yard touchdown at the back of the end zone. But after replay assist, the ruling was changed to incomplete, as video revealed Pickens tapped his right foot twice without his left foot touching inbounds.
WR George Pickens Unable to Complete NFL Catch Process
Live, it looked as though Pickens made a stunning catch, controlling the ball with just his hands over two Giants defenders and skillfully tapping two feet in bounds. However, replay showed that both taps were with the same foot. Under NFL rules, this ruled the catch incomplete.
For Pickens’ attempt to be a touchdown, he would’ve needed to drag or tap his left foot before any part of his body went out of bounds.
It’s rare to see an NFL receiver manage to tap the same foot twice without the other foot hitting inbounds. But that’s what happened to Pickens in the end zone against the Giants.
While Florio advocated for the league to consider making such plays legal catches, he admitted that under the current rules, it’s up to the receiver to get “both” feet, not just “two” feet, in bounds.
“Look, it’s on [Pickens],” Florio said. “We’ve seen receivers do it with great awareness. They’re falling, twisting, and that last foot taps the ground, sending up those little black pellets to show us both feet hit.
“[Pickens] is a top-tier pro athlete. He knows the rule. The other foot has to touch down.”
Mike Tomlin Loses Timeout After Challenging Pickens’ Nullified TD
The Steelers had already settled for two red-zone field goals before Pickens’ near-touchdown in the second quarter of Week 8. Pickens appeared to give the Steelers a 6-point lead over the Giants, but replay assist reversed the call, putting Pittsburgh in a fourth-down situation at the New York 9-yard line.
Out of frustration, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin threw the challenge flag to contest Pickens’ overturned touchdown. But this only worsened the situation.
The officials had already used replay assist to change the ruling on the field, making it non-reviewable.
Throwing the challenge flag cost the Steelers a timeout.
Tomlin explained postgame that he wasn’t aware the call had been overturned by replay assist.
“I wasn’t clear on why it was ruled a non-touchdown, so I threw the flag,” Tomlin told reporters. “Had I known replay assist was used, I wouldn’t have thrown [the challenge flag], because you’re not allowed to challenge a play when replay assist is used.”
Fortunately, losing the timeout didn’t significantly impact the Steelers. However, Tomlin’s immediate reaction to Pickens’ nullified touchdown highlighted the Steelers coach’s occasional impulsivity with challenges.
Entering the 2024 season, Tomlin ranked 23rd in challenge success rate among the 32 NFL head coaches from 2023.
