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Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts was one of a number players with handling issues on Sunday.Photograph: Winslow Townson/Getty Images
With 3:16 left in the third quarter of the Bengals’ 37-27 win over the Titans, Tennessee running back Tony Pollard fumbled, and the ball was recovered by Cincinnati safety Jordan Battle. Battle had a clear lane to the end zone and a 61-yard touchdown, but he instead decided to celebrate his touchdown before it happened, dropping the ball before he crossed the goalline. The ball went out of the end zone, which meant that the touchdown was instead a touchback, and the Titans got the ball back at their own 20-yard line.
Not that the Titans were able to do anything with that additional opportunity, given their putrid passing game, but why do so many players – some of the best athletes on the planet – forget how to hold on to a ball when near the goalline?
As we moved from the early to the late slate of games on Sunday, Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor – whose job is to run while holding a ball – pulled a similar goof-up that cost his team a touchdown against the Denver Broncos. Taylor was on his way to a 41-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. At first, it was called a touchdown, but after review, it was ruled that Taylor dropped the ball before he crossed the plane. Another touchback, and the Broncos had the ball at their own 20-yard line.
Also in the late slate, Arizona Cardinals receiver Greg Dortch dropped the ball just before he hit the end zone against the New England Patriots, but offensive tackle Jonah Williams was there to recover the fumble for his own touchdown with 1:21 left in the first quarter. A just reward for the big man, but embarassing for Dortch.
This season alone, we have two other examples of premature celebration, or an inability to understand where one is on the field.
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts – touted as a one of the most gifted prospects in years when he was…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/why-t-nfl-players-hold-081008269.html
Author : The Guardian
Publish date : 2024-12-16 08:10:00
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