Manning: It’s not that hard, refs got it right

No one, it seems, knows what a catch is anymore in the NFL.

No one, that is, other than Eli Manning.

“I know the rules,’’ Manning said Monday.

The discussion at his locker drifted to the wild closing sequence in the Patriots-Steelers game, when Ben Roethlisberger, trailing 27-24, appeared to produce the winning points. From the New England 10-yard line, Roethlisberger’s pass to Jesse James was caught for a touchdown with 28 seconds remaining. What was ruled a touchdown on the f ield did not stand up to the replay sys- tem, which reversed the call, as James did not complete the act of making the catch when he hit the ground and lunged into the end zone.

Manning admitted at f irst glance, he thought it was a touchdown.

“I was watching the game live, you see it, and it doesn’t look like an incompletion at all,’’ Manning said. “Once they slow it down and see him going to the ground and the ball hitting the ground, incompletion.’’ Just like that? “You hate it, when you’re watching it live, you don’t even think about that not being a catch,’’ he said. “When they run it down, hey, when you go to the ground you got to finish with the ball in your hand. When it hits the ground and there’s movement, I was like, ‘I think that’s enough evidence where they’re gonna reverse that.’ ’’

Manning did not buy into the theory that no one can understand what a catch is in the NFL.

“I think it is clear what a catch is,’’ he said. “Especially when you’re going to the ground, you got to control the ball the whole time. You got to have it. If the ball hits the ground, you’re going to the ground, the ball moves or hits the ground and there’s a little loss of contact through the end of the play, it’s gonna be an incompletion.’’

The Giants lost a touchdown this season in Philadelphia when Sterling Shepard did not maintain control of the ball as he ran out of the end zone, crashed out of bounds and the ball came loose.

“Same deal,’’ Manning said. “Caught it, had two feet, went to the ground, ball comes out, it’s gonna be an incompletion.’’

Manning makes hi s l iving throwing the ball and not catching it, and says receivers are well-versed in what constitutes a catch and what does not.

“Coaches talk about it, players talk about it, understanding you’re going to the ground, fin- ish the catch,’’ he said. “Don’t drop it and celebrate too early, don’t assume anything. You got to finish the play. Guys know it. Either don’t go the ground or don’t let go of the ball.’’

Clearly, Manning knows the rule. But can he at least admit it is a bad rule that needs to be changed? Not a chance.

“I think there’s probably more questions on whether it was a catch or not before this rule,’’ Manning said. “There was kinda ‘It looks like a catch, what are the exact rules?’ They made it definitive in saying ‘These are the rules and it’s gonna be called fairly and equally every way.’ ’’