Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: 'Ridiculous' that TD was overturned - ESPN

MINNEAPOLIS — Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson was livid Sunday when NFL replay overturned a fourth-quarter touchdown catch that would have closed the Philadelphia Eagles' lead to two points in Minnesota's eventual 28-22 loss.

Hockenson said he had «control the whole time» and revealed that two members of referee Bill Vinovich's crew told him they considered the play a catch and touchdown even after it was overturned.

«There was nothing to overturn it,» Hockenson said. «I mean, I was out there. I felt it, hands under the ball, snag it and I don't understand. I don't basically understand the catch rule at this point.… I don't understand how New York can call in and just be like, 'Yeah, that's not a catch,' when there was no evidence that it wasn't. I mean I had it. I think it's ridiculous.»

All scoring plays in the NFL are subject to review. Vinovich's crew had credited Hockenson with a 15-yard touchdown reception on third-and-2 with 2 minutes, 58 seconds remaining in the game. Initial replays showed that the ball moved to some degree as Hockenson dove to the ground, but the NFL's standard for replay reversal is to uphold the call unless there is clear and obvious evidence on video that shows a different call should have been made.

In a pool report, vice president of instant replay Mark Butterworth said there was.

«The ruling on the field was a touchdown,» Butterworth said, «so it's replay's jurisdiction to stop the game. We used broadcast-enhanced shots to show that as he was going to the ground — he needs control of the ball throughout the process of the catch — he lost control of the ball. The ball hit the ground. Then, he regained control of the ball. So therefore, we overturned it to an incomplete pass.»

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