Giants vs. Packers: When Is a Fumble Not a Fumble?

There are times when the NFL is just baffling.

Frustrating and baffling.

Infuriating, frustrating and baffling.

It was near the end of the first quarter when one of those I-can’t-believe-it calls that led to the imposition of reviews of close plays in the first place.

With Aaron Rodgers driving, the Green Bay Packers while facing a 10-3 New York lead, the New York Giants forced a fumble when Deon Grant stripped the ball out of the hands of Green Bay receiver Greg Jennings in the right flat.

The only trouble was that the officials on the field ruled that Jennings was down by contact. He wasn’t. Not even close.

A review of the play in the both should have reversed the call, but it never happened.

Replay official Bill Leavy is likely to go down in Giants history as a major villain if New York doesn’t win this game, because that play kept a drive alive that wound up with the Packers scoring a game-tying touchdown.

Replays on Fox clearly showed that Grant had pulled the ball loose before Jennings’ knee (or anything else other than his feet) touched down.

It was the kind of play replay reviews are made for, and if that play isn’t called correctly, you have to wonder just what is the point of having reviews.