Mike McCarthy had diplomatic answer when asked if Dez Bryant caught the ball in 2014 playoff game
The Dallas Cowboys introduced Mike McCarthy as the franchise's new head coach Wednesday. At the introductory news conference, the former Green Bay Packers head coach was asked what he thought about an infamous play five years ago featuring Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant.
Bryant made what appeared to be a circus catch just shy of the goal line on fourth-and-2 against McCarthy's Packers in the NFC divisional round with 4:37 left on the clock. McCarthy challenged the ruling on the field, and replay overturned the catch, giving the ball back to the Packers, who then ran out the rest of the clock for a 26-21 win.
The victory put the Packers into the NFC championship game against the Seattle Seahawks. That one had another thrilling ending, this time an unforgettable overtime loss for the Packers. Dallas fans still are smarting from the controversial call that kept the Cowboys out of that game with the Seahawks. The Packers and Seahawks meet again Sunday in the NFC divisional round of the playoffs.
"I had one timeout, maybe four minutes left in the game," McCarthy said at the news conference. "And I said after the game that was one hell of an athletic play. I was impressed. Dez and Sam Shields, you're talking about two great athletes going after the football. But I asked the question in regards to how the rule was written, and I was given the right answer by the referee (Gene Steratore), so then I challenged it."
McCarthy said without a detailed description of the rule from Steratore, now a CBS rules analyst, McCarthy would have skipped throwing the challenge flag to avoid burning his final timeout.
"I think it was clearly a technical rule at that time; Stephen (Jones, son of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Cowboys executive vice president) since got it changed on the competition committee," McCarthy added, drawing a laugh. "I can't tell you how many people from Dallas have told me about that play, so it's funny.
"It was a great catch, I can say now. But it wasn't then, technically."
It's beautiful diplomacy from McCarthy, whose Packers eliminated the Cowboys from two consecutive postseason appearances, winning in Dallas two years later.
On Wednesday night, Bryant responded to McCarthy on Twitter: "Coach McCarthy... you are a real 1...."
Follow the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's JR Radcliffe on Twitter at @JRRadcliffe.
If you love talking football, we have the perfect spot for you. Join our Facebook Group, The Ruling Off the Field, to engage in friendly debate and conversation with fellow football fans and our NFL insiders.