You would think that footballers at all levels would know by now not to drop the ball before crossing the goal line.
DeSean Jackson did it in 2008 with the Philadelphia Eagles, and it immediately became a blooper that was played over and over again. Yet players still do it.
New York Jets rookie Malachi Corley had to feel sick about it Thursday night. On his second career TD in the NFL, he took an end-around and ran 18 yards against the Houston Texans for what should have been his first career touchdown. That is an important life moment. But Corley dropped the ball before crossing the goal line.
A review found that Corley released the ball before scoring, but the play had to end as it was live. If the Jets had picked it up, it would have been a touchdown. But the ball slowly rolled out of the back of the end zone. The Texans took over on a touchback.
Corley made a mistake and he will have to live with it for a long time. Instead of the third-round draft pick celebrating a huge achievement, he stood on the sidelines with angry coaches and teammates as viewers took to social media to talk about what a stupid mistake the rookie made. It’s a mistake you see here and there, while it’s practically unforgivable, especially after Jackson’s infamous mistake 16 years ago.
One day, maybe Corley can laugh about it. Thursday was not that day.
