I think there's a pretty huge distinction between the Johnson non-catch and this one: Johnson did not maintain possession of the ball after it hit the turf. In my viewing of the Bryant non-catch, he comes down with it, secures the ball, and maintains control of the ball as he lunges and it hits the field. The ball only comes out after hitting the field, and he regains possession before it hits the grass.
Just to expand on this, here is the rule:
"If a player goes to the ground in the act of catching a pass (with or without contact by an opponent), he must maintain control of the ball throughout the process of contacting the ground, whether in the field of play or the end zone. If he loses control of the ball, and the ball touches the ground before he regains control, the pass is incomplete. If he regains control prior to the ball touching the ground, the pass is complete."
I think there's two problems:
a: "In the act of catching a pass". This is what most of the discussion has centered around, and I agree with those that think that moving the ball from his chest to his left arm and extending it was enough to complete the catch.
b: "If he loses control of the ball, and the ball touches the ground before he regains control, the pass is incomplete. If he regains control prior to the ball touching the round, the pass is complete."
To me, this does not mean that if any part of the ball touches the ground ever it is an incomplete pass. The way I looked at the play, it looked like Dez was in full control of the ball as it struck the ground. It was only as his arm bounced up from the momentum that he lost control of the ball. However, he rolled around and grabbed the ball which should have, in my eyes, made the entire thing a non-issue.
