Bad rule, good call

I'm back. I wonder if anyone missed me.
OK, enough small talk.
The NFL has a serious problem and I'm not talking about the looming lockout or Rex Ryan's swearing.
I'm talking about the rule about what is and what isn't a catch. And it's a problem because the Detroit Lions lost their season-opening game at Chicago when an apparent game-winning touchdown catch by Calvin Johnson with about 24 seconds left was overturned after a booth review.
In case you missed it, the Bears scored a late touchdown and used their prevent defense to try and prevent their team from winning. The Lions marched down the field and scored what looked like a game-winner on a Shaun Hill to Johnson pass.
But upon further review, it was determined that although Johnson jumped 10 feet in the air, made an aerobatic catch and fell to the ground in the back corner of the end zone with possession, he didn't "complete the play."
The rules mandate that a receiver basically has to be able to hand the ball to the official when the play is over. Johnson did everything but that. At the end of the play it appeared his arm extended out and while still in his hand, the ball hit the ground, then Johnson let go of the ball, probably figuring he had it long enough.
But as ESPN's Lee Corso would say, "not so fast, my friend."
If Johnson would have just held the ball a second or two longer the Lions would have had perhaps a season-changing win. Instead it was incomplete. Game over.
Chicago won, and as a Bears fan I'll take it.
But the rule sucks.
A ball carrier only needs to break the plane of the goal with the ball, then all Michigan could break loose. It's a touchdown. But it's not enough for a receiver to jump, catch a ball, get clobbered in mid-air while defenseless, fall to the ground and still hold on to the ball for a second or two.

He can unfasten his seat belt and start to get out of the tram, but he can't lose control of the ball until the end zone has come to a complete stop.
Dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb.
And dumb.
Was it the correct call based on the rule? Absolutely.
Does the rule need to be changed based on common sense? Absolutely.
But Pete Rose will probably enter the National Hockey League Hall of Fame before that rule gets changed.
And while I'm menti.....
Wait, this just in. It was Steve Bartman who knocked the ball out of Johnson's hand.
Just kidding.
Maybe.