If you watched the just-completed Bucs-Dolphins game, you know the play that will be talked about for days is Michael Clayton's non-catch at the end of the first half, one that resulted in the Dolphins taking possession at the 8-yard line and scoring two plays later.

Clayton was initially ruled to have fumbled, then Miami's Jason Taylor picked up the ball and returned it for a touchdown. After a quick conference, officials then ruled the pass was incomplete. Since it happened inside the two-minute mark, the replay official challenged the ruling. It was then ruled an interception, meaning Clayton did not establish possession before Taylor corralled the ball.

It was certainly a stunning outcome since it seemed obvious Clayton was down by contact before the ball came out. That prompted me to request a pool report from the officials after the game, something the league permits us to do when necessary.

Here, then, is referee Tony Corrente's explanation. The most pertinent parts are in bold:

(On why the play which was ultimately ruled an interception by Jason Taylor was initially ruled an incomplete pass)

“One of the officials on the field felt the ball had touched the ground after it left the possession of the receiver.”

(On why was the play not ruled a completion upon review)

“Because the player in question (Clayton), the player who was possessing the ball in the air, as he started to come down, was hit. As he is coming down, he is now going to the ground to complete a catch and, by rule, if he’s going to the ground to complete a catch, he has to maintain possession of the ball completely through the entire process of hitting the ground and thereafter, showing control. As he went to the ground, basically right when he went to the ground, the ball popped out, and went right into the arms of the Miami player. The ball had never touched the ground.”

(On if the play was ever whistled dead)

“The play was never whistled dead, not until the player [Taylor] got into the end zone.”

(On why Taylor was unable to advance the ball)

“Because by rule, in the replay rules, we can give the ball to the team, but we can’t allow the advance thereafter.”

(On if they are unable to allow an advance even if the ball is not whistled dead)

“Unfortunately, that’s just the replay rule because it was ruled as an incomplete pass.”

(On when the play was ruled an incomplete pass)

“It wasn’t ruled incomplete until there was a discussion in the end zone well after the touchdown was ‘scored.’ And so at that point, the officials got together and one said, ‘I felt the ball hit the ground,’ and of course (if there's) any doubt, it’s incomplete.”