The NFL owners today unanimously approved the proposal presented by the league’s competition committee to simplify the rule of what defines a catch in the NFL.
The approved proposal thus becomes a rule and simplifies the concept of a catch for the 2018 season. According to the newly approved rule, a catch is now defined by the following three steps:
1.- Control of the ball
2.- Two feet down (or a body part, such as an elbow or a knee).
3.- A football move by the player (such as attempting to take another step or stretching for the goal line).
Although this rule won’t most likely end controversial calls, it sure is a step in the right direction as it will simplify the concept of a catch and minimize the plays where the subjectivity of the referee will be needed to define a catch.
If those three steps are present, the receiver won’t have to worry about the ball surviving the ground or even touching the ground if he goes down.
Under this new simplified rule, the famous Dez Bryant catch against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field during the NFC Divisional Round of the 2014 playoffs would have been a catch.
Also, under this new rule, the play by Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jesse James’ at Heinz Field during week 15 against the New England Patriots would have resulted in a go-ahead touchdown catch with 29 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Similarly, under this new rule, the 2010 play by Charles Johnson against the Chicago Bears in week 1 with 24 seconds left in the fourth quarter would have also resulted in a go-ahead touchdown.
The main drawback of this rule will be that although it will allow more catches, it will most likely result in more fumbles, as now if the ball pops out after the catch it will be ruled a fumble, not an incompletion because the play is still alive unless the referee blows the whistle.
