New catch rule approved

[DaFace]

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/2...rule-32-0-vote

NFL owners unanimously approve simplified catch rule
Kevin Seifert

ORLANDO, Fla. -- NFL owners unanimously approved a new catch rule Tuesday, a change designed specifically to avoid a handful of controversies that have vexed the league for most of this decade.

Owners also approved two other rule changes, granting authority to senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron to eject players for non-football acts -- even if it means overruling on-field referees -- and making permanent a temporary rule that put touchbacks after kickoffs at the 25-yard line.

Michael Signora, NFL vice president of football communications, tweeted out the approved rules and bylaws:

The playing rules & bylaws approved by @NFL clubs this morning pic.twitter.com/vyfeqLybLl

— Michael Signora (@NFLfootballinfo) March 27, 2018

The catch rule, proposed by the league's competition committee at the behest of commissioner Roger Goodell, will eliminate the requirement to maintain control of the ball throughout the process of going to the ground. Instead, it will define a catch with a simpler three-step process: A receiver must control the ball, establish himself in bounds and perform a football move such as taking a third step or lunging with the ball in hand.

Most important to the league, the change means that plays such as those involving Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson (2010) and Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant (2014) will be ruled catches in the future.

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jesse James, who had a touchdown overturned in the final seconds of a December loss to the New England Patriots because he didn't "survive the ground," applauded the rule change.

"It should have been a touchdown either way," James told Steelers.com. "Whether it was the old rule, or this new rule. To reverse something on review, it has to be clear cut. I feel like they didn't do a good job on that. It's nice to have the rule clearer."

Riveron said earlier this week that "we've basically rewritten the rule." Even so, the change is not likely to eliminate all controversies surrounding the catch. Former NFL officiating chief Dean Blandino suggested earlier this month to expect a swap of debates.

"If the receiver performs an act common to the game," Blandino said, "if he performs a football move, whatever you want to call it, on the way to the ground, if you say that supersedes him having to hold the ball all the way to the ground, then that adds another layer of judgment for the official and in replay.

"You're just shifting the debate from, 'Was he going to the ground and did he hold on to it?' to 'Did he make a football move?'"

The rule to allow in-game ejections from the league's officiating office was designed to address egregious hits last season by New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans in separate incidents.

Both were penalized 15 yards, but referees declined to eject them. Referees will retain the authority to eject players as necessary.

The New York Jets, meanwhile, withdrew a proposal to make all defensive pass interference penalties 15 yards.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

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[In58men]

We’re gonna need real life demonstrations

[cdcox]

And still nobody knows what a catch is.

[KChiefs1]

I wanted the 15 yard pass interference because the spot foul is too big a penalty.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

I wanted the 15 yard pass interference because the spot foul is too big a penalty.

^

[TribalElder]

Taking a third step

Holy shit

The NFL needs to **** off with all these rule changes

Catch it on the 20, take two huge strides and get hit on the third fumbling out of the end zone. Incomplete

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

I wanted the 15 yard pass interference because the spot foul is too big a penalty.

It would create too much of an incentive to mug the receiver on long passes.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by canoworms

It would create too much of an incentive to mug the receiver on long passes.

By the same token, it's bullshit that a team can be down by 3 with 5 seconds to go from their own 25 and heave a pass downfield only for some BS PI call to put the team in position to tie or whatever.

The Raiders, I believe, benefited from the longest penalty of the year last year. Which was a 55 yard PI call.

Sorry, that's horseshit. Especially with the way PI is and isn't called these days.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by In58men

We’re gonna need real life demonstrations

yeah, **** these words in a rule book. What are the refs really going to call? And be ****ing consistent.

[digger]

So no change to forward progress?

[GloryDayz]

I wanted a rule that allowed coaches and players to openly question the officials when they've clearly mad a bad call or clearly missed a call.

It's time to start pressuring officials to do better.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

I wanted the 15 yard pass interference because the spot foul is too big a penalty.

I've long thought that the penalty should be spot foul for short pass plays, and 25 yards for PI committed 25 yards or more downfield.

[SuperBowl4]

NFL's Definition Of A Catch - Approved with a unanimous 32-0 vote by the owners 1. Control of the Ball
2. Two feet down or another body part
3. A football move

[Dayze]

so isn't this 'new rule', just going back to the way it was a few years ago?