NFL Tweaks Catch Rule, Says Dez Bryant Still Didn't Catch Ball

PHOENIX -- The NFL Competition Committee tweaked the language involved in the rule regarding what is and what is not a catch but decided that Dez Bryant's now-infamous non-catch in the Cowboys-Packers playoff game is still not a catch.

The tweak the committee added was that now a receiver must "clearly establish himself as a runner" while having control and both feet in bounds

"For years the requirement for a catch is control, both feet and after that the receiver had to have the ball long enough to perform a [football] act," VP of Officiating Dean Blandino said. "It was that act common to the game, football move, that created some confusion."

So instead of needing to make a "football move" to qualify oneself as a runner in the field of play, the receiver must "clearly establish himself as a runner."

In other words, the goal is to make it a simple deduction whether or not someone has made a particular kind of move to establish themselves as having possession.

"Once you go down that path it becomes more subjective," Blandino said. "What is, what isn't a football move. We're not talking about a lot of plays over the course of the five seasons since the Calvin Johnson play. This allows us to consistently officiate the rule."

Rams coach Jeff Fisher believes the new language tweak "really clears things up" because it elements subjective interpretation.

"We spent a lot of time on it. I think it really clears things up," Fisher said. "If you're going to the ground, hang onto the ball. It's really pretty simple. To include if you become a runner, I think it really cleans things up for us. If you start talking about reaching the ball out, you invite a lot of gray area back into the interpretation."

It does that to a degree, because someone continuing to fall to the ground while making a catch who doesn't possess the ball would clearly not qualify as someone who can establish themselves.

Dez lunging for the end zone has lots of upside -- touchdowns! -- but it also has massive downside because it won't establish possession.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on...h-rule-says-dez-bryant-still-didnt-catch-ball

 

I guess there was no way they were going to change language such that it would have made Dez's catch a catch. That would've meant the NFL was admitting a boo-boo, and they don't make boo-boos.

 

Very good point. Can't wait for the first typpy toes inbound catch and the opposing coach throwing a red flag. I only hope that onfield arguement is mic'd.

This isn't about the Packers. And do you really want to gloat? How about that 4th quarter against the Seahawks in the NFC chamionshp.....,"ha ha".

 

Crickets


The rule didn't clear a thing up just muddled the waters

 

I'll agree with that one, Diesel, except the NFL trying to clear things up is like using maple syrup to clean your windshield. Just like that one call was a pass interference, Dez did make the catch and it really ain't that difficult to see. But if it can be phucked up, Goddell & Co. are there to help.

 

If that was intended as a shot I wanted the Patriots to win so I gotta give that one a .