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John Mara says league needs to look at catch, PI rules
Posted by Darin Gantt on January 15, 2015, 5:30 AM EST
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Jerry Jones isn’t the only NFL owner not happy about the Dez Bryant catch/not catch last weekend.
During an interview with ESPN Radio Wednesday, Giants owner John Mara admitted he was “very uncomfortable” with the ruling that Bryant did not complete a football move. He admitted it was “probably” the right decision, but cast doubt as to whether the rule needed to be enforced that way.
“We have to look at that,” Mara said, via the New York Daily News. “That was very uncomfortable for me watching that play and having it ruled as an incomplete pass. I think it was probably the right call technically, according to the language that was in the rule book, but I really think we need to look at that. . . .
“We had this discussion a few years ago with the Calvin Johnson catch and decided not to make any changes. But I really think we need to discuss that again because I was not happy watching that, because it just didn’t look right. It looked like it was a catch. But if you go back and look at the language of the rule and read the part about having to control the ball all the way to the ground, you realize that it was probably the right call.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...-says-league-needs-to-look-at-catch-pi-rules/
“But do we have to tweak the rules a little bit? I think maybe we do.”
That’s not just talk, as Mara is a member of the league’s competition committee.
He also said he’s “starting to think a little bit differently” about reviewing pass interference penalties.
“It’s become such a big call in our game,” Mara said. “It’s such a huge penalty that I’m starting to change my mind about that. I know that’s something that we’re going to discuss at the Competition Committee starting in February. I’m looking forward to that because I think maybe the time has come not only to have that discussion and that debate, but to really think about changing that rule.
“Instant replay was really implemented to try to correct the major calls in a game, and to get the big calls right. Well, there are not too many calls in the NFL bigger than defensive pass interference.”
Mara said he expected the competition committee would likely present a proposal to the owners to vote on in March, so a pair of controversial rules might get some clarity in the near future.
Posted by Darin Gantt on January 15, 2015, 5:30 AM EST
Jerry Jones isn’t the only NFL owner not happy about the Dez Bryant catch/not catch last weekend.
During an interview with ESPN Radio Wednesday, Giants owner John Mara admitted he was “very uncomfortable” with the ruling that Bryant did not complete a football move. He admitted it was “probably” the right decision, but cast doubt as to whether the rule needed to be enforced that way.
“We have to look at that,” Mara said, via the New York Daily News. “That was very uncomfortable for me watching that play and having it ruled as an incomplete pass. I think it was probably the right call technically, according to the language that was in the rule book, but I really think we need to look at that. . . .
“We had this discussion a few years ago with the Calvin Johnson catch and decided not to make any changes. But I really think we need to discuss that again because I was not happy watching that, because it just didn’t look right. It looked like it was a catch. But if you go back and look at the language of the rule and read the part about having to control the ball all the way to the ground, you realize that it was probably the right call.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...-says-league-needs-to-look-at-catch-pi-rules/
“But do we have to tweak the rules a little bit? I think maybe we do.”
That’s not just talk, as Mara is a member of the league’s competition committee.
He also said he’s “starting to think a little bit differently” about reviewing pass interference penalties.
“It’s become such a big call in our game,” Mara said. “It’s such a huge penalty that I’m starting to change my mind about that. I know that’s something that we’re going to discuss at the Competition Committee starting in February. I’m looking forward to that because I think maybe the time has come not only to have that discussion and that debate, but to really think about changing that rule.
“Instant replay was really implemented to try to correct the major calls in a game, and to get the big calls right. Well, there are not too many calls in the NFL bigger than defensive pass interference.”
Mara said he expected the competition committee would likely present a proposal to the owners to vote on in March, so a pair of controversial rules might get some clarity in the near future.
