The NFL's Official Change to What Is A Catch: Dez Bryant play rule rewritten *merge*

[Kevinicus]

They ruled it was when Shields tripped him, about the same time the 2nd foot came down.

So then, under the new rule, with the "initial contact with the ground", his 3rd step would complete the catch.

 

[Kevinicus]

The new writing of the rule says that one must become a runner before starting to fall....."upright long enough".
The old writing said A,B, and C must be completed before "going to the ground" (8-3-item 1)
Both the same thing.

That's not what the old rule said.

 

[Joefrl]

So then, under the new rule, with the "initial contact with the ground", his 3rd step would complete the catch.

Initial contact with the ground, when the full body hits the ground. Like when the trunk of the tree hits the ground, not just a branch.

 

[Joefrl]

That's not what the old rule said.

8-3-item one "If a player goes to the ground in the act of catching a pass...." That's a quote. The act is A,B,and C from rule 8-3. Now use a little common sense.

 

[blindzebra]

Rule 8-3 -item 1 says, and this is a quote "If a player goes to the ground in the act of catching a pass............" end quote. The act of catching a pass is A, B, & C. We learn that from Rule 8-3-A,B, & C. Now use a little common sense, Those must be done before he begins to fall or before he starts going to the ground as they put it. The new writing says he must be ".....Upright long enough to demonstrate that he is clearly a runner". Same thing. Must become a runner before beginning to fall!

“By rule, when a receiver with possession of the ball is in the act of going to the ground and performs a second act by reaching out to break the plane, that completes the process of the catch and the ball is dead when it breaks the plane.”

- Mike Pereira, 2010

 

[BlindFaith]

8-3-item one "If a player goes to the ground in the act of catching a pass...." That's a quote. The act is A,B,and C from rule 8-3. Now use a little common sense.

Save your breath. They will not listen, ever. There's a 30 page discussion where, I too, explained this.

 

[Joefrl]

“By rule, when a receiver with possession of the ball is in the act of going to the ground and performs a second act by reaching out to break the plane, that completes the process of the catch and the ball is dead when it breaks the plane.”

- Mike Pereira, 2010

Well, even the best make a mistake every now and then and that is a glaring one. That violates the written rule. True for a runner, not a receiver. A receiver must become a runner before TD.

 

[Joefrl]

Save your breath. They will not listen, ever. There's a 30 page discussion where, I too, explained this.

Thanks for the warning. I enjoy this.

 

[Kevinicus]

Initial contact with the ground, when the full body hits the ground. Like when the trunk of the tree hits the ground, not just a branch.

Care to point out where it says the full body?

What do initial mean?

 

[Kevinicus]

8-3-item one "If a player goes to the ground in the act of catching a pass...." That's a quote. The act is A,B,and C from rule 8-3. Now use a little common sense.

I see going to the ground as actually hitting the ground so that a player would be down by contact. A football move prior to that fulfills part C. That is how the NFL has applied it in the past as well.

 

[blindzebra]

Save your breath. They will not listen, ever. There's a 30 page discussion where, I too, explained this.

You were wrong then and now.

Well, even the best make a mistake every now and then and that is a glaring one. That violates the written rule. True for a runner, not a receiver. A receiver must become a runner before TD.

So the director who wrote the rule does not know it but some internet troll does? Ok.

 

[Joefrl]

Care to point out where it says the full body?

What do initial mean?

I agree, it is poorly written but that is what it means. It is common sense, you need to finish the initial contact, not just start it. It does say AFTER the initial contact.......

 

[nathanlt]

IT DOES NOT MATTER if the player is a runner or receiver. There is no distinction between down by contact or through contact with the ground, or after initial contact.

The play is over when one knee or elbow down, without the ball moving. The NFL doesn't bother to write down what it means, so by rule, Dez's CATCH is a CATCH in 2014-2015 season and the 2015-2016 season.

the nuance of a runner or receiver going to the ground MAKES NO DIFFERENCE.

 

[Joefrl]

You were wrong then and now.

So the director who wrote the rule does not know it but some internet troll does? Ok.

If you know how to read, you can see those glaring mistakes. He doesn't write the rules, he just explains them, and it is interesting how many times other directors disagree with him. He has made mistakes, many of which he did correct later. That is probably one of those he corrected later. I have seen him and other directors tweet, "When a receiver reaches, he risks an incomplete pass".

 

[blindzebra]

If you know how to read, you can see those glaring mistakes. He doesn't write the rules, he just explains them, and it is interesting how many times other directors disagree with him. He has made mistakes, many of which he did correct later. That is probably one of those he corrected later. I have seen him and other directors tweet, "When a receiver reaches, he risks an incomplete pass".

LOL, I am done feeding the troll.

 

[nathanlt]

Initial contact with the ground, when the full body hits the ground. Like when the trunk of the tree hits the ground, not just a branch.

Initial contact with the ground is in direct opposition to the full body hitting the ground.

Two distinct and different concepts. The second phrase is not in the rulebook, so it's NOT THE RULE.

 

[Joefrl]

IT DOES NOT MATTER if the player is a runner or receiver. There is no distinction between down by contact or through contact with the ground, or after initial contact.

The play is over when one knee or elbow down, without the ball moving. The NFL doesn't bother to write down what it means, so by rule, Dez's CATCH is a CATCH in 2014-2015 season and the 2015-2016 season.

the nuance of a runner or receiver going to the ground MAKES NO DIFFERENCE.

A RECEIVER has to hold on to the ball when he hits the ground or no catch, incomplete. A RUNNER is down by contact, if there is contact with the opposition or fumble if no contact. Two separate independent rules.

 

[Joefrl]

Initial contact with the ground is in direct opposition to the full body hitting the ground.

Two distinct and different concepts. The second phrase is not in the rulebook, so it's NOT THE RULE.

It is poorly written, I agree. You simply have to use a little common sense. He needs to complete the initial contact, not just start it. The rule does say "AFTER initial contact" not DURING initial contact.

 

[Kevinicus]

LOL, I am done feeding the troll.

Me too.

 

[nathanlt]

It is poorly written, I agree. You simply have to use a little common sense. He needs to complete the initial contact, not just start it. The rule does say "AFTER initial contact" not DURING initial contact.

By "use a little common sense", do you mean introduce new concepts and phrases that don't exist in the rule? Rulebooks don't work that way. What is written is what the rule is. If the intent was NOT captured in the chosen words, then the INTENT DOES NOT APPLY.