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

[5Stars]

I hope the team is not concentrated on that call. They are going forward. Training to be the best.

But to be the best, you have to beat the best. No excuses, period.

There are only two days in a year that you can't change. Yesterday and tomorrow.

But, go in it, to win it.

 

[xwalker]

In 2014, it didn't matter. Under the Dez Bryant rule of 2015, he still hasn't caught it, even after control and two steps, because he hasn't been "upright long enough" at that point.

This is the rule change that they told us wasn't going to happen, because they said it wasn't needed, as the overturn was consistent with the rule that was already in place, we were assured.

Over and over.

Does my question make sense (i. e. That once his 3rd foot was down after possession that any rule dealing with possession should no longer apply.) ? I understand that with 1 foot down and maybe 2, that there has to be a rule to clarify catch or no catch, but that rule is not referenced with 10 steps so why was it referenced with 2 complete steps after possession?

 

[blindzebra]

I'm sorry but anyone that thinks this was how the rule was intended to be applied from the start and not changed to legitimize the overturn is an idiot.

 

[blindzebra]

The title of the thread is wrong, it should read:

NFL changes rule to nullify the Dez catch, because it was a catch under the old rule.

 

[percyhoward]

Dez clearly had control going to the ground. He is touched, and hence tackled by the defender, and then the ball comes out after he hits the ground. Hence, down by contact.

This rule change doesn't solve anything.

The new rule means he's not a runner yet, because the official can simply say he hasn't been upright long enough. Control and both feet down won't matter anymore on this kind of play. The player could even wave the ball in the air as he's going down, but if it comes out when he lands, it's like the catch never happened.

 

[ragman]

Didn't Dez have a similar catch against the NYG last season that was ruled a catch AND a TD?

Is it too much to ask for the NFL to have a little consistency in their rules? Guess so.

 

[ragman]

Dez will probably have to hold on to the ball all during the game for the play to be considered a catch.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Didn't Dez have a similar catch against the NYG last season that was ruled a catch AND a TD?

Is it too much to ask for the NFL to have a little consistency in their rules? Guess so.

I think they like the controversy. It gets people talking. If they wanted to fix the rule, they would.

 

[blindzebra]

Didn't Dez have a similar catch against the NYG last season that was ruled a catch AND a TD?

Is it too much to ask for the NFL to have a little consistency in their rules? Guess so.

But that was not after the Detroit game where all Blandino heard all week was he was biased for Dallas because of the party bus.

 

[percyhoward]

Does my question even make sense?

Of course it makes sense. The "going to the ground" rule should never have come up, because it doesn't even apply to runners. It's only meant for receivers (who don't yet have possession of the ball). Dez was a runner, by virtue of having completed the catch process (control, both feet, football move). He HAD possession of the ball.

Blandino kept insisting Dez was still a receiver, and the new rule gives him a way to make Dez a receiver -- he wasn't upright long enough. Blandino just needs to find a way to make the new rule retroactive and his troubles are over...until he screws the pooch again.

 

[Kevinicus]

That's if there is still such a thing as the catch process.

By requiring that the player be "upright long enough" they seem to be throwing the entire catch process out the window.

But the new phrasing says, "initial contact," with the ground. It does not specify what kind of contact. So, initial contact after what point? After having control? After control and 2 feet down? Even using that, then his first contact with the ground is his next step...then his hand (I think), then elbow. It is his 4th contact that results in the ball movement.

Does this definition replace the entire rule, including the 3 step process, or just part of the rule?

It seems like no part of the rule has necessary definitions.

 

[percyhoward]

Didn't Dez have a similar catch against the NYG last season that was ruled a catch AND a TD?

Is it too much to ask for the NFL to have a little consistency in their rules? Guess so.

Dez took a lot of steps on that play before falling. Not the same kind of play. If you're looking for control, three steps, reach, ball comes loose on contact with the ground, and it's ruled a catch, here it is...

 

[blindzebra]

But the new phrasing says, "initial contact," with the ground. It does not specify what kind of contact. So, initial contact after what point? After having control? After control and 2 feet down? Even using that, then his first contact with the ground is his next step...then his hand (I think), then elbow. It is his 4th contact that results in the ball movement.

Does this definition replace the entire rule, including the 3 step process, or just part of the rule?

It seems like no part of the rule has necessary definitions.

After 2 feet and control Dez took a step, so initial contact with left foot, right hand, wrist and elbow hit next, left knee hit, left forearm and then the ball touched the ground. By my count 6 body parts hit before the ball came loose, and if you want to eliminate hands and feet (per old rules), you still have right wrist and elbow, left knee and left forearm.

 

[percyhoward]

But the new phrasing says, "initial contact," with the ground. It does not specify what kind of contact. So, initial contact after what point? After having control?

After gaining control with both feet down, but only if upright long enough, it sounds like to me. IOW, the emphasis is no longer on the catch process so much as whether the player appears to be upright in the opinion of the official, for a duration that is also left up to the official (ultimately Blandino).

 

[blindzebra]

Even worse for Blandino is one could still argue that after the catch and 2 feet Dez was upright long enough to turn 90 degrees and begin a step that became the trip that caused the "fall".

 

[StarBoyz83]

Dez took 2 full steps (i. e. 3 feet down).

If he took 10 steps it would not matter what happened when he went to the ground. Why does it matter after 2 steps?

On the controversial Calvin Johnson non-catch, he only had 1 foot down so they had to reference the rule on going to the ground.

He had 2 feet down but he didn't control the ball going to the ground. Johnson used the ball to brace himself. I see why both were incomplete.

 

[percyhoward]

Dez has been less upright 20 yards away from the end zone and scored anyway (vs Philly week 17 of 2013). They seem to be more interested in making the rule as subjective as they can than in knowing what an NFL player is capable of.

 

[blindzebra]

He had 2 feet down but he didn't control the ball going to the ground. Johnson used the ball to brace himself. I see why both were incomplete.

One more time, the 2014 rules said it is a catch if : you have control, get 2 feet down inbounds, and make a football move Dez did those things, his going to the ground occurred AFTER IT WAS ALREADY A CATCH!

 

[percyhoward]

He had 2 feet down but he didn't control the ball going to the ground. Johnson used the ball to brace himself. I see why both were incomplete.

No, Johnson was in the end zone where there is no need for a football move, so the three-part catch process does not apply.

 

[StarBoyz83]

One more time, the 2014 rules said it is a catch if : you have control, get 2 feet down inbounds, and make a football move Dez did those things, his going to the ground occurred AFTER IT WAS ALREADY A CATCH!

OK I see. But I didn't see dez make a football move besides fall off balance to the ground.