NFL Competition Committee Finalizes Catch Rule Proposal Ahead Of Annual League Meeting

The NFL’s rule-making competition committee has finished its proposal that hopes to simplify the sport’s controversial catch rule.

NFL new catch rule proposal

The committee’s proposal is set to be presented at the league’s annual meeting in Orlando next week. It must be ratified by at least 24 of the 32 team owners and, if approved, would take effect next season.

Al Riveron, the league’ss senior vice president for officiating, said Wednesday in a tweet that this proposed regulation change would dictate that a receiver must keep possession of the ball with both feet (or any other part of the body) touching the turf.

Slight movement of the ball while in the wideout’s hands detected via instant replay review will no longer be ruled as an incompletion as long as the receiver is deemed to have control of the ball, Vincent said.

One of the most debated catches from last season that was ruled incomplete was one made by the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Jesse James against the New England Patriots. Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant was also denied a completed catch during the NFC playoffs at the end of the 2014 season. Those two catches would be considered legal under the new rule, the NFL said.

GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 01: Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals makes the game winning catch in the end zone during overtime in the NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)