NFL sets new definition for controversial catch rule

[sunworshipper]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...troversial-catch-rule/?utm_term=.2d065755b9dd

The new catch rule, Vincent said, will require only that a receiver have control of the football, and any slight movement of the football in the receiver’s hands detected via replay review would not result in an incompletion.

The new rule will eliminate the requirement that a receiver who is in the process of going to the ground while making a catch must maintain control of the football while on the turf to be awarded a legal catch.

The replay standard for overturning an on-field ruling of a catch will be indisputable video evidence rather than clear and obvious.
...
The defenseless-player rules will be expanded, Vincent said, to give more protection to a runner, particularly a quarterback who’s running, who gives himself up at the end of a run, either by sliding or diving, as with a notable hit on the Baltimore Ravens’ Joe Flacco last season.

I can't see how a rule change could have helped Flacco unless you let a QB run free. Flacco was running for the first down and only slid (at the last minute) after Kiko had committed his body to the tackle.

 

[Fins1971]

Take away one grey area and add another. Not surprising for NFL.

 

[A1.]

I stand by the Kiko hit 100%. BS rule. If a qb wants to run then he’s gonna get hit. The rule is literally impossible to impose unless you let the qb get hit

The way the rule stands will continue to lead to awkward hits where your expecting a player at NFL speed to detirmime if he should make a tackle or lay off and allow the qb a few feeebie yards

 

[Phindog]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...troversial-catch-rule/?utm_term=.2d065755b9dd

The new catch rule, Vincent said, will require only that a receiver have control of the football, and any slight movement of the football in the receiver’s hands detected via replay review would not result in an incompletion.

The new rule will eliminate the requirement that a receiver who is in the process of going to the ground while making a catch must maintain control of the football while on the turf to be awarded a legal catch.

The replay standard for overturning an on-field ruling of a catch will be indisputable video evidence rather than clear and obvious.
...
The defenseless-player rules will be expanded, Vincent said, to give more protection to a runner, particularly a quarterback who’s running, who gives himself up at the end of a run, either by sliding or diving, as with a notable hit on the Baltimore Ravens’ Joe Flacco last season.

I can't see how a rule change could have helped Flacco unless you let a QB run free. Flacco was running for the first down and only slid (at the last minute) after Kiko had committed his body to the tackle.

This catch rule has been getting more confusing each year it's about time they rethink it. 2017 was laughable and the worse I've ever seen.

I do believe they need to clean up the end zone part of the rule particularly on the plane of the goal line. There were a dozen bad calls on the line, so lets see what 2018 brings.