One of the most commonly cited and debated annoying rules in the NFL is the "catch rule." This rule has been subject to numerous controversies and has caused confusion among players, coaches, and fans alike. The catch rule states that in order for a receiver to complete a catch, they must have control of the ball, both feet (or another body part) in bounds, and make a "football move." The problem arises when determining what constitutes a "football move" and whether the receiver maintained control throughout the process. One notable example of the catch rule controversy is the infamous "Dez Bryant catch" during the 2014 NFC Divisional playoff game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers. In the fourth quarter, Dez Bryant made a spectacular leaping catch near the goal line, but as he reached for the end zone, the ball came loose and was ruled incomplete. The ruling was based on the interpretation that Bryant had not completed a "football move" before losing control of the ball. This decision was met with widespread criticism and debate, as many argued that it was a clear catch. Another example is the "Jesse James catch" during a 2017 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots. Jesse James caught a pass in the end zone, took two steps, and reached for the goal line. However, as he was extending the ball, it came loose and was ruled incomplete. This ruling, similar to the Dez Bryant catch, sparked controversy and led to discussions about the ambiguity of the catch rule. These examples, among others, have highlighted the frustration with the catch rule. The rule's ambiguity and inconsistent application have caused confusion and dissatisfaction among players, coaches, and fans. Critics argue that the rule should be simplified to prioritize the basic elements of a catch, such as control and two feet in bounds, without requiring additional "football moves" that are open to interpretation. In response to the controversies and frustrations surrounding the catch rule, the NFL has made efforts to clarify and simplify the rule in recent years. In 2018, the league introduced a revised catch rule that aimed to provide more clarity and eliminate some of the previous controversies. This revision has helped reduce some of the confusion, but the catch rule still remains a topic of debate and annoyance among football enthusiasts. Overall, the catch rule stands out as one of the most annoying NFL rules due to its complexity, inconsistency, and the controversies it has sparked over the years. The rule's impact on crucial game-changing plays and the subjective nature of determining a "football move" have made it a constant source of frustration for players, coaches, and fans.
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User Comments
Natasha Ross
a year ago
It was the quick culture change I believe for 2 orgs is what got him the job. I also as weird as it may sound think the team really likes playing for him. I think he should have hired some real coaches with experience year one though. With his current assistants and mcadoo I think he set himself up a lot better.
Drew Powell
a year ago
Must’ve blocked out that 2018 AFCCG, cause the announcers mentioned it a bunch of times on that Edelman muffed punt that was recovered by Gehrig Dieter.
Adele Ruiz
a year ago
That you can't advance a muffed punt.
Dulce Ward
a year ago
I've appreciated the USFL for reviewing and reversing these types of plays. It's been great 👍
Arlette James
a year ago
It's more the way the rules are enforced rather than the rules themselves. Nothing more annoying than a replay showing how clearly wrong the refs were to throw/not throw a flag on the play and then nothing being done about it.
Mercy Watson
a year ago
Yeah, every offensive line coach in the country at every level teaches you how to hold. Technically any time you grab a jersey it counts, but they’ll really only call it if you’re at the shoulders, reaching around someone’s body, or grabbing jersey from behind
Ashlynn Reed
a year ago
My uncle, who's a ref can verify. Also, he said it can be called on the o-line every time as well. They look for the most egregious cases.
Paulina Roger
a year ago
defensive holding could legitimately be called every play if the refs wanted to.
Elliot Cooper
a year ago
Yeah, PI just gets called way too often imo. Since it’s a spot foul, you know offenses are going to sometimes go for a deep pass that’s uncatchable and just hope for a little contact
Bristol Collins
a year ago
wholeheartedly agree...a defender should be allowed to exist and if the route requires a WR to run back through him to catch the ball then that's just incidental contact unless there's a blatant grab or shove with hands....but body to body should almost never be called in that situation. The amount of third and longs converted in this league by this being called a DPI just cheapens the overall result.
10 Comments
It was the quick culture change I believe for 2 orgs is what got him the job. I also as weird as it may