The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Clarifying catch rule tops owners’ agenda
Giants, Jets, Browns among clubs at Darnold’s workout.
The NFL’s catch rule would get less complicated if team owners approve recommendations from the powerful competition committee.
One of the first orders of business when the league’s annual meetings begin Monday in Orlando will be a proposal by the committee to clarify what is a catch. Commissioner Roger Goodell said during the week of the Super Bowl he would urge simplification of the rules.
“Catch/no catch is at the top of everyone’s minds,” Troy Vincent, the NFL’s football operations chief, said Wednesday before outlining the committee’s recommendations.
The owners will be asked to vote on clarifications that eliminate parts of the rule involving a receiver going to the ground, and that also eliminate negating a catch for slight movement of the ball while it is in the receiver’s possession. No calls in the last few years — not even pass interference — have caused more consternation than overturned catches in key situations, including those by Dez Bryant, Jesse James and Austin Seferian-Jenkins.
“We were at the point as far as players and particularly coaches who asked, ‘Why is that not a catch?’” Vincent said. “We talked to fans, coaches and players and we asked the groups, ‘Would you like this to be a catch?’ It was 100 percent yes.
“Then we began writing rules that actually apply to making these situations catches.”
Here’s what would constitute a catch if the owners approve the competition committee’s alterations:
■ Control of the ball;
■ Getting two feet down;
■ Performing a “football act” or taking a third step.
Darnold pro day: The unofficial convention of New York football decision-makers met in Los Angeles on Wednesday to watch the pro day of a quarterback who may not even be available to them with the second and third picks in the draft.
Sam Darnold, the USC product who did not throw at the scouting combine, finally let it rip in front of a small army of scouts and coaches on a rainy Wednesday in southern California. Among the group there for keen observations were Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan, coach Todd Bowles, offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates, and vice president of personnel Brian Heimerdinger. Giants coach Pat Shurmur, offensive coordinator Mike Shula and assistant general manager Kevin Abrams were there as well.
The Browns, who hold the first overall selection in the upcoming draft, trumped all of them with owner Jimmy Haslam sitting in the stands for the workout. That’s a strong indication that the Browns will want to take Darnold at No. 1, leaving the Giants at No. 2 and Jets at No. 3 to make other decisions.
Dolphins: Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield worked out for Miami on Wednesday, according to multiple reports.
The Dolphins, who have the No. 11 overall pick in the draft, attended Mayfield’s pro day workout at Oklahoma a week ago.
Miami has been linked to Mayfield through numerous mock drafts and there’s speculation the Dolphins want a young quarterback to groom behind starter Ryan Tannehill, who has missed the last 20 games, including a playoff game, with a left knee injury.
Bills: Zay Jones is with family and is going to be fine, the Buffalo receiver’s father said Wednesday, two days after his son was arrested following a naked, bloody argument with his brother in Los Angeles.
Robert Jones posted a note on his Twitter account saying Jones “is with me and his mom,” while adding “he’s going to be fine!”
Lions: Signed former Seahawks tight end Luke Willson, adding a potential starter in place of Eric Ebron, and bolstered their defensive line by adding Sylvester Williams.
Willson has 89 career catches for 1,129 yards with 11 touchdowns in 72 games, all with Seattle. He has 13 catches for 154 yards and one score in the playoffs.
Colts: Brought back offensive lineman Jack Mewhort and cornerback Pierre Desir, continuing their free-agent signing flurry.
Vikings: Re-signed kicker Kai Forbath to a one-year contract after a strong finish to his 2017 season.