Here’s the catch: NFL refs thought they were right all along
years after Dez Bryant’s infamous catch that wasn’t in Dallas’ playoff loss at Green Walt ColeBay, and just a few months man doesn’t see the resince Pittsburgh’s Jesse vamped catch rule as a big James had a late go-ahead change for NFL game offitouchdown taken away in cials because the veteran refa loss to New England that eree believes they’ve already damaged the Steelers’ hopes been calling catches the new for the AFC’s top seed. way. Essentially, the new rule
If anything, Coleman figeliminates the ground as a ures there will be fewer refactor on catches while estabviews of their rulings. lishing three main criteria:
“Most of the calls that —having control of the controversy, seemed to ball;— create we ruled the them most getting two feet down or correctly and then they were another body part; overturned on replay,” Cole—making a football move, man said Friday as offisuch as taking a third step or cials gathered for their anextending the ball. nual preseason meeting in On the plays involving the Dallas area. “From our Bryant and James, the ball standpoint, we’re just going moved slightly after hitting to continue to officiate the the ground as they extended plays like we have.” it forward, even though they
League owners unaninever lost control of it. Both mously approved the changes were ruled catches and overin April — more than three turned on review.
“I don’t think it was one thing,” senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron said. “I think we got to a point where fans, the office, coaches, players, wanted to see more exciting plays. How do we make this particular play a catch? How do we take the Dez Bryant play and make it a catch?”
Riveron said the competition committee consulted with coaches, former players, game officials and supervisors, among others, to reach the rule change that was approved.
The committee cited overturned receptions by James and fellow tight end Zach Miller of Chicago last season among the dozens of plays they reviewed “dozens of times,” according to committee chairman Rick McKay, president of the Atlanta Falcons.
Ron Torbert, going into his fifth season as a referee and ninth overall as a game official, doesn’t think the new rule is just about simplicity.
“We had a good idea of what it was and how to officiate it,” Torbert said. “We certainly understand that the way it was written, plays that people wanted to be a catch weren’t a catch under the older rule. We understand that.”
And while game officials are hesitant to share opinions on anything related to their role, they can see where fans sit with the catch rule.
“I think fans will like it more because we’ve got some of the greatest athletes in the world who can do things that no one else can do,” Torbert said. “To be able to see them rewarded with a catch when under the old rule, it may not have been a catch, I think from that standpoint the fans will enjoy the game more.”