USA TODAY US Edition

That’s a catch: NFL revises rule to simplify standard

- Staff and wire reports Contributi­ng: Mike Jones from Orlando, Michael Middle hurstSchwa­rtz, the Associated Press

All 32 NFL owners voted Tuesdayto approve revisions to the controvers­ial catch rule, simplifyin­g the standard for what constitute­s a completion. Under the new language, establishi­ng a catch would require control, two feet (or another body part) in bounds and a football move. The “surviving the ground” element, which proved to be a sticking point on some of the league’s recent controvers­ial calls, no longer applies.

In a news conference Monday, NFL senior vice president of officiatin­g Al Riveron highlighte­d several notable non-catches that would be ruled completion­s under the new guidelines, including plays from former Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson in 2010, Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant in the 2014 divisional playoffs, and Bears tight end Zach Miller and Steelers tight end Jesse James last year.

“Our goal was to simplify and provide clarity, and I think we’ve done that,” competitio­n committee member and Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said. “As a committee, we were very comfortabl­e with what we presented to membership.”

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