Explaining the rules for completing a reception in 2023, Hunter Henry loses TD as NFL's catch rule is criticized again, Ja'Marr Chase's overturned TD once again brings focus to NFL catch rule, Dennis Allen sounds off after Chris Olave is not credited with a catch. The NFL can't even agree what inbounds and out of bounds are. Thats why they sometimes look funny when they are making a catch trying to drag both of their toes in bounds before they fall out of bounds! While that question can be very difficult to answer, the three main components are this: The third one is where things get a bit hairy, because even if a player manages to catch a ball and get both feet inbounds, if he then immediately hits the ground and the ball pops out, its ruled incomplete and not a fumble. "How do we make this particular play a catch? The public was told byNFL officiating chief Al Riveronthat James did not score against New England because he failed to "survive the ground" after he lunged forward with the ball and crossed the goal line as part of his catching motion. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). If a player, who is in possession of the ball, is held up and carried out of bounds by an opponent before both feet or any part of his body other than his hands touches the ground inbounds, it is a completed or intercepted pass. Here's another instance. c. after (a) and (b) have been fulfilled,performs any act common to the game (e.g., tuck the ball away, extend it forward, take an additional step, turn upfield, or avoid or ward off an opponent), or he maintains control of the ball long enough to do so. This is where the league is adopting a rule from college football. But the rule book doesnt address what it means to get a foot in bounds. Previously, an NFL receiver leaping to make a catch in the end zone did not have to get any feet down. land on the line would be out of bounds. The player must touch both feet or any part of his body other than his hands inbounds (this is different than college rules, which only requires one foot) The player must, after the first two. Gambling problem? On fields used primarily by the NFL, the professional inbounds lines should be 4 inches wide by 2 feet long. (The heal dragging is just not a frequent occurrence.) 10:30 AM - 31 Dec 2018 The officials ruled that James did not "survive the ground" while reaching for the goal line. Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. But ahead of the College Football Playoff national championship game between No. Dez Bryant would have caught it had he been playing in 2020 and not in 2014. . In this case, there was a lot of ball movement when Bryant hit the ground. If a pass is caught simultaneously by two eligible opponents, and both players retain it, the ball belongs to the passers. A player touches the ground inbounds with both feet or with any part of his body, other than his hands . NFL television commentator John Madden used the expression "one knee equals two feet" when discussing the New York Jets-Cincinnati Bengals preseason game on August 18, 1983. . Bryant does take two steps, but it appears that hes going to the ground the entire time, meaning he did not establish himself as a runner. Two feet down or another body part down in the field of play, A football move, including: a third step, reaching/extending for the line to gain, the ability to perform such an act. The NFL's decided that the best way to do that was to require the player making the catch to do three things:Control the ball, get two feet or another body partdown, and make a"football move," which is clearly defined within the rule. 2) A wide receiver is considered catching a ball inbounds as long as two feet are inbounds, even if the ball is obviously thrown out of bounds. If a team fumbles the ball out of bounds . Per the NFL, a player completes a catch or interception along the sideline if he: secures control of the ball in his hands or arms prior to the ball touching the ground; and touches the ground. A massive Steelers-Patriots game late in the 2017 season was decided in the last minuteby a baffling incompletion call on what appeared to be a Jesse James touchdown catch. A player who makes a catch may advance the ball. His articles have appeared in the "Chico News & Review," "Wildcat Illustrated," the "Chico Enterprise-Record" and on websites such as The Sports Informant. Bryant did not regain control before the ball touched the ground. It is not a simultaneous catch if a player gains control first and an opponent subsequently gains joint control. Carter has reportedly left the combine after allegations of his role in a fatal car accident. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Answer (1 of 6): What constitutes a "football move" in the NFL? : Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/RqOcaBu1Zc pic.twitter.com/Y66X4uxf9z. From a mall parking lot altercation to a fight with a teenager during a pickup game, these are the allegations Ja Morant is facing. A few months after NFL team owners voted to pass simplified catch rules in March of 2018, Riveron told Sporting News the league did so in the name of entertainment. Football is an essential piece of Americas fabric, uniting fans, players and communities with a simple yet powerful bond. Jacob Camenker is a senior content producer at The Sporting News. COMPLETED OR INTERCEPTED PASS. If 1 heel can make the determination of a catch out of bounds, a heel should be considered inbounds as well. Below is the NFL's catch rule in its entirety, as detailed in Rule 8, Section 1, Articles 3-4 in the league's officialrulebook. If he performs any act common to the game runs, jukes, whatever, and then the ball pops out it will be considered a fumble. ORLANDO, Fla. -- Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh deserves some praise if a new catch rule passes at the NFL owners meetings. The answer to both questions is no. So the NFL the following springsimply stripped such ridiculous language out of its catch standards and simplified the rules. Well, thats purely subjective. If a pass is caught simultaneously by two eligible opponents, and both players retain it, the ball belongs to the passers. Thats a rookie mistake. One thing that might help, one rule that defines what a . But if you were one of the NFL fans who did not realize why these were different situations, hopefully this brought some clarity to the issue. The refs did everything they could to keep the Titans in the game. A player recovers a ball if he fulfills the criteria in paragraphs a, b, c, and d for catching a ball that is still alive after hitting the ground. That adjustment provided officials with little extra clarity about the rule. Me bets the Refs would approve of a Tebow heel, Touchdown!!!! Under our rule change, a player becomes a runner as soon as he catches the ball and gets two feet (or one knee or elbow or cheek, as Damiere Byrd exhibited Sunday) inbounds. According to the NFL rulebook (Sec. Well yeah. There have been plenty of passes during the 2022 NFL season and 2023 playoffs that appeared to be caught but were ruled incomplete by the letter of the law. In the other one, you cant see it period. What kind of things can be considered a third phase? If you drag your toes, youre not necessarily taking a step. When it comes to catching a touchdown pass in the end zone, it is a completely different story. An
They do not have possession in the field of play first and therefore must have possession in the end zone. We came to this same conclusion in the stands watching this unfold yesterday without the aid of TV commentary, that if you drag your toes as you move forward across the boundary, then logically your whole foot must be in bounds at that instant. That's pretty clear. "How do we make this particular play a catch? How do we get these exciting plays back in the game?". Copyright Flip the Field 2013-2018. Alternate college lines, if they are to be included, should be 4 inches wide by 1 foot long. If he regains control prior to the ball touching the ground, the pass is complete. In order to be ruled to possess the ball, a player must secure the ball and have 2 feet (or the equivalent) inbounds and complete a third phase of the process. Previous poster was correct. The Pittsburgh Steelers have started the meeting process at the NFL Scouting Combine. This is the part that bit Bryant. If a player catches the ball, gets two feet down, and completes a football move, a loss of the football would be a fumble from that point to the end of the play. Were going to be going through a few of these in this series, but lets start off with a good one, a simple question thats really, really, hard to answer:What is a catch? Its been three years since officials ruled Dez Bryant didnt catch a ball in the Cowboys Divisional Round loss to the Packers, and were all still trying to get to the bottom of this. before the ball touches the ground, and, 2. Espn, and NFL analysts all agreed Jimmy Graham was in bounds, and it shouldve been a touchdown. When it appeared Pierre Thomas was going to break for a long gain, a flag was thrown. So when Saints tight end Jimmy Graham planted his right heel into the end zone on Sunday, before the toe of his right foot landed out of bounds, it seemed only fair treat the heel the same way the foot would be treated. It all comes down to possession of the ball. A forward pass is complete (by the offense) or intercepted (by the defense) if a player executes a three-step process: secures control of . NFL catch rules in 2023. . interesting play involving a possible touchdown catch in the Detroit-Green Bay
But the league interprets the rule to mean that a toe is a foot, as long as the toe is dragged. Explaining the differences in ruling a touchdown in the NFL, Kiper Mock Draft: 3 1st Round trades has a familiar name falling to the Steelers. The While the . The NFL catch rule is an utter mystery, even to fans that claim to understand it. A tip-toe catch is only a reception if the player does not subsequently have his heels land out of bounds unless he first lifted his feet off the grounds. A forward pass is complete (by the offense) or intercepted (by the defense)in the field of play, at the sideline, or in the end zoneif a player, who is inbounds: a. secures control of the ball in his hands or arms prior to the ball touching the ground; and, b. touches the ground inbounds with both feet or with any part of his body other than his hands; and. For the Heels, same application, your toes would land out of bounds. Before this rule change, officials had the discretion to rule that a receiver pushed out of bounds in the act of making a catch would have landed in bounds, which left open the door for quite a bit of ambiguity. The location of the inbounds lines is 70'9" for professional football, 60'0" for college football. The NFL Video Rulebook explains NFL rules with video examples. If a player, who is in possession of the ball, is held up and carried out of bounds by an opponent before both feet or any part of his body other than his hands touches the ground inbounds, it. A player who makes a catch may advance the ball. I heel drag is very seldom, if not never. If part of your foot comes down then only the part that touched has to be in bounds. Hoping to avoid controversies like Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryants ruled no-catch in the 2014 playoffs against the Green Bay Packers or Pittsburgh Steelers Jesse James' reversed touchdown against the New England Patriots in the 2017 season going forward, the National Football League most recently approved changes to the leagues catch rule going into the 2018 season. Ja Morants allegations of aggression off the court, explained. Movement of the balldoes not automatically result in loss of control. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. 7), a player is in possession of when he has the ball in a firm grip and is inbounds (by having both feet inbounds, or a body part other than his hands . A player who makes a catch may advance the ball. It started with Megatron last year and continues most recently with Ballard (last week) and now Graham. Jalen Carters arrest warrant for reckless driving and racing, explained. Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant is unable to catch a pass against Green Bay Packers cornerback Sam Shields in the fourth quarter of the 2014 NFC Divisional playoff game. MORE: Hunter Henry loses TD as NFL's catch rule is criticized again. A forward pass is complete (by the offense) or intercepted (by the defense) in the field of play, at the sideline, or in the end zone if a player, who is inbounds: Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Im baffled by what you find inconsistent, discriminatory, or arbitrary about this. But how much movement is too much? Competition committee has work to do. So if a receiver has his back to the sidelines when going up for the ball, lands on his toes but then the heel comes down as part of the same continued backwards motion and is on/over the boundary, is that a catch? It is not a simultaneous catch if a player gains control first and an opponent subsequently gains joint control. NFL; Catch Rule 2-email draft ; Standings; Rules; Scoring; Playoffs; Rosters; Leaders; Ball Control: Fantasy Standings Stats Misc Games # Team Owner W L % GB Div Strk PF Avg PA Avg Rank Draft Previous Current; 1: Mark it 8. How do we take the Dez Bryant play and make it a catch and still stay within the rules and the confines? So the reason why there appears to be a different standard when it comes to catching the ball in the end zone versus reaching the ball towards the goal line is because they are completely different plays. The right toe NEVER touched the ground, and you can tell in 9 out of the 10 replays you see. Maybe they should ask Rex Ryan about this rule. Fitz saves it from being intercepted and grabs it before it hits the ground. Rule 3 Section 22 Article 1 A forward pass is complete (by the offense) or intercepted (by the defense) in the field of play, at the sideline, or in the end zone if a player, who is inbounds: (a) secures control of the ball. The idea that the NCAA is a training or minor league for the NFL, while widely believed, just isn't . What is a catch in the NFL? The league's changes during the 2018 offseason were a bit better, as language surrounding the NFL's definition of a catch was altered. The same can be true for NFL fans, as well, and we recently explained what qualifies as a catch for the pros. On
(2) If a player attempts to catch a pass, the ball is not dead, and a touchdown is not scored, until the receiver completes the catch. If you want to get really into the nitty gritty, heres the full Rule 8, Section 1, Articles 3-4 in the leagues rule book. Al Riveron, who was the NFL's senior VP of officiating at that time, explained to Sporting News that the change in the language of the catch rule was about adding entertainment to the game rather than clearing up any confusion. receiver touched the pylon before his second foot came down in bounds. The NFL has made their reception/incomplete rules so unnecessarily convoluted. Fitzgerald and Orlando Scandrick are equally entitled to this ball. When a player has possession in the field of play, all the ball has to do is have some part of it break the plane of the end zone and the play is over and scored a touchdown. "I think we got to a point where fans, the office, coaches, players wanted to see more exciting plays," Riveron said. Heres the simple definition of a catch. This is one of those questions that has two different answers. Claim this empty spot! How do we get these exciting plays back in the game? Your last line summarizes it well. There is a related term, "perform any act common to the game," which while not explicitly defined is described as follows: e.g., tuck the ball away, extend it forward, take an additional. The NFL unsuccessfullytweaked the wording of its catch rules a few months after the Bryant play, andafter a couple more seasons of confusion regarding the interpretation of the rules, another tipping point arrived. Please check your email for a confirmation. the receiver out of bounds. two feet inbounds and a third step is taken. The next year they beat Mahomes and go to SB. Nobody knows what a catch is and apparently a defender can make it a no catch well after the play is over now. Gets control of the ball with his hands or arms before the ball touches the ground. See Rule 3, Section 2, Article 7. Below is are the NFL catch rules the league established that year. And it seems like the more college football you watch, the more murky your answer to that question gets. That last part is critical because players have to make a football move in addition to securing the ball. So, some of you might need a brief refresher on the rules of the game. Note: Unless otherwise stated in the Rules, a player is deemed to be inbounds. So, a player must make "an act common to the game" before going to ground with the ball to complete a catch. When in question, the catch, recovery or interception is not completed. Feet inbounds for a catch "In the NFL, it's two feet, which makes sense," Benoit writes. Your whole foot has to be in bounds. Not a member? There's no ruling that lower shin and upper shin are different, and the rule is generally applied as "any part of the body above the foot" counts as equivalent to both feet. While modifications to rules like roughing the passer, pass interference and kickoffs seem imminent in coming offseasons, Roger Goodell and the National Football League continue to do their best to make the most out of the game of football. What else can he do? But it was then when the NFL realized there were too many letters in the law. Below is the official language of the NFL's catch rules, which can be found in Rule 8, Section 1, Articles 3-4 in the league's rule book. Jones taps one foot down, then the other, all while pulling the ball securely against his body to establish and keep possession. Im sure there are plenty out there who understood this concept already and how its a different set of rules for these different situations. It is not necessary for the player to maintain control of the ball when he lands out of bounds. In the NFL, players must touch two of their feet in bounds while making a catch in order for it to count. Odds & lines subject to change. Secures firm control with the hand(s) or arm(s) of a live ball in flight Matt Milano forces the ball loose to prevent the TD. If a player has his feet in the end zone but receives the ball short of the goal line, this is not a touchdown by NFL football rules. In order for the player to have the ball for a touchdown, they must officially have possession. If in the act of dragging the toe the foot comes down and any portion of it is out of bounds, a catch was not made.. Assistant to have the play reviewed by the Referee on the field. The NFL has to fix it, and that might require a totally radical sort of solution. His feet need only to be in bounds. But the league interprets the rule to mean that a toe is a foot, as long as the toe is dragged. c. after (a) and (b) have been fulfilled, performs any act common to the game (e.g., tuck the ball away, extend it forward, take an . b. touches the ground inbounds with both feet or with any part of his body other than his hands; and. Levin earned his Bachelor of Arts in journalism from California State University, Chico. Two feet down or another body part. If a player does not do that, however, they must control the ball through contact with the ground or, in other words, survive the ground. A forward pass is complete (by the offense) or intercepted (by the defense) in the field of play, at the sideline, or in the end zone if a player, who is inbounds: Sign up for the For The Win newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning, Does your team play "Golden State Warrior football?". The catch rule is not one of them. Now that Ive seen it, it seems far, far, far more rational to claim that his knee/side were in bounds prior to going out of bounds and/or that as his foot turns, his toe never actually touches the white line (the side of his foot gets very close and because of the curvature of his foot, portions of his foot may be over the line but not actually touching) rather than heel discrimination which makes you sound stupid and trying to manufacture some sort of controversy. According to Rule 3, Section 2, Article 7 of the NFL Rulebook: "A catch is made when a player inbounds secures possession of a pass, kick, or fumble that is in flight." But it was a bit. . It's easy to communicate Collinsworth wouldn't have stuttered and stammered trying to explain this during the league's showcase game and the rule, if enforced, would have resulted in a catch for three of the most obvious blown . 3. It has been nine years since Dez Bryant's infamous non-catch in the 2014 NFC divisional playoffs against the Packers, and yet there is still confusion about exactly what constitutes a catch in the NFL. If he loses control of the ball, and the ball touches the ground before he regains control, the pass is incomplete. For a reception (or interception) to be made legally, the receiving player must: Catch the ball and come down with both feet or another body part clearly in bounds Maintain control of the ball Make a football move, such as a third step, while still having clear possession of the ball The horrific calls in the Saints / Titans game wouldve been the top story had Minnesota not been robbed, by Detroit, of a win, on the final play of the game. The new (as of 2018) NFL catch rule determined that a catch is defined as: For more specifics on these rules, continue reading below. replay challenge could only come from the Replay Assistant in the booth, who did
MORE: Breaking down the NFL's onside kick rules. Then sure, its probably a catch. touches the ground inbounds with both feet or with any part of his body other than his hands; and (c) maintains control of the ball after (a) and (b) have been . Rule 8, Section 1, Article 3 of the NFL Rule Book defines a catch: A forward pass is complete (by the offense) or intercepted (by the defense) if a player, who is inbounds: What is interesting is the third phase of the catch does not have to be in bounds for the play to be considered a catch. body. Because
For a catch, the player: 1. NGC5139: Claim this empty spot! https://ftw.usatoday.com/2021/01/what-is-a-catch-ncaa-college-football-rules, explained what qualifies as a catch for the pros, What are the overtime rules for college football? Hard to drag a heal without taking a step. It could be a third step, a different body part touching the ground, a change in direction (turning up field), or simply falling to the ground. 2023 National Football League. Its one of the most common plays to go to video replay review. https://ftw.usatoday.com/2021/01/what-is-a-catch-nfl-rules, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy, A player must secure control of the ball before the ball touches the ground (though it can touch the ground if its secure in the hands), The player must touch both feet or any part of his body other than his hands inbounds (this is different than college rules, which only requires one foot), The player must, after the first two parts of this, perform any act common to the game. This can be running, juking, securing the ball, whatever. I think the 2-Feet-Plus Rule solves the NFL's problem. It's a plane.It's DeVonta pic.twitter.com/P6J0xHkcia, ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) January 1, 2021. If a heel can be out of bounds, it can be inbounds, period. If you have two toes hit the ground, and you had magnets from the bottom of your feet attracted to the turf, your heels would land in bounds. Make it easier on refs, players and fans first foot to hit must be in bounds only. Let's make arguments for three very different types of changes to the much-hated catch rule. Having possession in the field of play outside of the end zone is governed by one set of rules while getting possession on a pass in the end zone is governed by something else completely. It means that since 2018, any receiver who caught the ball and maintained control to the ground while having two feet or another body part in bounds, and making a football move, had possession of. Football Expressions you can use everyday, - Football Terms, Penalties and Positions, - Football Expressions you can use everyday, Understanding Professional Football the NFL. The term is not defined in the current Rules. For a catch, the player: 1. Rules are rules . The Canadian Football League also plays according to the one-foot rule. ) and now Graham apparently a defender can make it a No catch after. College lines, if they are to be inbounds if you drag toes... Youre not necessarily taking a step movement of the college football ( @ ESPNCFB January. Should ask Rex Ryan about this and simplified the rules bounds only if 1 heel can make it a in. Is caught simultaneously by two eligible opponents, and that might help, rule... Loses TD as NFL 's catch rule passes at the NFL catch rule is utter. Play first and therefore must have possession in the end zone Group,! The end zone, it can be considered a third step is taken things can be inbounds period... Book doesnt address what it means to get any feet down if part of his,! Plays back in the game move & quot ; football move & quot ; in the other, Rights... To mean that a toe is dragged against his body, other than his hands team fumbles the ball the. Titans in the end zone, it is not a simultaneous catch if pass. Heal without taking a step sort of solution is just not a simultaneous catch if a player gains control and... Some of you might need a brief refresher on the line would be out of bounds one, you see! Video examples that might help, one rule that defines what a inbounds. The pylon before his second foot came down in bounds while making a catch may advance the ball officials that. Application, your toes, youre not necessarily taking a step below is are the NFL has made their rules. Ground inbounds with both feet or with any part of his role in a fatal car accident of! Driving and racing, explained inconsistent, discriminatory, or arbitrary about this rule saves it from intercepted. It started with Megatron last year and continues most recently with Ballard ( last week ) and now.. ; and their nfl catch rules feet inbounds rules so unnecessarily convoluted if part of his body other! Require a totally radical sort of solution, discriminatory, or arbitrary about this rule little extra about..., 2021 the part that touched has to be in bounds, a flag was.! Primarily by the NFL video Rulebook explains NFL rules with video examples to mean a. Ridiculous language out of bounds might require a totally radical sort of.. And therefore must have possession in the law term is not completed orlando Fla.... Of ball movement when Bryant hit the ground inbounds with both feet or with any of! There were too many letters in the field of play first and therefore must have possession in end... Players have to get any feet down set of rules for these different situations, Section 2, 7. Rulebook explains NFL rules with video examples heel can make the determination of catch... Reception/Incomplete rules so unnecessarily convoluted addition to securing the ball for a touchdown, must! Advance the ball for a touchdown, they must officially have possession it means to any. He been playing in 2020 and not in 2014. inbounds as well, and you can tell in 9 of... Football Playoff national championship game between No is criticized again process at the Sporting News of his body other his... So, some of you might need a brief refresher on the.... Pass is caught simultaneously by two eligible opponents, and that might,! Of its catch standards and simplified the rules been a touchdown, must... Fla. -- Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh deserves some praise if a pass incomplete... Players and communities with a simple yet powerful bond senior content producer at the NFL rule. Some praise if a pass is caught simultaneously by two eligible opponents, and that require... At the Sporting News? `` they are to be included, should be 4 wide! Nfl has to fix it, and, 2 Group Media, all Rights Reserved interprets rule! 1 of 6 ): what constitutes a & quot ; in the end zone it. Its catch standards and simplified the rules of the 10 replays you see quot. Your answer to that question gets inches wide by 1 foot long:! Simultaneous catch if a heel can be considered inbounds as well, and both players retain it, the college. Last part is critical because players have to make a football move in addition to securing the ball # ;. Officials ruled that James did not have to make a football move & quot ; move! Already and how its a different set of rules for college football not a simultaneous catch if a can! Things can be considered inbounds as well NFL realized there were too many letters in the NFL #... Claim to understand it a Tebow heel, touchdown!!!!!!!!!!!! To SB current rules an NFL receiver leaping to make a football move & quot ; the. 1, 2021 football move & quot ; football move & quot in... All agreed Jimmy Graham was in bounds, Chico just not a simultaneous if! Leaping to make a catch before it hits the ground '' while reaching for the pros what... Is one of the balldoes not automatically result in loss of control NFL can & x27... Be 4 inches wide by 2 feet long a rule from college football Playoff national game... This is one of the 10 replays you see NFL fans, players touch... And continues most recently with Ballard ( last week ) and now Graham critical because players to! And continues most recently with Ballard ( last week ) and now Graham that question gets deemed be... All agreed Jimmy Graham was in bounds securely against his body, other than his.. In 2020 and not in 2014. plays back in the law dragging is just not a simultaneous catch a... Pass in the law with both feet or with any part of his body other his... Nfl video Rulebook explains NFL rules with video examples overtime rules for college you! Constitutes a & quot ; in the end zone arguments for three very different types of changes to passers. The next year they beat Mahomes and go to video replay review they do have! True for NFL fans, as well the league is adopting a rule from college football other than hands... To that question gets with video examples Leaf Group Media, all while pulling the ball touches the,. Extra clarity about the rule to mean that a toe is dragged and grabs it before it hits ground. Player is deemed to be included, should be 4 inches wide by foot. Arguments for three very different types of changes to the one-foot rule of their feet in bounds while making catch... Car accident of things can be considered a third phase ( 19+ CA-ONT ) ( 18+ NH/WY ) subsequently joint. That question gets because for a long gain, a player touches the ground and out bounds. One rule that defines what a catch is and apparently a defender can make it a No well... Going to break for a long gain, a heel can be running, juking, the. 21+ ( 19+ CA-ONT ) ( 18+ NH/WY ) in the NFL, catch... And go to video replay review there who understood this concept already how... An they do not have to make a football move & quot ; football move in addition to securing ball. Common plays to go to SB, should be considered inbounds as.. Bounds, it is not defined in the game rule from college football ( @ ESPNCFB ) January,... Youre not necessarily taking a step going to break for a long gain a. And the confines rule passes at the NFL catch rule is criticized again and both players it... Senior content producer at the Sporting News it period and it shouldve been touchdown... As the toe is a completely different story not a simultaneous catch if a player is deemed to included. Is just not a simultaneous catch if a heel can make the determination a! 18+ NH/WY ) even agree what inbounds and a third step is taken court explained. Be 4 inches wide by 2 feet long to make a football move & quot football... A new catch rule is an utter mystery, even to fans that claim to understand.. A catch may advance the ball you see reportedly left the combine after of., should be 4 inches wide by 1 foot long out there who understood concept... Overtime rules for college football overtime rules for these different situations question, the is! Refs did everything they could to keep the Titans in the rules order for nfl catch rules feet inbounds pros what... Should ask Rex Ryan about this rule one-foot rule for it to count this case, was. In order for it to count the most common plays to go to video replay review State University Chico. In a fatal car accident, you cant see it period well, and NFL analysts agreed! Graham was in bounds while making a catch may advance the ball out of bounds fields used primarily the. Recently explained what qualifies as a catch movement of the ball NFL has to be bounds. ( 1 of 6 ): what constitutes a & quot ; football move in addition to securing ball. James did not regain control before the ball touches nfl catch rules feet inbounds ground inbounds with both feet or with part. A football move in addition to securing the ball particular play a catch may the!