New NFL catch rule proposed

[Vandal]

That settles it.

So under these rules, the infamous Dez Bryant no-catch in the playoffs a few years back (Dallas vs GB) and the Jesse James no-touchdown play (Pitt vs NE) last year would both be legal catches.

[Ritterskoop]

I don't get why all of this is required for receivers for a TD but not runners.

Cross the plane with the ball in hand = TD. Catch the ball in the end zone should = TD.

There was even a playoff game this past season where they said it was OK because the receiver became a runner going into the end zone, so the fact that he lost the ball and then re-caught it didn't matter.

It shouldn't have mattered anyway. Ball crosses the plane, you score and the play stops. Yes, I see that the receiver must catch the ball once it crosses the plane, but just -- thunk, it hits the ribs or hands or whatever, and you secure it for an instant and that's it.

I guess "the ability to perform such an act" will resolve a lot of the problems with last season's rule.