ORLANDO, Fla. – NFL owners voted to adopt three new rules at their annual league meetings Tuesday in Orlando, most notably one that "changes [the] standard for a catch."
Under the new rule, a receiver needs only to control the ball with two feet or another body part down while making a football move such as taking a third step or extending the ball. The new rule eliminates the need for the receiver to maintain possession of the ball through the ground.
The NFL competition committee made the proposal in an attempt to simplify and clarify a confusing rule that had led to a handful of plays that were ruled catches on the field controversially overturned following replay reviews.