Just Catch The Damn Ball

In my opinion the worst thing about the NFL's clunky reception rule is the general public's reaction to it. The essence of the rule is that possession of the ball must be maintained by the pass catcher. Simple. Catch the ball. Maintain possession of the ball. So simple. Where's the problem? Well, the problem is in the enforcement of the rule. Or the consistency in the enforcement of the rule. The "attempted" receptions this past weekend by Arizona Cardinals tight end Darren Fells and New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. were ruled incomplete because neither pass catcher maintained possession of the ball. Earlier this season Detroit Lions receiver Golden Tate was rewarded with a touchdown reception despite losing the ball. I'd rule all three incomplete because none of the three supposed pass catchers maintained that all-important possession of the ball. The inconsistency in the judgement of the officials is the problem. It's also the reason for the frequent cry of so many "I don't even know what a catch is anymore." It's a sad cry. The lack of consistency in the calls of the on-field officials and the replay officials isn't really any different than other judgement calls on penalties and plays. I see a similar lack of consistency in holding calls. One official sees a particular act as holding and another doesn't. If it looks like holding it should be called holding. People say the very same thing about catches. If it looks like a catch it should be called a catch. We see this same sort of inconsistency in every judgement call in football. Why would receptions be any different?

Just catch the damn ball. Don't even leave it up to the officials.

Possession of the football is the most important thing in football. Both teams strive to possess the football. Both teams strive to keep the football when they do possess it. A team can't score if they don't possess the football. Possession of the football is really important. So many players, especially those players that have just caught a football, take possession of that football for granted. It's really disappointing to see, One of the most debated recent catch/non-catch was that of Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant in the playoffs last year. Well, Bryant was horribly careless with the football after he grabbed it. Careless with his possession of it. He didn't maintain possession of the football after catching it. As a result he never completed the process of catching it. By the letter of the rule and the intent of the rule, it was an incomplete pass.

Maybe it's because these football players are so physically gifted but the basic fundamentals of catching a football across the NFL is pathetic. It's the same sort of thing with runners and fumbles. Careless handling of the football is more often the reason for fumbles than the defense knocking or stripping the football away, But this is about the elusive reception. We see a player like Carolina Panthers receiver Ted Ginn dropping a quarter of the footballs thrown his way. We consistently see players get careless with the football once they get their hands on it. They forget that they have to possess the ball. They forget that they have to maintain that possession. Just catch the ball. Just maintain possession of the ball. It's a basic fundamental of the game. Leave no doubt that it's a catch.