One issue with the NFL’s catch rule is it seemed needlessly complicated. The league has fixed that.

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NFL senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron tweeted out the competition committee’s recommendation on a new catch rule. It will be presented to the owners next week. And for anyone who has said “if it looks like a catch, it should be a catch,” that seems to be what the league was aiming for.

After much deliberation & input from coaches, players, @NFLLegends, & club executives, the @NFL Competition Committee will recommend the following language simplifying the catch rule at the Annual Meeting next week. pic.twitter.com/hJwH5YYBRK — Al Riveron (@alriveron) March 21, 2018





That’s pretty simple and should result in fewer reversals of plays that look like a catch. We’ve already heard the Dez Bryant and Jesse James reversals in recent years would have counted with the new rule. That’s because control, two feet down and a football move is what should constitute a catch. The NFL complicated it, it got out of control, fans hated it, and then the league finally fixed it.

The owners still have to pass it, but it’s hard to imagine they won’t. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said before the Super Bowl that one thing he heard in regards to the catch rule is that fans want more catches, not fewer catches. That will happen with the new rule.

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, right, argues a call with referee Clete Blakeman last season. (AP) More

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Frank Schwab is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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