SportsSports Blogs Local

Actions

Larry Fitzgerald weighs in on the NFL's new catch rule

Posted at 2:12 PM, Mar 27, 2018
and last updated 2018-03-27 17:12:22-04

In his 14-year NFL career, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald has caught nearly everything that's been thrown his way.

On Tuesday, the NFL made life even easier for the future Hall of Famer.

The NFL's new catch rule, which was approved unanimously by all 32 NFL owners Tuesday, is designed to simplify the often-complicated question of: What is a catch? 

Per ESPN, the new rule "will eliminate the requirement to maintain control of the ball throughout the process of going to the ground. Instead, it will define a catch with a simpler three-step process: A receiver must control the ball, establish himself in bounds and perform a football move such as taking a third step or lunging with the ball in hand."

While discussing his upcoming Celebrity Softball Game at Salt River Fields on April 21, Fitzgerald talked about the new rule with ABC15's Craig Fouhy.

"I think that it’s great that it’s finally cut and dry, black and white," Fitzgerald said. "If you catch it, and he takes two steps, then it’s a catch. If he doesn’t, then it’s not a catch. There’s no discrepancies. I like that."

The new rule also means that some of the most controversial incomplete passes in recent years, including this one by Dez Bryant and this one by Calvin Johnson, will be ruled catches in the future.

Fitzgerald approves of this development, as well.

"There’s a lot of games that were decided by those over the years, so I’m just happy that we’re not going to be wasting as much time," Fitzgerald said. "The receivers will be a lot happier."