Remember the days on the playground inventing a game to play?
The first thing to do is create a list of rules. Then you give it a test run and as the game is being played, more and more rules are added to the list in an attempt to make improvements.
Now imagine this process taking place for a game that's been played for more than 125 years. That's the state of the NFL right now.
Rules are added or adjusted each season. Some are added on a limited basis in order to decide whether it should stay for good, aka the force-out rule. Some of the tested rules become permanent, aka longer PATs.
One of the ever-changing rules is what constitutes a catch.
Let's start with the question no one seems to have a clear answer to: What is a catch?
My answer, based on the ridiculous rulings made during games this season: A receiver must gain possession of the ball, get two feet in bounds, take an unknown number of steps, and make sure to super glue the ball to the body in order to not lose any control while getting taken to the ground. Not quite what the NFL rulebook says, but that's a fair summary of what the league considers a catch.
The NFL rulebook uses more than 600 words to explain how to catch the football. I guess that explains all the confusion.
Whenever there's a catch being reviewed, the words "completing the process" are uttered. Tell me, what is the process? No, we're not talking about the 76ers.
The process of making a catch isn't quite clear, to put it lightly. Ask Dez Bryant, Antonio Brown, Zach Miller or any other NFL receiver. They don't know what the process is, either.
Miller found out if your leg snaps while attempting to make a touchdown catch, you better keep the ball in your possession for a while after landing in the end zone.
Brown caught a pass and had a knee down before the ball was ripped away and caught by a Ravens defensive back earlier this season. Brown was ruled down before the replay review reversed it to an interception because Brown hadn't completed the process of a catch, therefore the knee being down didn't come into play.
Maybe just write in the words "use common sense" when determining catches. Common sense gives Miller a touchdown. Common sense rules Brown down by contact. And common sense makes sure Bryant did make the catch in that January 2015 playoff game against the Packers.
The solution: Stop nitpicking.
Jets tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins had a touchdown turn into a touchable because the ball moved ever so slightly while getting tackled into the end zone. If that's considered losing possession, then bring back stickum.