Dean Blandino doesn’t expect any changes to NFL catch rule
Despite the controversy surrounding the application of the NFL’s catch rule, NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino does not expect that any major changes will be made to the rule, according to NFL.com.
“We think that the rule is in a good place right now,” Blandino said on NFL Network. “I really feel it’s just communicating the rule and educating and showing video examples of what is and what isn’t a catch. There’s a subjective element to the rule so there’s always going to be those plays where we debate that subjective element. That’s just part of it. That goes for other calls that are made during the game—pass interference, offensive holding.
“Maybe there’s another tweak that maybe we can make in the rule to make it easier to understand. But I don’t anticipate any major changes.”
• Against the Grain: Why the ambiguity on catch rules is good for the NFL
According to Blandino, the NFL’s Competition Committee will discuss the possibility of expanding instant replay to aid referees in determining catches.
The NFL already debuted a major change to replay standards during the playoffs, allowing Blandino to remotely aid on-field referees with replay reviews.
