Playoff catch by Cowboys’ Dez Bryant is still a non-catch

A catch is still not a catch as far as the National Football League is concerned.

During last season’s NFC Divisional playoff game at Green Bay, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant juggled and caught a 41-yard pass from Tony Romo to the Packers’ 1-yard line. Officials initially ruled it a catch before a replay overturned the fourth-down play with 4 minutes, 6 seconds remaining in the game.

The Cowboys lost 26-21.

On Monday at the NFL owners meetings, the league clarified language in the Process rule, also known as the Calvin Johnson rule, but it won’t change it. Thus, Bryant’s reception is still considered incomplete.

Before Monday’s announcement, the rule stated: "If a player goes to the ground in the act of catching a pass (with or without contact by an opponent), he must maintain control of the ball after he touches the ground, whether in the field of play or the end zone. If he loses control of the ball, and the ball touches the ground before he regains control, the pass is incomplete."

The clarification added was that a receiver must "clearly establish himself as a runner" while having control and both feet in bounds.

Instead of needing a "football move" to become a runner, the wording emphasizes that the receiver must “clearly establish himself as a runner.”

"For years the requirement for a catch is control, both feet and after that the receiver had to have the ball long enough to perform a [football] act," said Dean Blandino, vice-president of officiating. "It was that act common to the game, football move, that created some confusion."

Bryant argued that he had already taken "three steps" and was lunging for the goal line when the ball touched the ground.

Regardless, the ruling still stands after more that 10 weeks since the play happened.

Incomplete.

This story was originally published March 23, 2015 at 4:23 PM with the headline "Playoff catch by Cowboys’ Dez Bryant is still a non-catch."