Dallas Cowboys

NFL VP of Officiating says Dez no-catch is a teachable moment

Published Jul. 17, 2015 6:53 p.m. ET

foxsports

IRVING, Texas -- NFL Vice President of Officiating Dean Blandino calls Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant's controversial non-catch in January's divisional playoffs against the Green Bay Packers a teachable moment for the league's on-field officials.

Blandino spoke with the media at the NFL's annual officiating clinic about the fourth-and-2 fourth quarter play.

"It's a great teaching moment just when you look at that play and the mechanics of the covering official and what you have to do," said Blandino. "Because the teaching moment on that play on the field for the covering official is to watch the whole process, to follow the receiver to the ground and make sure that he maintains that control versus going to the spot and not watching the rest. And I think that's the teaching moment that we have with our game officials."

The ruling on the field was a completed catch. However, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy challenged the play, sending referee Gene Steratore under the hood to take a look at the replay with Blandino on the headset from the NFL's instant replay control room in New York. Blandino said it was also an "educational opportunity" for the media and fans alike to go through the process of the rule.

During the offseason at various owners meetings and competition committee meetings, the league upheld the catch rules.

"We really feel that the way the rule is written now and how it's being applied allows us to be as consistent as possible," Blandino said. "And the message to the coaches and the players, because we've gone out and visited every staff, is: if you're falling to the ground to make the catch, then you have to maintain control when you land. And if you reach or do anything with the football, that's not going to trump that requirement to maintain that control. And that's the message that we've been consistent with that and that the rule allows us to apply it on the field and in replay consistently.

Though Bryant may not have caught the ball according to the rules, Blandino catches grief still from long-suffering Cowboys fans who were hopeful the play would help propel Dallas to its first conference championship game since 1995.

"I get some Cowboys fans, especially here in Dallas you do get some people that recognize you. And I think I wasn't very popular at the time. But I think people start to understand what the rule is, and they may not agree with it, but I think they understand why the rule was in place."