Nearly eight years ago, former Detriot Lions star wide receiver Calvin Johnson was involved in a controversial play that led to the NFL enacting a catch rule that jumbled up the definition of what a reception truly is.

The league has finally brought such much-needed clarity to the rule by simplifying the rule earlier this offseason to make it more defined. With that in mind, Johnson has stated that it took the NFL ‘seven years' to figure how a catch should be determined, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

“Like I say, it just took them seven years to figure out what we knew on Day 1,” Johnson said. “… I think you [have to take the human element] into account. Yeah, slow motion can show every bitty frame, but you have to also take into account what actually happened in real time, I feel like. You take it slow-mo and that easy catch can turn into, ‘Dang, he bobbled it a little bit.'”

During the last seven years that the rule has been in place, it has heavily impacted several big moments in games over the years that has created some controversy and backlash from the regulation. The adjustment to rule should help eliminate any further confusion and criticism from calls made by the referees in those situations.

In the last few years, the NFL has shown a greater willingness to make changes that will provide a better product on the field. This is one of those areas that should aid that effort with a more understandable catch rule in place for this upcoming season.

It is something that has been a long time coming, but it was a necessary rule change that will finally give a better definition of what a catch should be deemed on the field.