What is a catch?

[Essex Johnson]

(01-23-2023, 10:57 AM)Tomkat Wrote: This is not sour grapes, I'm genuinely curious.
Can someone find in the rule book exactly what a catch is?
The only reason I ask is because in a game (last week? - I can't remember exactly) a receiver made a catch along the sideline, got THREE feet (steps) inbounds, then was hit and lost control once he hit the ground.  The rules guy (Gene Steratore?) said that at that point, the ground was no longer a factor, because of the three steps.  There may have been something about a "football move" but I'm not 100% certain.

Anyhow... AT WHAT POINT does the ground (or a defender knocking the ball loose) no longer matter?  Is it 3 steps... 4.... 5?
Are the rules different for sideline vs end zone?

For what it's worth, I can totally understand why the call was overturned - as both of Chase's hands were off the ball at one point.
My question is... at what point should that no longer matter?

I could not hear the full explanation but the determination in his catch that both feet were not in bounds, the officials (which i agreed with )determined that once he secured the ball, he only had one foot in bounds.. this is a clear different from the catch you are referring to.. i believe that was Jacksonville WR , he had ball secured with two feet in bounds so the ground had no bearing.  In a way like reach to the goal line and then getting the ball knocked away.. once it touches the white it is a TD, once you have secured ball with feet in bounds, it is a TD, Link to video that explains the rule

https://operations.nfl.com/the-rules/nfl-video-rulebook/completing-a-catch/