Why Are NFL Officials Dancing to "Boom, Boom, Pow"?

In the latest attempt to further confuse fans and thwart any progress made in making officiating easier, NFL adds new "Boom, Boom, Pow" rule.

The new rule is supposed to make the old rule of what constitutes as a completed pass much easier to translate.

The old rule stated that if a player maintains control of the ball long enough to "make a football move", then it was a completed pass. That term no longer stands true. You no longer have to "make a football move" while maintaining possession of the ball. In fact, the NFL would rather everyone wipe that term from their memories. It's gone, it means nothing.

Now, in order to be considered a completion, you just have to maintain possession through the, "Boom, Boom, Pow". No I'm not making this up. I think the official term used was "Bang, Bang, Bang". But I think that, Boom, Boom, Pow sounds much better.

I think it was after the Arizona-New Orleans game that this term was first introduced to me. On a play where the Cardinals seemingly had a catch and fumble, it was ruled that it was an incomplete pass.

Going by the old rules of maintaining possession while making a football move, it was clear that that had happened. The old rules also use to state that the ball could move around as long as you still had possession of the ball. In other words, if you had the ball secure within your grip you could move the ball to the other side, if you so choose.

In the play I'm referring to, the pass was behind the receiver, but he was able to catch it with one hand and had started to bring the ball into his body. He also had two feet down within this time and began to turn upfield. He then was met by a Saints defender, that in turn knocked the ball loose. By the old rules, it would have indeed been a catch and fumble.

Now the new rule states that you must maintain possession through the "Boom, Boom, Pow". In other words, the ball being caught would be considered the first "Boom". Followed by the second "Boom" in which the player hits the ground. And finally, the "Pow" in which the player was hit.

What makes this even harder to make a ruling on, is that the NFL has stated that the play can only be ruled on in real time. It can still be reviewed, but the reviews can only be presented in real time speed. No more looking at slow motion to rule if the ball was moving or not. You have to maintain possession all the way through the "Boom, Boom, Pow".

It's that easy.

Man, I'm sure they cleared the whole, "maintaining possession and coming down with two feet", thing up.

So, the next time you see an official motioning while stating that the receiver did not maintain control through the "Boom, Boom, Pow", he's not dancing to the pop group, Black Eyed Peas, he's simply doing his job.

And if you don't like it, well, quit jocking their style.