The controversial "tuck rule," which gained infamy when a late-game interpretation aided the New England Patriots in a division-round playoff victory over the Oakland Raiders last season, will not be altered for the 2002 campaign.

NFL Rule 3, Section 21, Article 2

Note 2: When a Team A player is holding the ball to pass it forward, any intentional forward movement of his arm starts a forward pass, even if the player loses possession of the ball as he is attempting to tuck it back toward his body. Also, if the player has tucked the ball into his body and then loses possession, it is a fumble. Note 3: If the player loses possession of the ball while attempting to recock his arm, it is a fumble.

Although much discussed in the past four months, league and team officials told ESPN.com there is no consensus on how to change the rule, and make the judgment call any clearer for game officials.

All of the various proposals for changing the rule for 2002, either in terms of language or interpretation, have been withdrawn.

"There are a lot of ideas, but sometimes the best thing to do when you can't come up with a change that satisfies everyone is to do nothing and just keep looking at the (rule)," said one AFC owner.

The NFL's officiating department will monitor "tuck rule" examples during the season and, when the year concludes, present a report to the competition committee.

The little-known and poorly understood rule fueled national debate because of its application and implications in the final two minutes of regulation of the Patriots-Raiders game. New England quarterback Tom Brady went back to pass, pulled the ball down and began to run to his left, then was stripped of the ball.

The outcome of the playoff contest in the snow appeared decided when Raiders linebacker Greg Biekert recovered the apparent fumble.

The call on the field was overruled, however, after instant replay review. Referee Walt Coleman, correctly applying the rule, decided that Brady had not completed his throwing motion and had not tucked the ball away with the intention of running. The Patriots tied the game on that possession, then won it in overtime, with Adam Vinatieri booting the winning field goal.

Controversy surrounding the rule increased when the Patriots advanced to, and then won, Super Bowl XXXVI.

The "tuck rule" received plenty of review at the annual league meetings in March and then was on the agenda again at a May session. But the more it was debated, the more obvious it became that there was no suggestion or proposal that had enough support to change the rule for 2002.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.