Into the Great Wide Open

OK, I'm watching the Oklahoma/TCU game, and there's a quick pass. The announcers say, "The receiver's wide open!..." And, the receiver may have come down with it too, if he didn't have two defenders on his back the instant he touched the ball.

So, when it comes to football, what does it mean to be wide open? Playing as kids, it means that you don't have a defender within 20 yards of you. At higher levels, closer defenders are probably allowed. But, let's not use the term "wide open" so liberally. "Wide open" is wider open than just "open". The way I see it, if you can't take at least a good step and a half after catching the ball before being touched by a defender, you weren't wide open.

Thank you.