NFL to Make Stiff Arm a Point of Enforcement
Remember that play from 2007? Don’t expect to see Thomas Jones be getting applauded for it this season, the NFL has made the stiff arm to the face a point of emphasis for officiating crews to enforce in 2008.
To me, defensive players getting stiff armed is the utlimate humiliation. All at once, it’s an indictment of their technique and strength. If you watch the play again, Daniels is way too high to effectively stop Jones anyway and gets a “hand sandwich” for his troubles. I know it’s Jets – Dolphins, but Daniels was asking for it on the play.
The stiff arm has been part of the game for generations, and I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a offensive facemask call (in that situation), it’s going to be weird to see offenses get punished for being stronger and having better technique than their opponents …
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When correctly executed (see Payton, Walter), the stiff arm should be made to the top of the helmet as the tackler leans in towards the ball carrier’s waist to make the hit. This stops the tackler’s momentum and keeps the runner out of reach. This will still be legal. It’s just hands to the face (which was actually against the rules anyway, just seldom called on ball carriers) on a stiff arm which will now be penalised (sic).
I always wondered why it was OK for the offense to stiff arm to the face mask but the defense was called even if it was inadvertent.
This new rule makes sense.
Wow, this was my favorite play from last season. I had the youtube video on my profile ever since. I have to say though, when I watch games I always question why they never call face masks on offensive players. Depending on how the refs regulate this, it could be a good rule change, since defensive players are almost left helpless in these instances.
Bent, youre right, when correctly used, the stiff arm should be made to either to the top of the helmet or sometimes even the side. But hands on the facemasks needs to be called.
I think the more flagrent stiff arms to the face should be called. I say this because the facemask is only a safety issue because it gets Grabbed and sometime twisted but ball cariers *almost* never do that. This is a safety rule so i dont totally agree with it. But i’d rather be readind this than having to read about what Andy Reid’s kids are doing!
Ed I too always wondered, even while playing football, why there was a double standard when it comes to stiff arming.
I realize when a defensive player facemasks it is usually to take down the opponent but that doesn’t make it less potentially dangerous. Heck a refs yellow flag ended the career of a player so obviously a hand inside the facemask can do the same.
I get putting the hand on the helmet or pads or fending off outreaching arms but into the mask should be clearly against the rules. I doubt when it happens it is ever an accident.
I guess the argument I’d make for this rule is that this penalty should be more considered a “hands to the face” penalty since they dont grab the face mask. These rules were designed for safety reasons and I dont think stiff arms are dangerous. I played for a while and I’m a bit ashamed to admit that I’ve been stiffed armed and it sucks. The question I want to ask is did this really need to be addressed? I wish the league would stop comming up with new things to “Crack Down” on and let the game be!