The Marion Barber Rule

[bobblehead]

I've always felt it should be illegal, you can basically throw an open palm punch to the face of a guy as you round the corner and its legal....no one sees a problem here?

The next rule I would like in place is unsportsmanlike conduct for faking the spike. The rule is put in place to stop the clock, not to dupe the defense, if you wish to use it to stop the clock, fine, otherwise go back to throwing the high WR screen 25 feet in the air.

[twoseven]

There's a difference between extending your arm with elbow locked to hold off a would be tackler and actually punching your palm forward with force into a defenders helmet. Barber was doing the latter, and his version of the stiff arm was more akin to taking a swing at somebody than what most 'stiff arms' look like..IMO, there was nothing 'stiff' about anything Barber was doing with his arm.

[bobblehead]

There's a difference between extending your arm with elbow locked to hold off a would be tackler and actually punching your palm forward with force into a defenders helmet. Barber was doing the latter, and his version of the stiff arm was more akin to taking a swing at somebody than what most 'stiff arms' look like..IMO, there was nothing 'stiff' about anything Barber was doing with his arm.

I agree, but put said arm on his shoulder, no other position is allowed to put hands on the face, why should a running back (or "skill" position) Now the ref has to determine, did you merely extend the arm to the face, or did you jam it in there? I just say make them play by the rules the other positions have to.

[twoseven]

There's a difference between extending your arm with elbow locked to hold off a would be tackler and actually punching your palm forward with force into a defenders helmet. Barber was doing the latter, and his version of the stiff arm was more akin to taking a swing at somebody than what most 'stiff arms' look like..IMO, there was nothing 'stiff' about anything Barber was doing with his arm.

I agree, but put said arm on his shoulder, no other position is allowed to put hands on the face, why should a running back (or "skill" position) Now the ref has to determine, did you merely extend the arm to the face, or did you jam it in there? I just say make them play by the rules the other positions have to.

..and I agree right back with you, I don't agree that what Barber was doing is just good old football. Let him drop a shoulder/helmet into a defender like the rest of them..though I do wish more players would go at it with Barber's fire. Fine line, I guess..

[Noodle]

Re: The Marion Barber Rule

What about the throat?"

I'm guessin' Barber's teammates love him, but everybody else in the league, not so much.

[MJZiggy]

Re: The Marion Barber Rule

What about the throat?"

I'm guessin' Barber's teammates love him, but everybody else in the league, not so much.

I bet his teammates don't love him so much when he gets flagged at all the worst times...

[Guiness]

Hey, disagreements happen all of the time. I like a physical brand of football, but there is a limit. HOlding someone at bay with a stiff arm doesn't cross that line for me. It's football. Ripping someones neck by a handle on thier face to the point where neck injury is a serious risk crosses that line. I think the enforcing of the face mask tackle really helps prevetn something very bad from happening.

I think the change to enforce the bump coverage tighter was bad too. Nobody was at risk and I liked watching the battle at the line. Enforcing the horse collar was a good move though. I've seen bad things happen with horse collar tackles and you know it's going ot happen again if they don't enforce it. I guess I'm all about keeping the sport physical unless it's a situaiton where really bad things are bound to happen and a simple rule that doesn't grossly change the game can be a big help. I've watched a lot of footblal and I've never seen a stiff arm lead to anything bad. I'm not ready to change the way the game is called because defenders take exception to be touched - same way I ddind't like the bump change jsut because recievers wanted to be able to run cleaner from the line. Get tougher and beat your guy is my opinion on that. As far as horse collars go, I think people complaining about having their knees shredded is a valid complaint worthy of action, esspecially when action is so minor and doesn't change the game.

I think it's just a matter of emphasizing the existing rule a bit. RB's tend to be a little shorter than the average player anyways, so if they're just doing a normal straight arm - extending the arm straight from the shoulder - it shouldn't be a problem. If they're launching an upper cut into a guys jaw, or grabbing hold, then yes, it should be called.

Interesting you mention the 'bump' coverage, because we see more of it with Harris and Woodson than any other team, I think. There was a discussion about this earlier, and a look at the rule actually said contact was not allowed past the line of scrimmage. The '5 yard' rule is just the refs 'letting them play'. I don't know why the league would tells refs to watch this closely, I haven't seen it abused (much) and it's not like it's catching on elsewhere.

[the_idle_threat]

Football version of the nanny state. Next thing you know, they'll be playing in skirts.

[Iron Mike]

Erik Williams "Illegal Hands To The Face" rule

Roy Williams "Horse Collar Tackle" rule

Marion Barber "Stiff Arm" rule

I guess if the Crackwagon can't win playoff games anymore, they can lead the league in having penalties named after their players.

[twoseven]

Erik Williams "Illegal Hands To The Face" rule

Roy Williams "Horse Collar Tackle" rule

Marion Barber "Stiff Arm" rule

I guess if the Crackwagon can't win playoff games anymore, they can lead the league in having penalties named after their players.

Don't forget the role TO (with his pom poms and his sharpie) played in getting props removed from endzone celebrations.

[Scott Campbell]

Re: The Marion Barber Rule

What about the throat?"

I'm guessin' Barber's teammates love him, but everybody else in the league, not so much.

That's just a great football quote.

[alquaal]

Football version of the nanny state. Next thing you know, they'll be playing in skirts.

Spot on!

If you squint your eyes in just the right light you can actually see NFL football turning into soccer.

[The Leaper]

I will always be in favor of enforcing a rule already on the books.

If Marion is wondering about stiff arms, pop in some tapes of Sweetness and see what a REAL stiff arm looks like. You won't see any facemask grabbing going on there.

[cpk1994]

Erik Williams "Illegal Hands To The Face" rule

Roy Williams "Horse Collar Tackle" rule

Marion Barber "Stiff Arm" rule

I guess if the Crackwagon can't win playoff games anymore, they can lead the league in having penalties named after their players.

I didn't know Tyrone's car was in the NFL. Did it join after the Diet Pepsi machine?

[Iron Mike]

Erik Williams "Illegal Hands To The Face" rule

Roy Williams "Horse Collar Tackle" rule

Marion Barber "Stiff Arm" rule

I guess if the Crackwagon can't win playoff games anymore, they can lead the league in having penalties named after their players.

I didn't know Tyrone's car was in the NFL. Did it join after the Diet Pepsi machine?

C'mon, you've never listened to the Jim Rome show??

http://www.jimrome.com/archives/smack/smacktionary0.html