I thought they were going to call this a 15yd penalty? Hopefully not, but that seems like a clear contender.
Shortly after that play, I had the binos on Hester, LT and a coach. LT was acting out the stiff arm and laughing his *** off. That brought over other players all congratulating Hester for a great finish to a run.
I really hope that this rule gets the same treatment that the horsecolar did in its first year of existence (IIRC, it stopped being called because it was to vaguely written and being was not being enforced consistently). As long as they eventually only call the cases where the offensive player is grabbing and twisting the facemask, I am fine with this rule. As to the picture itself, Hester would be getting close to what I would define as grabbing and twisting.
I watch the game again and Hester should have been called on this one, he clearly had his hand wrapped in the facemask and was twisting the defender's helmet. Thanks for the sideline story TBF.
The guy is behind him and outside his peripheral vision. His hand is also open. It might be borderline, but I wouldn't call it as a ref. Most of his hand appears to be on the side of the helmet.
If you watch the play again you'll see Hester's hand slip from a pretty good straight arm push to and an actual facemask. In the regular season that should/would have been 15 yards. No worries, it's preseason, there is plenty of time to work on technique. Hester is special.
My understanding is that a stiffarm (straight arm) push is legal if the player dosen't grab the facemask????
I'd like to see where a stiff-arm by the ballcarrier on the defensive person is considered a face mask. Where is it written that it will be a 15 yarder? All the places I've read about the NFL rules changes, all the links, don't mention this. They just mention the removal of the 5-yard incidental face-mask. EDIT: Eh, I finally found it. Looks like Marion Barber ruined it for L.T. since LT's had some great stiff-arms over the past several seasons. Remember the massive stiff-arm in 2006 versus the Rams that knocked off the guy's helmet?
I think the stiffarm is still legal as long as the defender is not grabbed by the facemask. Tweek the facemask=15 yards
That would be good. L.T. still stiff-arms to the face, but never grabs the facemask or tweaks it. We'll find out this season.
I got the impression that it was more about like the motion or manner in which the stiff arm is delivered. Like if you're running with your arm extended and leading the way and smack a guy in the helmet it's all good. But you can't like bring your arm up and pop them in the face like a "punch" as they get close. Of course my memory is hazy and I might have totally pulled that out of my ***.
Just don't pull THIS out your azz......(tapeworm that actually came out of someones azz, not mine......)
...The interpretation of this rule will get butchered just like everything else in the NFL that is subjected to judgement.
I understand the horsecollar thing because Roy Williams is an ***. But i thought the NFL wanted more offense and I dont remember numerous people missing time for a facemask injury. They dont need to make rule changes for the sake of making a rule change.
I did see the play again and I agree. War Daddy's hand was on the facemask too long to be dismissed as incidental. Great play though.
A nice stiff arm to the face of the defender trying to bring the ballcarrier down has always been my favorite offensive moves. No fun league strikes again. Fags.
The rule is dubbed the "MBIII rule", not the "L.T. rule", so it was mainly referencing Marion Barber. http://deadspin.com/393170/marion-barber-unaware-of-marion-barber-rule
This is going to be the source of the most controversial calls of the season. One draw back-if it was me and I couldn't to face, I'd go to that are just above the front of the chest pads. A quick punch with the heel of the hand.
