Horse Collar Rule?

[Rollo83]

How can the horse collar tackle be dangerous but a offensive player can pretty much punch a defensive player in the face mask and not draw a penalty?

I've watched the heads of defensive players snap back big time when a offensive player gives them a stiff arm in the face. Offensive players can put there hands on the face mask of opponents but defensive players can't touch it without get a call. To me the stiff arm to the head is much more dangerous than a horse collar tackle.

I just don't see the risk in tackling someone by grabbing the back of his pads? It was leagl for all this time and I don't remember anyone getting seriously hurt from it? It just seems another rule to handicap the defense and promote more scoring and offense.

Like Jack Lambert said..."put a skirt on them."

[TG1996]

Terrell Owens broke his leg on one and it suddenly had to be a rule.

[Peregrinner]

Here's my issue. You can't horsecollar tackle someone. You can't accidentally brush the helmet or knees of a quarterback even if it is a harmless result of simply making a good play.

BUT an offensive lineman can block a defensive player by diving at his knees, and that's totally legal.

...really?

Sorry for the threadjack. Just had to get that out there.

[Redwingtom]

I just find it odd that until Roy Williams made the first so called horse collar tackle I never ever remember seeing it happen before. And now it happens about every other game!

[hammb]

I'm not a fan of this rule simply because it is not properly enforced. In watching various football games, both pro & college, I see these things mis-called at least once a week. Whether it's a tackle being made by the jersey (NOT a horse-collar by definition) that gets the call, or a true horse-collar that does NOT get the call it seems that the officials just can't get this one right.

[1987alum]

I'm not a fan of this rule simply because it is not properly enforced. In watching various football games, both pro & college, I see these things mis-called at least once a week. Whether it's a tackle being made by the jersey (NOT a horse-collar by definition) that gets the call, or a true horse-collar that does NOT get the call it seems that the officials just can't get this one right.

Same thing with helmet-to-helmet. Every time I see this called, the replay shows helmet-to-shoulder or something similar. Rules like this have excellent (an warranted) intentions, but are tough to enforce.