One of the things I impress upon new umpires is that they are working a softball game, not a wrestling or boxing match. If two or more people want to go after each other, try to discourage it, but once it starts, just stand back and take down numbers.
Here is a video of the action:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=cA4T5iRERo0
Obviously, this 66 year old umpire saw a confrontation developing and did what he could to separate the two which included removing a player more than half his age with a few pounds and muscle on him. If you ask me, Nick Barnett should be embarassed, not filing a grievence.
This is the story concerning the NFLs reaction.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3171273
AFAIC, this is way over the edge since the NFL does not discourage officials from jumping in the middle of a fray to act as a bouncer.
Here is an older story about Jim Quirk. Obviously, he takes his job seriously and has taken down a player before with no repercussions. For that matter, the player he wrestled before ask for a photograph, not file a grievence.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/ins...8/drz_insider/
BTW, Jim Quirk played guard for the Univ. of Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens in '61 & '62 for the man who invented the Wing-T, Hall of Fame Coach, Dave Nelson.