Face Mask question NFL SD vs DEN
 

In this debacle of a game there was a face mask penalty awarded to Denver.

The play was called against cromartie, however cromartie did not grab his facemask, let alone grab and pull it down, and it did not appear to be intentional as he was actually going up for the football and the foul occurred after the pass went over his head.

he did however grasp the back of Marshalls helmet and brought him down.

Before he grabbed the back of his helmet, his hand brushed the facemask, but no grasping occured.

Did the crew missjudge this play the SJ was right in front of it? or are you not allowed to grab the back of a players helmet?

I really wish they did not get rid of the 5 banger, because this is a usually a judgement call and a tough one. Im sure some crews will be more lenient than others.

In the NFL, it is also a facemask if one grabs the underside of an opponent's helmet.

In the NFL, it is also a facemask if one grabs the earhole of an opponent's helmet.

The correct call was made.

This is also true in FED. Not sure about NCAA.

Also true in Canada. :D

Keep in mind that the original post was by someone who claims to be an official. :rolleyes:

Maybe the new feature of member-edittable tags is for tagging guys like the OP as trolls. :p

It is true for NCAA as well.

As it should be. Tackling anyone by any part of the helmet is extremely dangerous.

9-1-2-q
 

No player shall twist, turn or pull the face mask or any helmet opening of an opponent..............

and the biggest opening on a helmet is that part that the head fits through :D

You are an official and don't know this very basic rule? :confused:

If only the NFL would do something to educate the officials and get on the same page. When will they learn that each crew enforcing some things and ignoring others won't work? :rolleyes::rolleyes:

Actually I'm pretty sure NCAA adopted the "any helmet opening" rule before either Fed or NFL.

But pulling on most parts wasn't so dangerous until the currently secured chin straps came into use. Used to be if you pulled on the back of the helmet, it just came off. Otherwise they'd've adopted the "any helmet opening" much earlier -- even before face bars came into use, if the 4-pt. attachment had come about earlier.

Robert

back of helmet
 

I am a first year official in pop warner, not claiming to be an expert asking a serious question and not looking for a smart-*** answer.

I am not famillar with the new rule changes in the NFL rulebook all I know is that they did away with the Garden variety facemask.

Since he did not grab an opening or the facemask, it should not have been ruled a penalty

He grabed the backside of the crown of the helmet and fell to the ground

Another missed call by this crew I hope Mike P. at the NFL office caught it

What exactly is the backside of the crown of the helmet that one can grab?

Can you steal a picture of a helmet from the web, open it up in Microsoft Paint, point an arrow to where you mean that someone grabbed?