Can offens grab facemask

[umpjim]

BB guy. Watching ESPN Monday nite and they show Steve Smith of Ravens stiff arm defender and then pulling him to to the ground via the face mask. Can offense use the face mask?

[APG]

Both the offense and defense have the same rules in regard to facemask in the NFL. It's not a penalty simply to grab the facemask. It only becomes a penalty when they fail to release immediately and controls the opponent or grabs and pulls, twists, push, or pull the facemask.

Saying that, I haven't seen the play in question so can't comment.

[umpjim]

Originally Posted by APG

Both the offense and defense have the same rules in regard to facemask in the NFL. It's not a penalty simply to grab the facemask. It only becomes a penalty when they fail to release immediately and controls the opponent or grabs and pulls, twists, push, or pull the facemask.

Saying that, I haven't seen the play in question so can't comment.

I'll post some screen grabs tomorrow. IMHO, with an official looking right at it nothing was called. What got me was the ESPN twits.

[Reffing Rev.]

I can count on one fist the number of times I've seen a ball carrier flagged for grabbing an opponent's facemask.

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by Reffing Rev.

I can count on one fist the number of times I've seen a ball carrier flagged for grabbing an opponent's facemask.

Can't speak for NFL rules, but otherwise NFHS 9-4-3-h prohibits "grasping an opponents facemask", and applies to EVERY player.

[umpjim]

Originally Posted by ajmc

Can't speak for NFL rules, but otherwise NFHS 9-4-3-h prohibits "grasping an opponents facemask", and applies to EVERY player.

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[JasonLJ]

Originally Posted by Reffing Rev.

I can count on one fist the number of times I've seen a ball carrier flagged for grabbing an opponent's facemask.

I've called it twice. Can't grasp the facemask, period.

[APG]

Originally Posted by Reffing Rev.

I can count on one fist the number of times I've seen a ball carrier flagged for grabbing an opponent's facemask.

Just saw this called in the Oklahoma/West Virginia game early in the 4th quarter.

[OKREF]

Originally Posted by APG

Just saw this called in the Oklahoma/West Virginia game early in the 4th quarter.

I though that was a pretty bad call. Didn't even grab it.