Why no facemask penalty for stiffarm by running backs?

[JAXFLBAMAFAN]

Everybody gets called for facemask infraction except the running backs when they stiff arm a defender. Why is that? Is there an exception to the penalty for the stiff arm?

 

[Stephen323]

There is no penalty for just putting a hand on the facemask. There has to be a grab and pull.

 

[Rueben]

There is no penalty for just putting a hand on the facemask. There has to be a grab and pull.

x2. At least a grab.

 

[Stephen323]

x2. At least a grab.

Just a grab is no longer a penalty. There has to be twisting, turning, or pulling.

 

[JAXFLBAMAFAN]

How does this apply to lineman?

 

[TIDE-HSV]

There has to be twisting, turning, or pulling.

You mean like the safety on QU last weekend? Where the OL grabbed the DL by the mask and bulldogged him to the ground while staring at the official?

 

[JAXFLBAMAFAN]

I've seen plenty of times that face masks were used by lineman and by running backs to fend off defenders or to gain some advantage. But if a hand is on a facemask of a ball carrier or a QB, pulling/grabbing/twisting or not, you can rest assured that a flag will be thrown or everyone will be yelling for the head of the ref.

 

[BrettStah]

Reggie Bush was called for a face mask two games ago - the replay showed him grabbing and twisting it.

 

[Stephen323]

I've seen plenty of times that face masks were used by lineman and by running backs to fend off defenders or to gain some advantage. But if a hand is on a facemask of a ball carrier or a QB, pulling/grabbing/twisting or not, you can rest assured that a flag will be thrown or everyone will be yelling for the head of the ref.

And with the new facemask rule this year, the ref can worry about his paycheck getting lighter if he calls it that way.