Roy Williams = dirty tackler

Did anyone notice he's still dragging people down by the collar this year? What was the point of the horse collar rule being put in to place? Portis injured his lower back when Williams yanked him down like that on the sideline, and after watching the highlights of the game I noticed Williams had at least two tackles like that on Portis.

I think they really need to look at the rule again this offseason... has anyone actually seen it called this season??

There seems to be this vague interpretation of what a horse collar actually is, I say if you grab the back of the shoulder pads around the collar area it should be a penalty, period.

What do you guys think?

I agree. He bent Portis over backwards. That can cause some serious spinal injury.

I guess because I am aware of the rule, I have noticed that kind of tackling more this year than ever before. Hasn't that kind of tackling always been around, or is it a new way for guys to make a tackle? I can't remember if guys have aways tackled like that or not. I guess when you are chasing someone, you don't have a lot of options for ways to bring him down.

I know, I was furious about this. I mean, they changed the rule primarily because of the way this one guy tackles, he's doing the tackle blatantly, and they aren't calling it.

Maybe I'm confused about the exact language of the rule, but it seems like it still happens as much as ever and doesn't really seem to get called much.

The rule was created because of the injury to Terrell Owens last year by... Roy Williams. Williams also injured Tyrone Calico in a preseason game, and Musa Smith of the Ravens last year, ending his season.

I have a feeling that unless there is an injury, the rule won't be enforced. As it is written, it's OK to grab the back of the shoulder pads, you just can't yank down. That grey area allows a lot of wiggle room in the implementation of penalty. More likely, the players may be fined after games, rather than punished during them.

Did anyone notice he's still dragging people down by the collar this year? What was the point of the horse collar rule being put in to place? Portis injured his lower back when Williams yanked him down like that on the sideline, and after watching the highlights of the game I noticed Williams had at least two tackles like that on Portis.

I think they really need to look at the rule again this offseason... has anyone actually seen it called this season??

There seems to be this vague interpretation of what a horse collar actually is, I say if you grab the back of the shoulder pads around the collar area it should be a penalty, period.

What do you guys think?

I agree his tackle on Portis was pretty dirty and I was waiting for the horse-collar call too. The explanation Joe Buck and Troy Aikman gave was that Williams had to grab inside Portis' shoulder pads in order for it to be a horse-collar. I guess Williams had the jersey and part of the pads but his hand wasn't actually inside.

They also said that even if the defenders hands is inside the pads that the motion has to be pretty quick - in other words if Portis drags Williams along for a few yards it isn't a penalty - Portis would have to get yanked back pretty abruptly.

Seems like alot of splitting of hairs to me...oh well, football is a rough game.

I saw a segment with Mike Pereira (NFL's head of officiating), and he explained the rule.

Two things have to happen for a flag to be thrown.
* the defender gets his hand inside of the pads
* the defender immediately yanks the offensive player down

That tackle on Portis literally happened right in front of me and I was screaming and yelling for a flag to be thrown, but the way the rule reads, it was the correct call, I'm affraid.

i also noticed that almost every tackle roy williams makes is from behind. he is a dirty player, whether that exact style of pulling him down is illegal or not. it can seriously hurt someone, and we are lucky that portis' legs didnt get caught under him.

I saw a segment with Mike Pereira (NFL's head of officiating), and he explained the rule.

Two things have to happen for a flag to be thrown.
* the defender gets his hand inside of the pads
* the defender immediately yanks the offensive player down

That tackle on Portis literally happened right in front of me and I was screaming and yelling for a flag to be thrown, but the way the rule reads, it was the correct call, I'm affraid.

Exactly right,

as the rule is currently written, it was not a penalty. He didn't even bend him backwards, he bent him sideways.

Whatever, did you want to win by 42 points?

Whatever, did you want to win by 42 points?

Yes! That would have been even better!