I have seen this numerous times!!  The running back with the ball gets to literally grab the tacklers facemask and shove him away.  However, when a tackler even so much as brushes his hand against the ball carrier's mask, a face-mask violation is called.  Is there actually a rule that allows this??????  Does anyone really know the answer to this?
210901
there is a penalty for offensive face mask...a face mask hold is the same on both sides of the ball...but a stiff arm to the face mask of a defensive player is allowed as long as the face mask is not grabbed in any fashion
507238
oh yes it is they can get penalized either 1 or 2 ways either by unneccesary roughness or unsportsmanlike conduct and could even get ejected from the game depending on the official that's a nono you can only tackle a person from behind if they have the ball and you're behind them but not without the ball
635369
I can see your point about players who go for a 50-50 tackle, lie down till the Doc comes on, Then the stretcher and goes off and is up on his feet within seconds to get back on the field of play,\nsomething needs to be done about this, but can you really be sure??\nWhat must happen is that EVERY time this happens ALL time wasted must be added to the clock even if it means 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 minutes is added on players and IMPORTANTLY Managers and Coaches will soon put an end too it.\n\nNOW an all together PROBLEM is when,\nA player deliberately tries to fool a Referee into having an opponent sent off for serious foul play,\nThis cannot be tolerated and FIFA should take action and suspend and or Fine these players.
429645
The speaker in the helmet is only used to call a play when the ball is dead. It is not used during live play...trust me, there is no time for a QB to listen to a coach during live play.
43382
It was not the Rothlesbrger TD, that was actually tough to see.  The worst call was definately the offensive pass interference.  Technically by rule in the NFL it was the right call, however there has never in the history of the NFL been such a petty call.
321393
Big Question: Yes, the Defense can score a touchdown on a interception or fumble return.\n\nQuestion One:  No, that is called either offsides or encroachment\n\nQuestion Two:  A field goal is worth 3 points\n\nQuestion 3:  Any runner on base can advance on a fly ball that is caught by an outfielder as long as they touch the base they are currently on after the catch is made.
453916
Well, in the NFL, I think you can make contact within five yards of the line of scrimmage. So I guess you can push him to get an advantage on your route. I'm not sure if you can actually push him down though.  And the rules might be completely different for 2-touch football compared to tackle, just like floor hockey and ice hockey have different rules.
410700
G'day Antwaan M,\n\nThank you for your question.\n\nRoughing the kicker is a more serious offence. Roughing the kicker is defined as "Flagrantly running into or hitting the kicker after the ball has been kicked." It results in a 15 yard penalty against the offending team and automatic first down. It can even result in disqualification if particularly flagrant.\n\nRunning into the kicker is defined as "Making incidental contact with a placekicker or punter after the ball has been kicked. " It is a five yard penalty.\n\nIt was originally all defined as the one offence before running into the kicker was created in the 1980s for less serious offences.\n\nI have attached sources for your reference.\n\nRegards
631043
I personally say no, as I find most of them to be funny and entertaining, but Walter Payton and Barry Sanders just handed the ball to the ref after they scored.  That is class!\nDon't forget, NFL stands for the No Fun League.  The NFL has been implementing rules to limit player expression for years.  They outlawed skull caps a couple of years ago as well as bandanas.  Every player has to have their socks pulled up a certain height and players aren't allowed to celebrate former players on the field.\nWhen Johnny Unitas passed away, the following week, Peyton Manning wanted to wear the high top shoes like Johnny U always wore.  This wouldnt give Manning any sort of advantage, but the NFL said no because it didnt fit into the dress code.\nJake Plummer wanted to wear a patch on his jersey and helmet for an entire season for fallen friend and former teammate in college (ASU) and pro (AZ Cardinals) Pat Tillman.  The NFL said no because they want to constantly promote the NFL over any individual player.\nEver see a current coach get dressed up and wear a suit on the sideline?  Not anymore.  20-30 years ago, coaches were allowed to wear whatever they wanted, but now the coaches have to wear something with their teams emblem on it.\n\nThese rulings are the most depressing thing about the NFL.
454537
it wasn't a punt return.\n\nit wasn't a kickoff return.\n\nthere are no stats for interception yardage and field gold miss yardage. you don't get yardage points for those.\n-nny
450417
It appeared that Thurston was able to ground the ball properly.\n\nAs to the ball coming of Inglis' shoulder.  That is true, the New Zealander pushed it back into Gregs shoulder.\n\nThe reason it was not awarded a try, in my himble opinion, Greg would have been classed as 'playing' or 'going' for the ball.\n\nThe rule, as well as many others, are too contentious these days.  At least 10 years ago, rules were changed to make the rules less vague.  Somewhere along the line they decided to introduce rules that are vague, and contentious.  Another example is the 'strip'.  Did the player drop it on purpose? Should the player have held onto it more (ball security)? Etc.
31353
He shouldn't be fined for his remarks after that game. I saw the game and was highly P***ed after that call that he dropped the ball on that pick. The Summary of my view of the replay, prior to falling to the ground, 1. he took two steps before his knee fell and his left arm went under the ball to not only have possession but prevent it from hittin the ground so the replay can't say that he dropped it.He got screwed but it's okay. It's all over now.Pittsburgh, we'll see  you in Denver.
491189
Seriously, I don't know; but it sure is ugly! The only thing that I can possibly think of a al USC v Texas in last season's title match is someone up in the booth had to have had money on the game.\n\nI feel that college football needs to do something to try and get some validity back into its game. You have a great question. Here goes:\n\nThere must be an on-the-spot panel of 3 to 5 referees in the booth. Any disputable call, or any call for that matter should be viewed from mutiple angles. The game is far to fast on the field for these referees; however, I don't believe that that's the problem. \n\nThe problem lies in the gumption or gonads of the appealing referees. No one wants to rescind a call.\n\nNow, on "agressive" penalties where the outcome (or score) is in question then they must rule. On "non agressive" penalties the refs on the field can handle it.\n\nPro ball has the clause: "Indisputable evidence" that just about guarentees if it's obvious it's coming back. College on the other hand needs to develop more field cameras, overhead cameras, and a bigger panel of "Booth" referees rather than in most cases it's one man.\n\nI am a referee.
637327
What must have happened is I must have hit my head on the boards, because last time I checked I was playing hockey and there is no 25 yard line.\n\nHuh?\n\nIn hockey if the ref's making gestures towards his feet it's probably a tripping call.\n\nI have no idea what it is in football.
611222
it is never a good idea to slide tackle opponent in your goal area , it may fetch your opponent a chance to get even with you , so we shoud keep our cool n avoid this .
61747
You mean ROETHLISBERGER.\n\nWell the called it a touchdown and when they reviewed it there was not a good camera angle to tell wether any part of the ball crossed the goalline so they could not overturn it. It was the refrees fault who called it a touchdown in the first place.
431950
Receivers seem to think they are better than the team and they are too flashy for my liking.  Meanwhile guys like Troy Brown of the Patriots quietly breaks his team's career record for catches, and he also plays in the defensive secondary as an extra defensive back.  Now THAT is a team player!