A straight arm is a push with a straight arm, not chance to slap a would be tackler in the head which could cause a permanent neck injury. The NFL has all kinds of rules to protect quarterbacks, receivers, runners and kickers to prevent injury, why not tacklers?? I guess, as usual, we’ll have to wait until someone gets paralyzed or some other serious injury to get officials to stop allowing this assault.
Anonymous
No, in REAL football the only roughness that's unnecessary is done after the whistle blows.
Blocking Back
No. The back should be allowed to defend himself. I was taught to throw a straight arm like an open-handed punch.
conley39
It should be for consistency with the other rules. Some stiffarms are also to the face which is illegal for other players to do; that should be a hands to the face penalty.
Anonymous
A lot of NFL players have slapped, raped, and beaten women. There doesn't seem to be any penalty for that behavior.
Pearl L
i dont think anyone should be slapping anyone