Williams fined $12,500 for 'horse-collar' tackling Bears' Clark
By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
Dallas strong safety Roy Williams, whose persistent employment of the so-called "horse-collar" tackle led to the NFL's 2005 ban of the dangerous maneuver, has been fined $12,500 by the league for using the illegal technique in the Cowboys' win at Chicago last Sunday night.
Williams dragged down Bears' tight end Desmond Clark on a blatant horse-collar move late in the second quarter of the game, drawing a 15-yard personal foul penalty.
The Cowboys' safety said after the game he felt the call by game officials was "borderline," but Clark agreed it was a violation.
It marks the second time in two seasons that Williams has been fined for using the tackling technique. He was fined $10,000 in 2006 for a similar tackle on New York Giants tailback Tiki Barber.
The NFL banned the horse-collar tackle in May 2005 by a 27-5 vote after a proposal to take it out of the game was tabled at the league's annual meetings two months earlier. The rule passed after the competition committee twice rewrote it. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones voted against the proposal.
The ban against the horse-collar technique is often referred to as the "Roy Williams Rule."
Williams came under scrutiny during the 2004 season for repeated use of the horse-collar technique, in which a defender grabs an offensive player on the back of his shoulder pads and yanks him down. In studying the tackle, the competition committee concluded that it had contributed to several lower extremity injuries in 2004. Some felt Williams was responsible for four significant injuries that season.
Ironically, one of the players injured by a Williams horse-collar tackle was then-Philadelphia wide receiver Terrell Owens, who is now a teammate of the Dallas safety.
The play for which Williams was fined occurred with 38 seconds remaining in the first half, and the Bears facing a first-and-10 at their own 29-yard line. Clark caught a six-yard pass from quarterback Rex Grossman and, as he headed upfield. Williams yanked him down from behind. Game officials didn't hesitate to flag what was a textbook example of the horse-collar tackle.
It is not known if Williams, a sixth-year veteran regarded as one of the NFL's top strong safeties, will appeal the fine.
ESPN.com
Dallas strong safety Roy Williams, whose persistent employment of the so-called "horse-collar" tackle led to the NFL's 2005 ban of the dangerous maneuver, has been fined $12,500 by the league for using the illegal technique in the Cowboys' win at Chicago last Sunday night.
Williams dragged down Bears' tight end Desmond Clark on a blatant horse-collar move late in the second quarter of the game, drawing a 15-yard personal foul penalty.
The Cowboys' safety said after the game he felt the call by game officials was "borderline," but Clark agreed it was a violation.
It marks the second time in two seasons that Williams has been fined for using the tackling technique. He was fined $10,000 in 2006 for a similar tackle on New York Giants tailback Tiki Barber.
The NFL banned the horse-collar tackle in May 2005 by a 27-5 vote after a proposal to take it out of the game was tabled at the league's annual meetings two months earlier. The rule passed after the competition committee twice rewrote it. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones voted against the proposal.
The ban against the horse-collar technique is often referred to as the "Roy Williams Rule."
Williams came under scrutiny during the 2004 season for repeated use of the horse-collar technique, in which a defender grabs an offensive player on the back of his shoulder pads and yanks him down. In studying the tackle, the competition committee concluded that it had contributed to several lower extremity injuries in 2004. Some felt Williams was responsible for four significant injuries that season.
Ironically, one of the players injured by a Williams horse-collar tackle was then-Philadelphia wide receiver Terrell Owens, who is now a teammate of the Dallas safety.
The play for which Williams was fined occurred with 38 seconds remaining in the first half, and the Bears facing a first-and-10 at their own 29-yard line. Clark caught a six-yard pass from quarterback Rex Grossman and, as he headed upfield. Williams yanked him down from behind. Game officials didn't hesitate to flag what was a textbook example of the horse-collar tackle.
It is not known if Williams, a sixth-year veteran regarded as one of the NFL's top strong safeties, will appeal the fine.
posted by The Gryphon at 10:19 AM
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