How Different NFL History Looks With New Rules

Tony Tribble/Associated Press

Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer is dragged down by Browns defensive tackle Shaun Rogers in the closing seconds of the second quarter Sunday in Cincinnati. Rogers was penalized for a horse-collar tackle, leading to a 53-yard field goal by Shayne Graham on the final play of the half. The Bengals won, 16-7.

Horse Collar Tackle

Dallas Cowboys safety Roy Williams had a reputation for physical play back in the early 2000s.  So much in fact that his trade mark tackle in which he’d drag ball carriers down from behind by the collar of their shoulder pads led to a number of injuries.  This prompted the league to create the horse collar rule.

"“No player shall grab the inside collar of the back or the side of the shoulder pads or jersey pads or jersey, and pull the runner toward the ground. This does not apply to a runner who is in the tackle box or to a quarterback who is in the pocket. Note: It is not necessary for a player to pull the runner completely to the ground in order for the act to be illegal. If his knees are buckled by the action, it is a foul, even if the runner is not pulled completely to the ground.”"

This was part of a series of changes to the rule book in order to increase player safety, but the San Francisco 49ers can exhale that it didn’t become an issue back in the late 1970s or early 1980s.  Otherwise one of the great victories in their franchise history might never have happened.

Most people remember the 1981 NFC championshp as “the Catch” game in which Joe Montana and Dwight Clark vanquished the Dallas Cowboys and helped spawn what would be one of the greatest dynasties in sports history.  What some forget is after that unforgettable play, the Cowboys almost came back to win it.

On their ensuing possession, quarterback Danny White found wide receiver Drew Pearson wide open over the middle.  It looked for a moment like he’d bump his head on the goal post until 49ers defensive back Eric Wright came to the rescue.

It was a tremendous play by Wright, but the camera shows that he made it by snagging Pearson by the collar.  That would’ve been a penalty.  Considering it happed at the San Francisco 45-yard line, Dallas would get another 15 yards to the 30, putting them in prime field goal range with the score being 28-27.  How different would the 49ers legacy be had they not pulled out that win?