Thread: How The Emmitt Rule Became the Emmitt Rule-And Other Rule Background Information

http://www.footballresearch.com/arti...opic=rulesname

THE FRAN TARKENTON RULE - In the "rag days" of pro football there was a referee and an umpire wearing striped shirts. Eventually, other officials were added until the crew consisted of five whistle-blowers with the addition of a back judge in 1947. This was the norm through the Fifties and into the Sixties.

Scramblin' Fran Tarkenton debuted with the Minnesota Vikings in 1961. Not only did his waterbug ramblings play havoc with defensive linemen, but the five officials had their hands full trying to determine if Fran was really behind the line of scrimmage when he finally flung the pigskin downfield. In 1965 a line judge was added as the sixth (or Tarkenton's) official. Stationed on the line of scrimmage opposite the head linesman, the sixth official and the head linesman stayed right on the line to make sure Sir Francis -- or other mobile quarterbacks -- didn't cross over the line before throwing the ball. This helped the zebras. Only Fran's retirement after the 1978 season helped the panting linemen. It was also about this time that a seventh official (the side judge) was added to NFL crews.

"NDVikingFan66" wrote:

http://www.footballresearch.com/arti...opic=rulesname

THE FRAN TARKENTON RULE - In the "rag days" of pro football there was a referee and an umpire wearing striped shirts. Eventually, other officials were added until the crew consisted of five whistle-blowers with the addition of a back judge in 1947. This was the norm through the Fifties and into the Sixties.

Scramblin' Fran Tarkenton debuted with the Minnesota Vikings in 1961. Not only did his waterbug ramblings play havoc with defensive linemen, but the five officials had their hands full trying to determine if Fran was really behind the line of scrimmage when he finally flung the pigskin downfield. In 1965 a line judge was added as the sixth (or Tarkenton's) official. Stationed on the line of scrimmage opposite the head linesman, the sixth official and the head linesman stayed right on the line to make sure Sir Francis -- or other mobile quarterbacks -- didn't cross over the line before throwing the ball. This helped the zebras. Only Fran's retirement after the 1978 season helped the panting linemen. It was also about this time that a seventh official (the side judge) was added to NFL crews.

What's the emmit rule?

Follow the link to read the rest of the bizarre rules

Kinda confusing on the Emmitt rule when it describes the tarkenton rule?

Yeah....I know......I will edit

I did not want to change the title of the article since it had been written by someone else