Pardon My Reach: The Top 15 Stiff-Armers in the NFL

Marion Barber's stiff arm is so stiff, the NFL named its anti-stiff-arming rule after him (and he didn't even know it).

Barber's stiff-arm is known the league over for wreaking havoc:

The two-headed beast that is the Carolina Panthers backfield reared its ugly heads last year against the Tampa Bay defense, garnering the prestigious duo the "Stiff Arm of the Year" award for these shots on Ronde Barber and the rest of the Buccaneers:

Marshawn Lynch made a name for himself as an up-and-coming stiff-armer in the video below. Once he gets back from his three-game suspension, we'll see if this year the Buffalo Bill can build on the hype:

All-Day Peterson, the inspiration for this slideshow, is just getting started in the NFL, stiff arm-wise. This guy packs it all as a runner, and his stiff arm is key to what allows him to go the distance again and again:

LenDale White is the prototypical bruising back, with a lethal stiff arm in tow, who can hang his hat, stiff arm-wise, on this clip from the 2006 Rose Bowl:

McFadden is an outstanding North-South runner who showed flashes of his brilliance in the Raiders' opening week loss. The former Razorback can also seriously repel a dude when he needs to, as we found out watching this clip from McFadden's days in Arkansas:

Beanie Wells is another runner who promises to show some skills with the stiff arm in his rookie year. Rather than one signature clip, Buckeye fans would like to offer this weighty tome of Beanie's better stiff arms, which clocks in at just under the Gone with the Wind mark.

For anyone wondering if LT is among the great stiff-armers in the NFL today, fast-forward to the 1:45 mark and see for yourself:

Steven Jackson has had to stiff-arm for every yard thanks to that funny farm of an offensive line in St. Louis. In the clip below, you'll see he does it with aplomb:

For a smaller guy, Westbrook's stiff arm packs a punch. As long as he's healthy, the NFL's defenders best not underestimate him:

Jones is just beastly. Anyone who says his best years are behind him better check the clip below from last year's game against the Dolphins:

The other half of the Greatest Backfield of All Time at USC, Reggie Bush can live up to all the potential this year if he can bring back the stiff arm that got him here in the first place:

OK, so Hearst is not technically in the NFL right now. But if you watch this clip enough, you'll have the irrational desire to pick him up in free agency for your fantasy team:

Ray Rice is enjoying his first year as a starter for the Baltimore Ravens. He also clearly enjoyed stiff-arming future NFL star George Selvie to the turf as a Scarlet Knight. Word:

Jeremiah Johnson, another fantastic tailback out of Oregon, is currently on IR for Houston. If he can get healthy this year, he can start throwing stiff arms like this one for the Texans:

Got more time and more opinions to contest? Check out my take on the Ten Best (and Worst) College Football Announcing Teams this year.