Tubular control apparatus

1. A control apparatus to receive a tubular member, comprising:

a contact member configured to engage the tubular member; and

a control mechanism operably coupled to the contact member;

wherein the control mechanism is configured to dampen movement of at least one of the tubular member and the contact member as the tubular member engages the contact member;

wherein the contact member comprises a tether member, the tether member comprising at least one of a wire, a cable, a rope, a line, a lead, and a chain;

wherein the control mechanism comprises a pulley system; and

wherein the contact member is disposed at least partially about the pulley system.

2. The control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the contact member is flexible.

3. The control apparatus of claim 2 wherein the contact member is disposed across an access opening adjacent a drilling rig.

4. The control apparatus of claim 2 , wherein an end of the contact member is disposed within a rig floor.

5. The control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism is at least one of pneumatically actuated, hydraulically actuated, electrically actuated, and mechanically actuated.

6. The control apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the control mechanism comprises a cylinder with a piston disposed therein, wherein the piston is slidably received within the cylinder.

7. The control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism is at least one of pneumatically actuated, hydraulically actuated, electrically actuated, and mechanically dampened.

8. The control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the contact member comprises at least one of a protective material and a dampening material disposed thereon.

9. The control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pulley system comprises at least a first pulley and a second pulley with the contact member at least partially disposed about the first pulley and the second pulley of the pulley system.