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NEW YORK — Aiming for the head or leading with the helmet to deliver a blow could soon cost NFL players game time as well as money.
The league is considering suspending players for illegal hits in an effort to help prevent serious injuries, NFL executive vice president of football operations Ray Anderson told The Associated Press on Monday, one day after several scary collisions in games.
"There's strong testimonial for looking readily at evaluating discipline, especially in the areas of egregious and elevated dangerous hits," he said in a phone interview. "Going forward there are certain hits that occurred that will be more susceptible to suspension. There are some that could bring suspensions for what are flagrant and egregious situations."
Anderson, a member of the league's competition committee and one of its loudest voices on the need for enhanced player safety, said the NFL could make changes in its approach immediately, with Commissioner Roger Goodell having the final say. League officials will consult with the players' union, but he didn't expect any opposition.
More (http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-general/20101018/FBN.Helmet.to.Helmet.Hits/)
I figured you forgot we had a sports forum. ;)
ROTFLMAF :)) :)) :))
So "This topic has been moved to Sports" on the Childs board. LOLOL I can understand that with it being about pro-ball. :)) :)) :)) :)) Good place for it. 8)
As it is called, the No Fun League.
The NFL takes itself too seriously. It's a GAME, for cripes sake! The fans expect end zone celebrations. The fans expect hard hits.
Either let these ENTERTAINERS do their thing, or put skirts on all of them and let Barney Frank and his buddies watch the games by themselves.
I'm getting sick of seeing personal fouls when a quarterback is touched on the helmet. It's like touching Warren's ears on 'There's Something About Mary.' Lions/Vikings game in week two or three, Kyle VandenBosch swatted at a pass, as his hand came down it brushed Favre's helmet. Fifteen yards automatic first down. What would YA Tittle say?
Quote from: capitalist_pig on November 06, 2010, 10:06:43 PM
I'm getting sick of seeing personal fouls when a quarterback is touched on the helmet. It's like touching Warren's ears on 'There's Something About Mary.' Lions/Vikings game in week two or three, Kyle VandenBosch swatted at a pass, as his hand came down it brushed Favre's helmet. Fifteen yards automatic first down. What would YA Tittle say?
As opposed to dying early of all those concussion related brain traumas. Actually I think the NFL should have gone to soft helmets years ago. Padded on the inside AND outside. Cut down on the incentive to use the helmet as a weapon.
Quote from: capitalist_pig on November 06, 2010, 10:06:43 PM
I'm getting sick of seeing personal fouls when a quarterback is touched on the helmet. It's like touching Warren's ears on 'There's Something About Mary.' Lions/Vikings game in week two or three, Kyle VandenBosch swatted at a pass, as his hand came down it brushed Favre's helmet. Fifteen yards automatic first down. What would YA Tittle say?
I am totally with you CP. Not just the NFL, but the NBA as well. The pro leagues are getting totally sissified, to the point it is hard for me to watch.
It reminds me (on a much smaller scale of course) of whats happening to our soldiers.... they have to worry about faceing a court martial just for shooting the enemy anymore...
These football players are going to be concentrating so hard on what they "aren't" supposed to be doing that they may lose focus on what they "are" supposed to be doing.... they may even get hurt themselves...
Quote from: Josie on September 04, 2011, 03:17:18 PM
It reminds me (on a much smaller scale of course) of whats happening to our soldiers.... they have to worry about faceing a court martial just for shooting the enemy anymore...
These football players are going to be concentrating so hard on what they "aren't" supposed to be doing that they may lose focus on what they "are" supposed to be doing.... they may even get hurt themselves...
A perfect description of PC.
Actually I am in favor of this rule. When you get up to that level and you have genetic freaks with atypical speed and strength you have a much greater risk of injury. And I'm not just talking about things you can see right away. Look at the cases of parkinsons and Lou Gherig's disease in ex athletes. All the post concussion syndrome issues that plague veterans.
I didn't play at anything close to that level but I can't focus my eyes well enough to read a watch while running. And I have done multiple ENG tests with an audiologist who has a sports background and he told me my issue was extremely common for ex football players who got hit in the head too much.
We really need to focus more on the longevity and after football quality of life of these guys. And that is why I am in favor of the rule. ;)
It is not just the NFL, it is the wussification of everything
Google the name "Mike Webster" and then lets talk about how "wussie" it is to worry about neurological damage. ;)
There is risk in everything we do, and its an individuals choice as to whether they want to take said risks.
If someone offered me that much money to take the gamble at that age, I definitely would have jumped at the chance.
Remember, they used to play the game with only a leather helmet.
And simply for the thrill of the game, money was never an issue.
When they played with leather helmets, linemen were not taught to spear people with their heads. When I played, I was an offensive lineman and I was taught to hit the other guy with a spot at the top of my face mask. Once the equipment changed, helmets became a weapon.
And I am not saying people shouldn't play football. All I am saying is that a few minor rules changes that add to the long term quality of life of the players isn't unreasonable or "woosie".
Most of the guys I played with have some arthritic condition or another in their early 40s and they are the lucky ones. Knees, ankles, hands, feet, back, shoulders, elbows. Heck I even know one guy in his 40s who is likely looking at a hip replacement within the next 5 years. I also know guys who had heart attacks in their late 30s to early 40s who took steriods and I know guys who got cancer where it is likely steroid use contributed. Heck, I even know a few guys, myself included, with mild neurological damage from repeated hard blows to the head. Not so much they we cannot function, but enough to be a minor inconvenience.
Not speaking about anyone here because I don't know your RL situations but it pisses me off when fans who never played the game get reckless with other peoples' bodies so they can feel a little more macho. It's people's lives we are talking about here and very minor rules changes that can have a big impact on the player's long term quality of life.
I want to see guys play the game all out. I really do. But I also want to think these guys will be able to play with their kids and have their marbles enough in old age to enjoy their grandkids too. Just think this through guys because we are talking about the real lives of real people.
If a hit is obvious in nature designed to injure, then he should be brought up on assault charges, lifes rules should apply.
But with that said, compare it to boxing, a sport designed with the intent of bringing your opponent to his knees, preferably out cold.
Should we apply new rules to boxing, so as to make it safe?
Maybe memory foam in the gloves, helmets and body padding?
Point is, these people do what they do, because they love it, and are willing to accept the dangers associated with the sport for its rewards.
But I agree, if a player is purposefully trying to injure someone, then charges need to be filed, not just a fine and a mild suspension.
I wish the line were that easy to see. Leading with your head to block or tackle isn't the same thing as a close line. But it can cause serious long term health consequences.
Yes many things are not avoidable. Blow out knees. Torn rotator cuffs. Ruptured discs in backs. But the dementia, parkinsons, lou gerig's disease and the like could be greatly reduced if we just made them stop using their heads as a weapon. That's all I am trying to say.
Lets try to minimize head injuries. Lets ban enough people for steroids that it stops looking lilke a way to get ahead. All I am asking is to make things safer in obvious ways.
And FYI it would be easier to say let them do what they want if we were only talking about adults making millions. But all of this stuff also applies to kids in high school who have no future economic gain from the sport. Kids immitate the pros. That makes the line fuzzy.