Can football be saved?

[SWC75]

http://www.sbnation.com/2015/8/20/9183121/chris-borland-concussions-nfl-retirement-profile

I suspect it will be: if we still have boxing and auto racing, we'll still have football. It's just too popular to imagine it going away. I think a lot of things could certainly be done differently, especially tackling techniques and character issues.

 

[Finwad32]

http://www.sbnation.com/2015/8/20/9183121/chris-borland-concussions-nfl-retirement-profile

I suspect it will be: if we still have boxing and auto racing, we'll still have football. It's just too popular to imagine it going away. I think a lot of things could certainly be done differently, especially tackling techniques and character issues.

Tackling techniques have been taught differently for the past decade, and taught this way aggressively. Honestly, the biggest problem is the armchair quarterback meat heads at the youth levels. Guys who aren't of the highest intellect living through their children. The lack of knowledge at those levels is both astounding and scary.

 

[OrangePA]

http://www.sbnation.com/2015/8/20/9183121/chris-borland-concussions-nfl-retirement-profile

I suspect it will be: if we still have boxing and auto racing, we'll still have football. It's just too popular to imagine it going away. I think a lot of things could certainly be done differently, especially tackling techniques and character issues.

I heard this from someone - I can't recall who it was.

Two basic ways to make football safer: (1) truly enforce the PED ban - get the players smaller and slower; and (2) require all fields to be natural grass - slow the game down and provide more cushioning.

The players are just too big and too fast - the collisions are way too violent.

I would add the following: (1) allow more holding on the OL - slow down the pass rush; (2) allow more bump and run by DBs - slow the movement of players in the secondary; and (3) enforce weight limits - no players should way 300 pounds.

 

[kcsu]

Football is a dangerous occupation just like many jobs in this country. Guys who work on off shore Oil rigs, Fireman, Police, Fisherman, and corporate jobs that place you in suspect countries. Just like these industries Football needs to take steps to protect its employees but at the end of the day regardless of the measures taken the occupation will always remain one that can result in injury or possibly death.

This is a decision that the employee needs to take with a full undestanding of the risk involved. Prior to becoming a professional parents of pee wees all the way up to high school players need to understand the risk and decide if they wish to participate realizing the the decision is completely theirs. No organization is forcing anyone to play football at any level. It is completely the choice of the participant.

I live in CO and Hike, raft, climb and of course ski as much as possible. In each of these sports which are dangerous and result in injury or death i make a decision to participate and i also sign off on the liability associated with this so that the Ski operator is not liable in the event that i should get hurt. The same is true for climbing in a national or state park or rafting on its waters. It is my choice and i can decide if i want to take the risk or not.

This whole discussion about will football survive is so indicative of our society today and how we have become so screwed up. This is a choice that is not forced upon anyone. Football is not to blame and there should be no discussion beyond the proper education of the participants and those in charge doing everything within reason to protect those that chose to play.

 

[OrangeinBoston]

Football is a dangerous occupation just like many jobs in this country. Guys who work on off shore Oil rigs, Fireman, Police, Fisherman, and corporate jobs that place you in suspect countries. Just like these industries Football needs to take steps to protect its employees but at the end of the day regardless of the measures taken the occupation will always remain one that can result in injury or possibly death.

This is a decision that the employee needs to take with a full undestanding of the risk involved. Prior to becoming a professional parents of pee wees all the way up to high school players need to understand the risk and decide if they wish to participate realizing the the decision is completely theirs. No organization is forcing anyone to play football at any level. It is completely the choice of the participant.

I live in CO and Hike, raft, climb and of course ski as much as possible. In each of these sports which are dangerous and result in injury or death i make a decision to participate and i also sign off on the liability associated with this so that the Ski operator is not liable in the event that i should get hurt. The same is true for climbing in a national or state park or rafting on its waters. It is my choice and i can decide if i want to take the risk or not.

This whole discussion about will football survive is so indicative of our society today and how we have become so screwed up. This is a choice that is not forced upon anyone. Football is not to blame and there should be no discussion beyond the proper education of the participants and those in charge doing everything within reason to protect those that chose to play.

Your point about skiing (I have been a season's pass holder at Killington for close to 40 years now), while well-taken, doesn't keep ski areas from putting padding around lift poles in high traffic areas, use ski patrollers to rope off dangerous areas, for example where a stream may create a difficult-to-see hole, etc. It is entirely sensible for football to take similar measures to make the sport safer. You can have it both ways - accept the risks and do what you can in the interest of safety.

 

[kcsu]

Your point about skiing (I have been a season's pass holder at Killington for close to 40 years now), while well-taken, doesn't keep ski areas from putting padding around lift poles in high traffic areas, use ski patrollers to rope off dangerous areas, for example where a stream may create a difficult-to-see hole, etc. It is entirely sensible for football to take similar measures to make the sport safer. You can have it both ways - accept the risks and do what you can in the interest of safety.

read my post again. "and those in charge doing everything doing everything in reason to protect those who chose to play"

 

[OrangeinBoston]

read my post again. "and those in charge doing everything doing everything in reason to protect those who chose to play"

Then you would agree that society isn't so screwed up after all.