concussions

[orangenirvana]

I don't really feel guilty but drastic changes need to be made.

Revolutionizing the game with rule changes, no helmets, making it closer to flag football, whatever. I just don't want to see football go away.

But I'm also different in that I'm not into the violence of the sport like many meathead fans. I love it for the strategies and schemes and the fact that it's so team-oriented - more so than any other sport, imo.

I'm not a huge fan of big hits because they tend to make me cringe. I just want to see my team make the tackle.

 

[Guinness]

I watched that documentary. I didn't know whether to be sadder about how bad off the injured players were or about NFL hierarchy's "Move along. Nothing to see here." attitude.

I think the NFL took lessons from the tobacco companies.

 

[tep624]

What you are missing is that we know that information now. Guys from earlier generations did not.

They were also subject to the league hiding information along with outright lying about it. Teams would push guys onto the field when they knew they should not be playing. They used them like cattle all the while knowing what they were doing was hurting players. Which is why they settled the lawsuit so quickly, imo.

I totally agree if you are headed into the NFL in 2013 you know all of this and can make an informed decisions.

You responded before I finished my thought there quick-draw

 

[SU94]

Isn't one of the game's terrible ironies that a large portion of these head injuries are caused by the helmet, which weighs 6-7 lbs.? That is like a small bowling ball.

I have often wondered how much less barbaric football would be if the players wore helmets that were remarably similar to bike helmets.

 

[OrangeTarheel]

Isn't one of the game's terrible ironies that a large portion of these head injuries are caused by the helmet, which weighs 6-7 lbs.? That is like a small bowling ball.

I have often wondered how much less barbaric football would be if the players wore helmets that were remarably similar to bike helmets.

Yup, I have wondered that as well. What about an old fashioned leather helmet and ban all performance enhancing drugs?

Then again, I think of that classic picture of YA Title collapsed on the ground, heading bleeding all over the place. Don't think the protection at that time could have done much if it couldn't even stop cuts and bruises.

 

[sufandu]

I would like to see changes in the tackling technique and see what happens to head injuries. Tackling is not crossing your arms over your chest and launching into someone. It is wrapping a guy up and pulling him to the ground. Sometimes that results in a hard hit, but we would see near as many (we wouldn't see near as many missed tackles either). I don't agree that they all know what they're getting into, they're not neurologists. People never think "it'll happen to me," and the trauma from concussions isn't something that guys see happen to their peers like they do with a knee injury. It happens 30 years later when it's too late. That's why we hear older guys now saying, "If I'd known..."

 

[All4SU]

I don't really feel guilty but drastic changes need to be made.

Revolutionizing the game with rule changes, no helmets, making it closer to flag football, whatever. I just don't want to see football go away.

But I'm also different in that I'm not into the violence of the sport like many meathead fans. I love it for the strategies and schemes and the fact that it's so team-oriented - more so than any other sport, imo.

I'm not a huge fan of big hits because they tend to make me cringe. I just want to see my team make the tackle.

Weight limits. You can only be 150 lbs or less to play in the NFL.

 

[longtimefan]

I agree.

A proper tackle should not result injury.

Today's players tackle, or should I say, spear high.

Actually I have noticed that Shafer's players are tackling low this year - they are tackling well.

I agree that the current techniques being glorified--called "blowing up" or "jacking up" your opponent--have likely exacerbated the problem. But the issue of long term medical damage linked to playing football is not a new one. As mentioned in the original piece, the NFL has been trying to control the medical research on the topic for the past 20 years.

And from the SU angle--I remember a quote from Tim Green, made shortly after he retired from the NFL (which was probably about 20 years ago), where he spoke of the gallows humor among NFL players, joking that they would not make it out of their 50's. And it was no joke, as the life expectancy of NFL guys is, I believe, still less than 60.

And then there's John Mackey.