As the NFL continues to devote significant effort to a problem that was ignored (and some would say downplayed) for years, the next step could be a reduction in the amount of hitting that occurs between players.
Mark Maske of the Washington Post reports that the NFL and the players’ union are looking at restricting offseason practices and otherwise cutting back on contact during the traditional football season.
Possible changes will be discussed by the league’s Competition Committee and by union reps at the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
As previously disclosed during the 2009 season, rule changes could prohibit all helmet-to-helmet hits against ballcarriers, roster exemptions for players recovering from concussions, and the elimination of the three-point stance.
The last possibility is unlikely; our guess is that it’s being mentioned in order to make the changes actually made go down a bit more easily.
Per Maske, changes made regarding practice could result in players not wearing helmets at all in some of the non-contact sessions.
The proper title of this article should be: “League to take serious look at reducing football”
This is pathetic. Why don’t we just go ahead and put flags on???
They’re slowly killng the game. It’s a CONTACT sport !!
They might as well put flags on the back of their jerseys.
Umm, how about enforcing the current rules before passing new ones? NFL non-contact drills already have more contact than many other live sports. There is even photographis evidence…every year, and the NFL seems to just not care.
Roger Goodell is a tool.
Pillow helmets and bubble pads are next.
In ten years the NFL is going to be just a big game of patty-cake. Absolutely pathetic.
I know many will complain with whiny “why don’t they make it flag football comments” but if you are tackling correctly your head should never hit another guys head. These rules, if enforced could lead to the game being played like it used to be.
I can’t see that flying at all. You change the entire game. A proper way to tackle on defense is to get low and at the right time attack with your shoulder. It’s not uncommon that because of that position your helmet gets in the way and hits in them in the chest etc.
And how are you going to teach running backs to change how they run? Many lead with their head, partly because they get down low, and there is no way to eliminate contact of the helmet.
It severely changes the game, you will see skill dramatically decrease, and skilled players can’t make a beautiful run because he has to run high and straighter. Or a ton of missed tackles will just make the players look super sloppy.
I understand the concern about concussions, and it makes sense. It is an issue, but this is football, and that will dramatically change it. And the issue is leaving your feet with your head in front. Especially if a player is in the air trying to catch the ball etc. Because when you do that, you get a lot of big “head to head” hits.
The only thing I think thats worth doing is dramatically limiting practices with helmets. Helmets are seriously lethal weapons, whether you take it off and swing it at someone or wear it and run straight at a guy, they are dangerous. I’m not sure how often they practice with helmets and stuff, but to eliminate or I’d prefer just a dramatic decrease would be the best way that would not change the game, and hopefully increase safety.
Also I am not sure what NFL helmets are like, but I play tackle football myself, and they can make helmets a hell of a lot better in today’s world. We’ve come along way with everything, and they definately can make helmets better. Even if it increases their size abit, some extremely good padding can be done. When I put my helmet on it’s not comfy at all, but if your head is surrounded in very soft padding, it will definately kill some of the big blows.
And maybe it’s already like that, I’ve never actually seen what a helmet at the NFL level looks like, but just by watching players taking their helmets off or putting them on, I would assume a lot of improvements can be made.
WHY NOT JUST PLAY 2 HAND TOUCH? I BET BUTKUS, JACK TATUM AND SOME OF THE OTHER HARD HITTERS OF THE PAST NEVER WOULD HAVE ENVISIONED ALL OF THE SISSY RULES OF TODAY!
The only solution, which I don’t blame them for never accepting, is to place weight limits per position.
There’s an old quote, I forget who it’s from, that says: “Some coaches pray for wisom, I pray for 260 lb tackles”
260 lb tackles.
When the tackle postion averaged 260, there weren’t the concussion issues we see today. 260 is now an average mlb. More importantly, that’s 26o lbs that can run 4.5.
That equates to an enormous amount of velocity. 260 lbs butting heads leaning on each other in the trenches is one thing. But 260 lbs that can run and run fast is another thing, with the powerful velocity it can muster.
I think that’s where concussions are coming from, the velocity prior to the hitting.
The only way to lower that is by lowering weight all around.
O and D skill positions and backers under 220. Linemen under 275.
As you all scoff at this keep in mind I’m not offering up a realistic nor popular solution. I’m just saying I believe it’s the velocity you have to address, not the equipment or practice habits.
pretty soon soccer is going to be the more physical sport.
Asante Samuel thinks that less hitting is a great idea.
Roger Goodell sucks.
The NFL needs to remember that their money comes from the fans. We are the people who buys tickets to games even when the economy sucks ass. We buy the NFL package if we can’t get to the games. We buy jerseys and hats and any other things emblazoned with an NFL logo because we love the game.
Good luck getting the same support for the N.F.F.L National Flag Football League
The NFL will eventually be like the NBA at this rate. If you touch another player it’s a foul. What happened to this sport?!
May as well put skirts on these guys.
Ok i don’t like to see anyone get hurt but i love football as it is. If these guys don’t want risk getting hurt then maybe they shouldn’t accept that crazy big ass paycheck.
Maybe we should look at the amount of knee injuries in the league. I propose we give the players flags,wheelchairs and skirts.
They’ll have less concussions when they get back to fundamentals in the NFL and stop trying to knock everyone down with one blow, get back to fundamental tackling and for those running backs like steven jackson and A.P they shouldn’t be allowed to use their head as battering rams. Go back to leather helmets.
Its supposed to ba a rough sport, thats why we all love it so much. Like everything else in this country its becoming too soft
If they take away hits then the Aints would never win a game.Why are Packer fans so retarded?
Let’s just ban the weight rooms and install Starbucks Coffee Bars at each facility.
The teams and players of the past would eat todays players and teams alive. They should also start to play the games using the EA Sports game and that way they would not even have to hit at all.
The practices I can see but the games have already become a joke, (ie; calls putting the W on the board in way to many games.) What would todays WR do going up against a Lester Hayes or Jack Tatum?
Look at Bull Riders and what they risk and for a bunch less money. Look at Horse Racing and what the Jockey risks every day all day. If you can make the game safe without destroying the foundations of the game go ahead and if not drop it.
Years ago I would not miss a game, Monday Night, Sundays, my team playing or not. Today many are nothing but a bore and I find myself not even watching many of the games anymore. Who wants to watch the ref’s playing for one side or the other the way they do today. Hell they made it so I do not even know a TD or a catch when I see one anymore.
If they take out the 3 point stance I’ll quit watching football.
This league under Goodell is becoming a joke!
flags? what about dresses? tutus? bubble boys?
Look. This is one of the most simple, predictable, inevitable moves the NFL will make. And they will make it. So stop complaining.
I wish it was possible to say it had to do with some kindness in the heart of the NFL. Don’t worry, it doesn’t.
Lawsuits related to brain and body injury will rise to inordinate proportions in the future. Not linearly, exponentially. The NFL can pay off cripples later (not a good thing) or change the NFL now (which most viewers don’t like). Fine. Maybe we should just make it a requirement that all season ticket holders jump of the top level of their stadium head first, with a helmet, but without the bunjee cord. And not just each game. Practices, too.
This is incredibly stupid they are killing the NFL
Maybe they can make the ball a little more round and then let everybody be able to kick it. And then let all the fellas where shorts and then make put nets on the goal posts and then……..
# .VoxVeritas says: February 19, 2010 10:22 PM
Asante Samuel thinks that less hitting is a great idea.
====
He goes by Asante Sanders.
Pretty good cover guy, cant tackle worth a shit. Much like Deion.
Pass out the tampons and dresses, this is getting totally out of control.
Before turning off the computer and turning on the DVR of Olympic ice dancing, I decide to check out the PFT headlines. I see this one and think “reduce hitting what?” Wait, I get it … reduce hitting each other … in tackle football. What a brilliant idea.
Question: By the next Winter Olympics in 2014 will there be more aggressive contact in Olympic ice dancing than in the NFL?
Will the players be wearing sequins?
You know what? You understand the risk you are taking when you play football. Stop f!@king ruining the sport. If you don’t want to get hit, we can find someone else for that kind of money who will. With the rate they are changing shit, it will be 2 hand touch in 10 years.
While we’re at it let’s get rid of big fat offensive linemen! Bad for their health. Their heart, knees, back. Let’s put a weight cap on all players, say, 300 pounds, or maybe even less!
VoxVagina,
What are you talking about? The NBA is approaching the NFL faster than vice versa.
Did you see the NFL in the 60 and 70s? The NBA in the 70s and 80s? I’m old. I did, up close and personal. You lose.
Do people who chatter actually watch sports?
Rugby has the answer. Take lesser athletes, and they can’t hurt each other!!
keep watering down the kool aide…soon everyone will stop drinking it!
Might as well just hold a Madden tournament to decide the winner
They need to come up with a soft helmet that isn’t worth using as a weapon.
“League to take serious look at reducing hitting”…… I hope they are talking about the bong cause the NFL is where I go to see big hits….on the field that is.
They get rid of the 3 point stance and I’m done following football…
If I wanted to watch a basketball game, I’d go to one. This is football. It is a contact sport. There is risk involved. The players know that going in. I’d rather they not play the game at all than ruin it by minimizing the contact any more. They’ve done enough damage already.
If Goodell has his way, we will be playing virtual reality football in the Middle East in five years. If you want safety, don’t play football. I don’t question the helmet for hangliding, I don’t hanglide. There is a risk and the players know it.
this is getting out of control!!! but the only thing i would reccomend which will slow down the head to head contact would simply be to just go back to the leather helmets!!!
with a leather helmet nobody will spear and if the do it wont be with as much force!!!
They’re not eliminating hits, just reducing the quantity. So just calm down. There will still be plenty of opportunities every week for us all to yell “Jacked up!” and start giggling like idiots.
My favorite part of playing is knocking somebody out of his shoes. Or actually, knocking off everything but his underwear, like Charlie Brown on the pitcher’s mound.
LOFL Last Starfighter…Played like it used to be? When was this era of text book tackling? Was it when Tatum paralyzed Stingley? Was it when Deacon was clocking people upside the head? Was it when Bednarik laid out Gifford? Was it when Night Train clotheslined his way to the HOF?
The game is not played in slow motion. You can’t get in perfect position every time. Leave the game alone.
Fballguy
Jimmysmith,
You are so retarded. Anyone knows you cannot say that word. Even if the Packers are TOTALLY retarded, you cannot say it. Some chick from Aslaksa or somewhere will kick your ass, because she knows best. So JimmyS, please don’t be retarded, get a life, support people who manage the Rams without calling them names.
This is why we should not be against steroids. We need to make human monsters incapable of pain or injury.
We need to start cloning people and make advancements in androids.
ROBOTS DO NOT GET CONCUSSIONS!
Lets step into the future and away from these meat flesh football players!
They need to require anti-concussion helmets. Then all this hooey can go away.
I’ve said it a thousand times, and I’ll end up saying several thousand more…Goodell is the worst commissioner the NFL has ever seen. On a side note, I’m sickened that he got a contract extension, I understand the reasoning behind it, but I hope this is the last contract he has in his current position.
This is all about preventing concussions and other head trauma that occurs from repeated contact. If you can reduce the amount of damage players take without impacting the sport in any significant way, why not? Just so some couch potatoes on the internet can whine about how its not really ‘football’ if measures are taken to promote player safety?
years ago there was a 49ers lineback who wore a cuship on top of their helmet..that should be mandatory..i would love to see if that word..a cushioned helmet
Actually, this is part of the league conspiracy to get Ray Lewis’s head to explode.
Less hits = Less PAY
There are a few areas I’m all for restricting hits, like direct frontal and side hits below the knees period, they create a huge increase in the chance of serious knee injury. If Defenses wouldn’t be so lazy this wouldn’t be an issue, everyone’s heard commentators talk about how good tackling means wrapping a player up, and taking him to the ground, but how often do you see a defender straight up drop and cut an on coming WR or RB’s legs out from under him? It’s poor fundamentals, and is designed to do nothing but possibly put a player out of the game if not the season….
LETS START A POLL
Who is worst at their job?
B. Obama or R. Goodell?
might as well make it a fu$cking pillow fight..ridiculous
If they take away the ability to tackle it’ll be like having a defense made up of only Channing Crowders. Sure they’ll be able to mouth off to the offensive players, but they have arms of rubber and, when the RB runs for his fifth 80-yard TD of the game, they can all yell, in unison, “But I got two hands on him, Ref! See, I’ve got the little plastic ribbon thingy right here… B*tch!” And then they’ll all remember, so long ago last season, when they thought Joey Porter was a god and wish for the good old days when somebody else could step up and make an actual tackle better than they ever could. Like Gibril Wilson.
imagine if legends like Jim Brown played with these puss rules. Its a shame what the league is doing. Don’t want a concussion…work at McDonalds
Three words: COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT.
They’re not reducing contact in games, just practices, mainly offseason. Dare I say enforcing rules already in place.
I WILL NOT WATCH NFL ANYMORE IF THIS HAPPENS OR BUY JERSEYS, HATS, OR TICKETS. I WON’T NEED NFL NETWORK. I WON’T PLAY FANTASY FOOTBALL.
POLITICAL SISSY-ASS CORRECTNESS SUCKS!!!
RUIN IT. I ALREADY QUESTION SOME OF THE SHIT I SEE DURING A GAME.
GOODELL IS NO GOOD!
IF IT AIN’T BROKE DON’T FIX IT!
GOOD LUCK PACKING YOUR STADIUMS YOU GREEDY SISSIES!!!
Next, it’ll be college overtime rules.
In man’s quest to perfect things, they all to often tinker to the point of ruin.
I can’t stand a website that has ads where if you drag your cursor across them they expand all over your screen. If anything , I will not buy that product because I will remember how annoying that shit was!!!
Thank you Fballguy you made some great points this game has grown leaps and bounds since the “old days” in terms of safety. Players these days get paid millions of dollars and know that there is a risk involved and by cutting back on the contact aspect of the sport would change the sport for the worse. And to igor79 are you kidding? steroids are a huge problem ask Marcus Williams, not to mention that steroids are linked to the concussion problem in the NFL and the constant increase in size in the last decade. I do like Robots though. That would be sweet.
Is Goodell TRYING to ruin a good thing, that being the NFL?
You take away the contact and we will stop watching…
Good thing we still have hockey!
Jimmysmith is yet another whining Vikings fan. Cry all you want, loser. Maybe you and Fran Tarkenton can get together and talk about how its everyone else’s fault that the Vikings can’t get a ring.
You guys quit early tonight…Boooooooooooooooo!
Goodell just wants to make the league safer. He probably wants our suggestions. Here’s mine: 1) Establish 1-year careers. Most people experience a concussion in their life, so we all know we can handle just one. 2) Get rid of the current uniform and pads and make everyone play in those inflated Sumo wrestler things they have at carnivals, fairs, and even some pregame festivities. 3) Make everyone run on one leg…linemen, receivers, RBs, LBs, DBs, QBs…everyone. 4) Raise the price of hot dogs to $10 and beer to $12.50…this won’t help with concussions, but it will give the league and owners more money which in turn will encourage the owners to give Goodell a 20-year extension.
Right on Igor. We want Borg Ball. Resistance is futile.
# brownsfn says:
They get rid of the 3 point stance and I’m done following football…
you’re a browns fan. when was the last time you followed real football?
I blame this all on Peyton Manning, Big Ben and Tom Brady. These rules are all to protect these pansies.
We all know that white boys can’t take a hit. This is a black man’s sport.
My head just exploded!
Proposed new rule: when forward motion stops, or a hit is imminent, the refs will blow the play “on hold;” the two players closest to the ball will move to the sidelines and initiate a best of three round of pat-a-cake, paper-rock-scissors, and Ants In The Pants to see whether the play stops or continues. If no clear winner emerges, each player has to say something nice about the other. Whoever gets the most heartfelt crowd response decides where the ball will be gently placed, and then the football match will continue after each team is awarded a cup of hot cocoa and read a portion of Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, The Places You’ll Go.”
Goodell needs to take his tampon out.
nfl looking into reducing the amount of football viewers
They need to bring back the clothesline
# Fballguy says: February 19, 2010 11:15 PM
LOFL Last Starfighter…Played like it used to be? When was this era of text book tackling? Was it when Tatum paralyzed Stingley? Was it when Deacon was clocking people upside the head? Was it when Bednarik laid out Gifford? Was it when Night Train clotheslined his way to the HOF?
The game is not played in slow motion. You can’t get in perfect position every time. Leave the game alone.
Fballguy
—————————————————————–
The hits you mention are all plays that have been made illegal long ago. Those plays also coincided with the advent of the bigger facemask. Everyone complains that no one tackles anymore, here is a chance to get back to tackling.
Roster exemptions for guys w/ concussions is a good idea.
Foosball, anyone?
Dr. Hannibal Lector has the best solution for the issue, in my opinion.
Reducing the weight of the players not only reduces the velocity of the hits, but it increases athleticism too.
The game would actually be played better and allot faster all over the field too.
I believe the patriots use a special mouthpiece created by a Ma. Dentist and they have not had any concussions in like 4 years.
But goodell would ruin the game without the 3 point stance.
The nfl is a high paying proffession where the employees know the risk.
WTF? And the gave the sissy boy comish an extention?, he is killing our beloved sport. Whats next? Maybe they’ll quit keeping score. R.I.P. American football!
What time did you say the UFL was broadcasting their games?
Another Obama socialist plot
This sounds like N A S C A R
In an effort to make N A S C A R safer
The powers that be started changing rules
6 years later after running alot of their fan base away.
Nascar states this season the gloves are off and they will let the boys race,its early and yet to be seen!
N F L is headed down this same road.
The players need safety, but the fans need the game to stay the game.
I long for the 60′s and 70′s Football that i grew up with
But alas I know those days are gone.
Bazooka Joe, maybe because we have witnessed being President of the US certainly is not!!!!!!!!
Just attach two flags to each player, after all we are headed that way
First rule should be if even give a player a dirty look, 15 yds
Seriously, what is going on?
# Drat says: February 19, 2010 11:25 PM
Jimmysmith,
You are so retarded. Anyone knows you cannot say that word. Even if the Packers are TOTALLY retarded, you cannot say it. Some chick from Aslaksa or somewhere will kick your ass, because she knows best. So JimmyS, please don’t be retarded, get a life, support people who manage the Rams without calling them names.
——————————————————————
Shhh. Don’t let pc queen sarah palin here you slandering retards
@ Bazooka Joe:
Really dude? You are a racist asshole.
“We all know that white boys can’t take a hit.”
Stacy Andrews, Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook say hi.
“Pretty good cover guy, cant tackle worth a shit. Much like Deion.”
Only Deion could cover anybody one and one. And return punts. And play offense. And he scored over 5 times the TDs that Samuel has.
@ jimmysmith & laststarfighter
I would like to see what would happen if someone called your child a retard and laughed at it. I bet you would be pretty angry and would be the living hell out of them. Just saying.
clowns
How long before the defenders have to stand at the line of scrimmage and count “Mississippis” before they can rush? …Goodell sucks, his main goals are to metro-sexualize the game to the point that women can compete with men and find ways to make the clock run more often to shorten the game and make room for more commercials.
We are on this site because we love football.
I have 8 Saints season tickets because I love football. I also watch college football and even some high school football. That being said, I am totally against adding 2 games to the season. I think the NFL should get rid of practice (pre-season) games. They might also expand rosters to spread out the hits. Why?
Crippling injuries, dementia and reduced life expectancy are not a surprise; they are the norm. I don’t want the game watered down either. I think protection of the QB position has already gone overboard; that is a money protecting policy (NFL money a la Tom Brady), not a player protecting policy. I have never seen a retired QB in his 50s with dementia.
The NFL and the NFLPA should do a statistical analysis of all injuries by circumstance (how do they happen?) and position (if a QB gets clocked attempting to make a tackle after throwing a pick he is no longer a QB), and, first, institute rule changes that would reduce injuries without affecting the entertainment value of the game. The old Astroturf should have been eliminated a long time ago. Last year Reggie Bush blew out his knee on a punt return at Carolina on grass with no contact. No rule change could have prevented that but some injuries can be prevented without changing the game.
Jim Brown was a beast in the 50s and 6os. Now every team has more than one Jim Brown (and more freakishly gifted players) both on offense and defense – that is a 230 pound guy who can run like the wind – and the field is the same size.
In the next CBA, more current revenue should be set aside for the future of the current players who we know will have problems and for the retired players who are suffering. Ownership and management are not risking their health and their future. It’s easy to say that the players know what they are doing when they decide to play. Most 22 year olds would happily make the same decision without regard for their future well being when the alternative is a 9-5 job making $20k per year as opposed to risking their health for even $500k or whatever the league minimum is.
I know that I am going to get slammed for my comments but can you watch the games with a clear consience when you know that in exchange for your enjoyment, players will suffer in the future, especially when their suffering could be statistically reduced with a minimum impact on the entertainment value of the game? Do you enjoy seeing players from your team or from the opposition being carted off the field?
This sounds like an effort to keep Brett Favre in the league a little longer so the Vikings can quit whining about the late hits by the Saints in the NFCCG. The Vikings are all for 2 hand touch unless of course it’s Jared Allen taking out Matt Schaub’s knees or Fat Pat pulling on Drew Brees after the whistle is blown. If Brett isn’t touched he can stay around til he’s 50. But they better play all their games at home because he sucks on the road (34 td’s and 2 int’s at home, 8 td’s and 7 int’s on the road including the playoffs)
the things you mention in this article show how much of an ass Goddell is, he’s basically going to turn this into a glorified version of arena football,…IF Goddell is so concerned about the players safety, WHY is he pushing for an 18 game schedule???… why not push for larger rosters, [56-60 players], & reducing preseason to 2 games, while keeping the schedule at 16 games w/an extra bye week, which would then give you an 18 week season, with 16 games???,,,an 18 game season will shorten players careers, which would negate the proposals in your article, Florio, …here’s a scary thought: the owners think Goddell is doing such a good job, they unanimously extended the a$$hole$ contract
Hmm. Wouldn’t be surprised if all these new rules in the recent years is a plan to help the owners and the league with some leeway in the CBA war. I mean, think about it. The league/owners are griping that the players get ‘paid’ too much. That the owners aren’t getting enough of the piece of the pie.
Enter the last few years of a rush of rule changes that put players in position for excessive ‘fines’ that go to who? The league.
Now the CBA is in a standstill, and the union comes out that the league may have to actually pay some more money that they owed the players…
Now there are ‘newer’ rules being introduced that will undoubtedly bring much more revenue via fines of the players to who….? The league. In the name of ‘safety’.
Sounds like the seatbelt ticket to me. The government making money off of our choices of personal safety. How does the government justify this hidden tax on those who drive cars (more safer than motorcycles), yet motorcyclist don’t have seatbelts and that’s legal. Huh?
These recent rush of rules tastes of the same beast, if you ask me. At the very least, this wouldn’t surprise me anyways….
There are other careers that pose hazards and those that participate are not as well compensated as these guys. We should discuss “helping” them out.
Police officers-Their guns could be stripped away, turned, and used on them. Roger Goodell should take guns away from cops.
Firefighters-People fall off ladders everyday and result in life altering injuries costing our healthcare system millions. Take ladders away from firefighters, Rog.
Taxi drivers, couriers, truck drivers, deliverymen etc.-The road is a very dangerous place, accidents involving death occur every hour of every day. We should at least consider removing the bumpers of cars because those can be more like weapons than protection, right Troy?
And finally Girl Scouts-We all know Diabetes and High Blood pressure are some of the leading chronic illnesses that cause death in this country and those cookies aren’t helping.
I see this as another step for the NFL to control the outcomes of games. The big-money teams will get a huge portion of the “no-calls.” Officiating has been horrible and inconsistent to favor the “favorites” and it it will continue on a downward spiral IMO.
Antonio Cromartie just creamed his pants
THIS IS BULLSH*T!!! GOODELL IS RUINING THE SPORT WE ALL HAVE KNOWN AND LOVED! IF and I mean IF because I don’t see these rules passing, but if they do I will stop watching football and I’m a die-hard fan. I spent my college loans on tickets to watch my Steelers with the “one for the thumb”, but I will stop watching football completely, because it won’t be football anymore, it will be FLAG or TOUCH football. The sport is dangerous, and I mean so many other sports are like for example luge. I mean a guy DIED in luge and they just moved the starting point and kept going. There are risks incurred in football, and that’s part of what makes the game so great. It’s a battle of strength, power and wits. It’s the ultimate sport.
medic406,
Governments take care of cops and firemen who are injured in the line of duty for the rest of their lives; if they don’t, the cops and firemen can sue and win. Drivers of vehicles can sue insurance companies for injures and lost income. Furthermore, those kind of injuries are rare; football injuries and decreased life expectancy are the statistical norm. Also, mayors, police chiefs, and fire chiefs do not make billions off of the labor of their employees.
Please name another business that makes billions and has employees who are routinely injured, sometimes seriously, and whose employees have a life expectancy more than 20 years below the national average.
Realist said:
“Please name another business that makes billions and has employees who are routinely injured, sometimes seriously, and whose employees have a life expectancy more than 20 years below the national average.”
First of all, my post was sarcastic but I’ll humor you anyway……
The porn/adult entertainment industry- Roger Goodell should make sure condoms are not worn….because condoms although meant to protect could accidentally be swallowed causing death.
# Chapnasty2 says: February 20, 2010 10:02 AM
@ jimmysmith & laststarfighter
I would like to see what would happen if someone called your child a retard and laughed at it. I bet you would be pretty angry and would be the living hell out of them. Just saying.
clowns
————————————————————–
God you’re a moron. No one is calling anyone’s kid a retard but I’m starting to think you might be a little slow. Calling something retarded is common slang and is never meant as a put down to a handicapped person. We are making fun of the attention starved quitter from alaska who tried pathetically to criticism a democrat for using this un-pc term while looking the other way when rush limbaugh says it. What an ass clown
Awesome — bastardize the product a little more every year. Like they give a crap about the players. I don’t see the NFL taking care of their veterans. No, the reason why the NFL gets softer every year is because they want to be able to make more money on the backs of these players by instituting more games. Less injured players = more games = more money. And don’t let them fool you, if they were interested in taking care of their players, they would do what is right by players like John Mackey without provocation from the Players Union to come up with the “88 plan”.
The NFL is a greedy giant. They make up rules that protect the quarterback and say things like, “Tom Brady being out for a year isn’t good for the game”. You know what that really translates into?
It’s not good for their pocketbooks.
@ Realist.
That’s fine. But when you sign a contract to get payed 2.5 million a year to play a game that you’ll only play for 10-15 years, thats the risk you take.
Everyone acts like they are all victims of a horrible work environment. Almost all of these players had huge/full scholarships to University’s and had every opportunity to get a degree that meant something and then follow down that path and get a normal job. The fact the chose to pursue a risky but extremely rewarding career path is there own decision. Why should the NFL have to give even more to these players after paying them a monstrous amount to begin with.
I can guarantee that you can go talk to any minimum wage worker, that has realized he isn’t going to go anywhere or make much money in his life, and ask him if he would be willing to put his body/future on the line for a few million dollars. I don’t think i have to say what the answer would be, Its pretty obvious.
Why feel bad for a whole bunch of extremely highly paid workers that took a job knowing the risks. Feel bad for the people who will work all there lives and barely live above poverty.
The name of this site is Pro Football Talk. The reason I visit this site two, three four times a day is because I love football and everything about it.
So Bazooka Joe leave your shit at home. Vox there is more to this than Cowgirls and Eagles so come out of your moms basement and look around. And Realist scrape the Green Peace sticker off your car and stop chasing ambulances.
This about Roger Goodell Killing the Game we love!
The NFL is a money making monster from the owners to the players. If the players don’t want to get hurt don’t play. No one is forcing them to take the field to make millions. They are for the most part collage grads or they can be if they stay in school. To that point NFL players are the best at what they do. From a young age they were the best at what they did. That got them a free ride to (for the most part) a major University or Collage. Where they are given everything they need to excel at life whether its a degree or on to the next level of Football.
Were they will make millions. Most of us will have to work well into are 60′s before we can even think about retirement. Most NFL players retire from football in their 30′s with more money (if their smart) then the average person can make in a lifetime. Imagine being able to retire in your 30′s with millions saved away. What would you do?
A lot of people have played the game of football at some level. If they had the talent to play football at the Pro level would they take that chance?
Would you? I know I would.
So the owners make Billions the players make Millions and get us to foot the bill. Its a license to steal and they want to screw that up?
@ Quov
Are you in my head?
The NFL is going to turn into square dancing!
Thy want to eliminate the three point stance?!?!? So every play is gonna look like the victory formation where the linemen just stand straight up WTF is the NFL doing
Quov,
I appreciate your point but differ with you on some facts. I think the average NFL career is 3-4 years and the average salary is under a million. When you are 21 and are an elite athlete you think you are invincible; you are not thinking about what you will be like in 20-30 years. Most of these guys never get past their rookie contract; they are not making huge bucks. Unlike NBA, there are no guaranteed contracts; the only guarantee is the signing bonus. Darren Sharper is at the top of his game. He is a first ballot HOF player, was awarded several honors this year and helped the Saints win the SB; he made 1.7 million with no signing bonus and could have been cut at any time.
I agree that these players are not victims and should not be “given” anything. They bring in enough revenue that between the NFL and the NFLPA, money should be set aside to take care of guys like John Mackey, Gene Atkins, Mike Webster, Harry Carson, etc. Right now the owners are trying to scale back what players are making in a big way even though the owners are making more than they have ever made.
There is no reason the game cannot be made safer without compromising its integrity and entertainment value. Until that happens, there is also no reason that such a profitable business cannot take care of its employees who were damaged while helping that very business make a fortune.
medic406,
LMWAO. I appreciate your sarcasm; your analogy is spot on. In addition to there being similarities regarding worker safety in both industries (NFL and the adult industry) there is also the issue of performance enhancing drugs…
Boon says:
Antonio Cromartie just creamed his pants
Hilarious! – couldn’t help thinking about “Cro” pretending to tackle the Jets while reading this article …
The players have gotten bigger and faster but ligaments, tendons and brains are still the same. Without rule changes that limit the size of the participants the only thing that makes sense is to look at equipment. Go to a soft helmet and a different faceguard or eliminate the faceguard. Take the weapon potential out of the equipment.
Ice Skating. NFL is ice skating. Candy assed sissies. Take the hit, give the hit or drive a cab. Pussies. Every one of you. Pussies.
New Monday Night Countdown segment best flag pull COME ON MAN!!!
Get the steroids under control and let the real men play the game as it should be.
These rule changes are all about continuing to turn the NFL into Arena football to rival NBA scoring. The attention-challenged average idiot fan won’t watch the game unless there’s a TD every other drive. I won’t be surprised if, in 10 years, we routinely have games where both teams score over 50 points.
The game is responding to the fans. If all people want to see is a track meet with rainbow passes all over the place then that is what the NFL will give them. It’s a travesty.
I agree with the weight restriction idea on a per position basis. Given the training options today a 200 pound LB hits with far more power than a 200 pound LB did 20 or 30 years ago. More muscle mass and much faster now.
If you don’t think 10 or 15 pounds makes a difference, go add it to your max benchpress and try to lift it. Or have someone toss you a 50 pound item instead of a 35 pound item.
Either strip the pads and protection to they HAVE to be more careful of hitting, or limit the weight and size to reduce the injury. But don’t change the rules anymore. It’s already a sissier sport than it’s ever been.
So let me get this straight.
Roger Goodell wants more games overseas.
Less hitting.
And he’s going to oversee a labor stoppage and a dissolution of the Salary Cap, which has been the ultimate playing field leveler.
Sounds like he deserves some of those Wall street bonuses.
Like many people in positions of power in this country, Goodell has no interest in the good of the industry he prosides over but rather how much money he can personally make.
bazooka joe, you putz. Do you think there is a correlation between the rise of the pussy factor in the league and the rise of the proportion of black players in the NFL? I do. They’re simply not as skilled as their white counterparts of yesteryear. That is why they are constantly trying to get bigger and faster, to make up for the lack of skill they possess. Unfortunately, the increased size and speed is making the game too dangerous to play and so, it will become too regulated to watch. Like most things in life, whenever too many black folks get involved with something, it gets ruined.
bazooka joe and ivegot buds deserve each other, you’re both a couple of narrow minded slack jawed yokels, although really bazooka deserved his response, biased and stereotypical as it is.
Mandatory estrogen injections for all players!