Comments on: Vinny Testaverde thinks the NFL is overprotective of quarterbacks

By: siriusred67

siriusred67 — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 00:49:55 +0000

The league only protects certain QBs. You want to hammer Ryan Fitzpatrick into the ground or take out his knee? Have fun. You lay so much as a pinkie on Tom Brady? That’s a 15-yard penalty, and you can expect to receive a fine from the league by Tuesday.

By: fergie22

fergie22 — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 19:59:09 +0000

if the league was serious about quaterback safety they would do something about the bears o-line they are gonna get- multiple qb`s killed what a joke

By: madmax80

madmax80 — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 18:53:56 +0000

Testaverde tends to always see things as black and white issues.

By: staffordsrightbicep

staffordsrightbicep — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 18:14:31 +0000

I think all of the quarterbacks knocked out in the last week would disagree with you, Vinnie. And all of those occurred WITH the current QB safety precautions.

By: richwizl

richwizl — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 18:13:36 +0000

Of course VT is right, the rules favor the Offense and the Defense is wondering if it’s ok to make a hit or not. If you don’t want to get a concussion, avoid football and hockey at all costs; these are rough sports.

By: monkeesfan

monkeesfan — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 18:07:28 +0000

The league is also forgetting that these players by and large can take the hits – we need to get over the myth that former players are dying off because of football head injuries. If the league wants to be protective of players, then TRUST in their toughness. If they want to increase scoring, then adopt the CFL/Arena League rule and let receivers get a running start behind the line of scrimmage at the snap, and get rid of the 5-yard chuck rule.

By: roadtrip3500

roadtrip3500 — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:02:24 +0000

As one network guy just pointed out on the radio, the Sunday night and Monday night games involved 4 top teams and should have been great offensive-defensive showdowns.

Only 1 of the 4 starting QBs made the games. And the results were as expected – the two retread backups played like it, and the Bears had no experience or enough video to react to Kaepernick’s running.

By: jjb0811

jjb0811 — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:33:35 +0000

Urlacher said it best, crack backs are more dangerous. So in the NFL eyes, it’s safer to go to the backside of a player’s knee than hit him in the shoulder pad/helmet area. Yeah, I’d say the game is skewed heavily in favor of the offense.

By: vikefan284296

vikefan284296 — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:28:03 +0000

But offensive linemen can cut defensive linemen at the knees on outside runs. what a load of crap.

By: promickey

promickey — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:25:56 +0000

Well everyone is entitled to their opinion. However his opinion indicates to me that Vinnie was hit in the head to often.

The NFL is a quarterback league and taking away the main draw due to often injured quarterbacks will not serve the NFL and the millions watching every week.

By: metrocritical

metrocritical — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:22:15 +0000

It is important to remember that the tinkering with the system is ultimately tied towards keeping the NFL operating at peak popularity and viewership. Currently, the game’s popularity is tied to high scoring, big play offenses which involve a level of pass attempts per game well beyond what anyone (outside of Don Coryell) would’ve imagined in 1987. The rule changes not only protect the QBs but the game itself. An extra 15-20 pass attempts per game exposes the QBs to a lot more injury than in the old days and there aren’t enough competent starting quarterbacks now to fill out league rosters. Imagine turning the rules back to 1987. Then imagine game after game of the Dan Orlovskys versus the Caleb Hanies. If people want exciting passing plays they need to have players capable of executing those plays.

By: rajbais

rajbais — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:20:10 +0000

I agree!!! That’s why it was dumb to name Peyton Manning the #8 best player of all time!!!

I am happy to hear that the older guys don’t whine and act like annoying curmudgeons, But it is very inconsiderate to greatly push the more modern day guys way above the legends.

By: hehateme2

hehateme2 — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:17:22 +0000

I wonder how many yards Marino could throw for under these new rules?

By: cardmagnet

cardmagnet — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:06:29 +0000

Since they’re so overprotective, Vinny could probably still compete since he wouldn’t get all of those hard hits, and I guarantee he’d do better than Sanchez or Tebow.

By: maltarz

maltarz — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:05:39 +0000

He would have said this earlier, but he couldn’t remember what the NFL was.

By: whitdog23

whitdog23 — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:02:13 +0000

why does football need to be ‘violent’ to be cool?? just hit hard and legal ….you’ll look just as good and the play will be more effective

By: howiefeltersnatch

howiefeltersnatch — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 15:59:26 +0000

I like the commercial when he was trying to do a magic trick and pull the metal rings apart and he couldn’t

By: fuglyflorio

fuglyflorio — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 15:56:28 +0000

Does it seem like there’s way too many ex-QBs with something to say?

By: jimthebuilder27

jimthebuilder27 — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 15:51:24 +0000

He’s right, I’m surprised that teams are even able to play defense with all the rules that favor the offense now!

And what’s with all the rules to protect offensive players, when the defensive players have fewer rules to protect them and they are getting hurt at an alarming rate?