Comments on: Marshall Faulk: If runners can’t lower their heads, eliminate helmets

By: TheWizard

TheWizard — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:49:57 +0000

But it can’t just be some old guys in the room who didn’t carry a football making rules

Now you know how private sector business people feel about politicians.

By: wgray981

wgray981 — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:47:37 +0000

Faulk was fun to watch.

By: FinFan68

FinFan68 — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 23:26:19 +0000

Why are people bashing Goodell over rules changes? He has some influence as the commissioner but he does not have a vote at all. The competition committee shapes the rules/wording and the owners vote. Goodell preaches what he is told leading up to the meetings and after the rules are incorporated or defeated. He deserves some bashing at times but this isn’t really one of those times.

By: 1uniquename

1uniquename — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 23:00:13 +0000

Godell might very well be purposely trying to make the game appeal to a larger audience around the world at the cost of upsetting it’s current fans. The problem is there is A LOT more to gain then lose. Sorry guys but it’s true, in ten years we will not be watching the same game, but millions, perhaps hundreds of more people from around the world may be tuning in. It’s a win win for the NFL, fake player safety and more viewers will mean more income.

By: wludford

wludford — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 21:52:19 +0000

Faulk’s recommendation of eliminating helmets highlights the central problem with rule changes going back decades:

For all the rule changes, injuries- including severe injuries- have not gone down. The reason is the (perhaps) unintended consequences.

Many/most of the rule changes were intended to protect QBs from injury, but effectively made passing much more advantageous in the process, thereby creating more passing plays- which are much more likely than running plays to cause injury- especially serious injuries- not just to QBs, but also linemen, WRs, TEs and DBs too.

Better to go back to the old rules, rather than keep introducing new ones that ruin the game while failing to reduce injuries.

By: 1zzo

1zzo — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 21:08:59 +0000

I’m almost ready to be done with this league’s nonsense and just start watching Rugby.

By: mazblast

mazblast — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 21:08:27 +0000

Remember last fall’s trial balloon from the Commish about eliminating kickoffs? Did you notice that the proposal died right after a Giants returner took one “to the house”?

The same thing would happen here. If the rule is passed, it’ll be scuttled the first time a Giant or Patriot gets flagged.

By: dhwight

dhwight — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 21:04:06 +0000

What a moron, helmets were added decades ago to cut down the number of players that died from head trauma.

By: lostsoul8888

lostsoul8888 — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 21:03:15 +0000

He’s not the brightest candle on the cake is he?!

By: fballguy

fballguy — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:56:18 +0000

Just put the players in lingerie once and for all.

By: wgray981

wgray981 — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:41:58 +0000

Absolute crap. Terrible rule. We should go on strike this season if they pass it. I don’t want to watch any more flag football

By: goldrush94

goldrush94 — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:40:31 +0000

This is part of Goodell’s agenda to globalize the game by softening it to appeal to a wider audience. He is blatantly alienating the hardcore fans who love the sport and love the hard hits, and fans who have made the NFL into the sport it is today. The greatest and most watched sport in America.
In no time, football will have an entirely different feel and the game we love will no longer be the same.
Damn you Goodell. You are the biggest mistake NFL has ever made.

By: slugdc

slugdc — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:21:13 +0000

There are very few legitimate hits, either by a ball carrier or a defender, that are initiated with the crown of the helmet that couldn’t have just as easily been initiated with the shoulder instead. I’m not sure people understand how little this rule will affect things in actuality, if implemented.

By: 950003cups

950003cups — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:15:28 +0000

They are going out of their way to soften up the game. How about no contact at all? Make it flag football and they can play 82 games a year. I’m sure the stadiums will be packed. I mean, after all, it’s still football. Right?
This is why I still love the NHL. At this point they’re debating if they should mandate face guards or not. NFL is trying to mandate a helmet that will be scratch-free after an entire season. PATHETIC!!

I’m not waiting 7 days, waking up early Sunday, getting my drink on, my jersey on, my trash talk going, just to watch super athletes be forced to play Hippie Ball for 4 quarters!!

By: granadafan

granadafan — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:59:00 +0000

Further proof that lawyers and fears of liabilities have destroyed this game. All parties are to blame here:
* The NFL especially for not helping the older players who made a pittance yet are still suffering the devastating affects of violent collisions
* NFL films and ESPN for glorifying the “big hit”
* the players for not tackling properly
* the older players for suing the NFL and leading…
* Goodell/ lawyers to panic and institute these ridiculous penalties and rules.

Mostly it’s the fault of the lawyers.

By: dallascowboysdishingthereal

dallascowboysdishingthereal — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:39:08 +0000

Now there’s an idea. No more face mask penalties either.

By: peytonsneck18

peytonsneck18 — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:28:10 +0000

the nfl is turning into a sissyfied league, next thing u know godell will turn it into a flag football league

By: pizzon

pizzon — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:27:01 +0000

When does the ridiculousness end. Goodell must really want people to believe he is concerned with player safety, at this rate the fans will stop going to gms because ti will take 5 hrs to play the dam thing because every other play will draw a flag.

By: bryans49ers

bryans49ers — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:21:46 +0000

Its going to be a long frustrating season for us fans and running backs

By: calicowboysfan86

calicowboysfan86 — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:18:58 +0000

Marshall is one of the most intelligent backs to ever play the game. I think I’ll just go with what he says…

By: SparkyGump

SparkyGump — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:10:10 +0000

Put padding on the outside of the helmet as well as gel padding the inside. You then will have a crumple zone as well as protective padding. Yea, it’ll look odd for awhile but it would reduce brain injuries.

Football players are much larger, faster and stronger than ever before but their brains are still just as fragile. Their equiptment needs to evolve as well.

By: mackie66

mackie66 — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:06:26 +0000

What the hell, I dont watch the NFL with enough regularity to even care. But, lets take off the helmets, take away shoulder pads, hip pads and put colorful hankies in players back pocket. I like that pink for breast cancer. ( not one bit of pun )
Really, guys and dolls this aint your Daddy’s NFL.
Its becoming a more gentler, kinder, NFL.

By: marleywars

marleywars — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:06:24 +0000

I see two rb’s who are going to hate this, AP and Marshawn Lynch. They will be penalized (and potentially fined????) repeatedly because of the violent and pounding ways they run. Why not make a rule that Maurice Jones Drew can’t juke more than three moves on any given run because he is increasing the likelihood that the defenders might tear an ACL trying to catch him. Are there any former players on the competition committee? Wouldn’t that make sense? Just seems like what Roger wants Roger gets.

By: demolition510

demolition510 — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:04:45 +0000

Time for Vinny Mac to resurrect the XFL.

Las Vegas Outlawz !!!!

By: godsmacked1

godsmacked1 — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 18:58:45 +0000

What a lame rule. The NFL couldn’t leave a great game alone. Baseball will soon be America’s Game once again if this goes through.

By: unlost1

unlost1 — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 18:57:38 +0000

Here’s the joke: They were talking about eliminating the Pro Bowl & now all the games are going to be just like the Pro Bowl because of the new rules!

By: j0esixpack

j0esixpack — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 18:41:38 +0000

Given that Faulk is fond of asserting that the Patriots 2001 Super Bowl is tainted because they broke a 2006 rule, I’d say the NFL should work to improve the effectiveness of helmets regardless of this proposed rule.

By: osiris33

osiris33 — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 18:39:25 +0000

You guys don’t get it. This isn’t about player safety nor are any of the other rules Goodell is imposing. It’s about feminizing the game so more women will watch and buy their pink Tony Romo jerseys. Guys love the violence of the game. Women don’t.

By: bspurloc

bspurloc — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 18:38:12 +0000

what? if u have a helmet on otherwise u arent too bright if u lower your head to brace for impact… most people with some intelligence put up their arms to protect their head…
I mean when your car is about to slam into a wall by all means lean forward and brace for impact, us people with some intelligence will raise our arms to protect our head from the windshield/steering wheel and the air bag burning our faces.

“Fact of the matter is, it’s instinct and you cannot stop it. Go pretend you’re going to collide with your son, or whoever is in the room with you. Right before the moment of impact, you both will lower your heads and shoulders to “Brace for the impact”…..Automatically.”

By: flybirdhaters27

flybirdhaters27 — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 18:34:02 +0000

Roger Goodell is ruining this once great sport. He has compromised the integrity of the game. If this passes, it is the most absurd rule change I have ever heard of in my entire life. He’s an idiot.