News: Gonna have to Tackle from Belt to Numbers:

[17yearsandcounting]

Did you mean to link a different article? I'm not sure how this matches the thread title or your post.

Goodell isn't on the competition committee. No new rule has been formulated. They're looking at a potential problem area and considering possibly addressing it. The problem area is defenseless players, not anyone anywhere.

It's a sublimely selfish attitude that requires people to risk debilitating injuries for one's entertainment. If the game can be played with less risk of severe long-term health issues, I'm for it.

No one is making these players risk injury.

 

[ClarenceDarrow]

So we should end boxing, UFC, martial arts, bobsleding, hockey, baseball, horseback riding , etc...

All of those sports have rules designed to make them safer and prevent debilitating injuries. That's what boxing gloves, no hitting below the waist, helmets, visors, etc are for. it's in everyone's best interest to ensure that athletes are on the field/ring/ice playing rather than (hopefully) recovering from injuries.

 

[tantrix1969]

I don't see conundrum. If your worried about safety, go into a different field.

this, there are many fields of work that pay more because of the risk, if you don't want to take it find another job

 

[Future]

Not sure why the outrage, they should be tackling from belt to numbers

Right, but if rules are made about targeting the knees, guys who accidentally hit them there are still going to get punished. I would argue that the vast majority of hits that are penalized, even blows to the head, are not meant with intent to injure, they just happen because of the speed of the game. Same thing happens with knees.

Its not like Swearinger approached Keller thinking, "I hope I tear every tendon in this dude's knee and he never plays again."

 

[Denim Chicken]

All of those sports have rules designed to make them safer and prevent debilitating injuries. That's what boxing gloves, no hitting below the waist, helmets, visors, etc are for. it's in everyone's best interest to ensure that athletes are on the field/ring/ice playing rather than (hopefully) recovering from injuries.

Yes, but what is happening to football is akin the the boxing gloves getting bigger and bigger. With each size increase the sport get safer, but considerably less enjoyable.

 

[ClarenceDarrow]

Yes, but what is happening to football is akin the the boxing gloves getting bigger and bigger. With each size increase the sport get safer, but considerably less enjoyable.

I don't think I should have to repeat it, but if you think your personal enjoyment of a sport is more important than the health and safety of the very people who make that sport possible, you are being selfish.

 

[Denim Chicken]

I don't think I should have to repeat it, but if you think your personal enjoyment of a sport is more important than the health and safety of the very people who make that sport possible, you are being selfish.

Then you should advocate the abolition of inherently unsafe sports, or be a hypocrite.

 

[17yearsandcounting]

I don't think I should have to repeat it, but if you think your personal enjoyment of a sport is more important than the health and safety of the very people who make that sport possible, you are being selfish.

Selfish? Right. Then the players can give back part of their salary now that they arent incurring near the same amount of risk.

 

[ClarenceDarrow]

Then you should advocate the abolition of inherently unsafe sports, or be a hypocrite.

I do. Football just happens to not be one of those sports. Steps can be taken (hint: much like the one being discussed in the article in OP) to make it safe.

 

[Denim Chicken]

I do. Football just happens to not be one of those sports. Steps can be taken (hint: much like the one being discussed in the article in OP) to make it safe.

Fair enough.

 

[dogberry]

I don't think the owners will risk their $30 billion investment. Rules will change, and players will be expected to follow them. Those that don't will go elsewhere, probably taking some fans with them.

 

[DenCWBY]

I do. Football just happens to not be one of those sports. Steps can be taken (hint: much like the one being discussed in the article in OP) to make it safe.

Dude Your preaching to the wrong congregation. There is a price for these rules and it's going to come out of someone's pocket. New rules will cause a lower fan turnout which in turn will cause a decrease in popularity and advertising $$'s among other revenues. The decrease will all eventually roll down hill to the players and their pay checks. I get the safety issue and concern however go preach to the players and see how many are willing to give up all the coin to make it "safer"? These guys are basically gladiators and their taught to go full speed and the faster and harder they go, the more cars they can buy. Players will get hurt and players will suffer injuries and this just didn't start happening. They are putting measures in place for players after retirement which is great, however I'll bet if you took a poll of the players, not more than 2% of them would be willing to lose one dime of their paycheck to play "safer" in lieu of lost revenues overall. Their own union wouldn't hear of it because of their own greed.
Like others have said. Educate the players about the total risk and move on. At that point they have a choice like we all have.

 

[17yearsandcounting]

I do. Football just happens to not be one of those sports. Steps can be taken (hint: much like the one being discussed in the article in OP) to make it safe.

It will never be totally safe. Remember when the Patriots RB shredded his knee and ruined his career in a beach game before the Pro Bowl?

 

[Cowboys22]

A very easy way to do away with a lot of this issue. Any player that breaks a rule and it results in an injury will be suspended the same length of time the injured player is out. If the player is out for the year then so are you. If you deliver a helmet to helmet hit that gives another player a concussion and they have to sit out two weeks, then you sit out two weeks and lose two game checks. A lot of this unnecessary crap will stop.

 

[BrassCowboy]

Right, but if rules are made about targeting the knees, guys who accidentally hit them there are still going to get punished. I would argue that the vast majority of hits that are penalized, even blows to the head, are not meant with intent to injure, they just happen because of the speed of the game. Same thing happens with knees.

Its not like Swearinger approached Keller thinking, "I hope I tear every tendon in this dude's knee and he never plays again."

this is exactly what it is right here, they should eliminate the word all in the rule language and make it say tyo the effect that careless and/or intentional hits to the head (knees or whatever) will be penalized. Accidental hits, players pushed into opposing players, etc.... would not

 

[JeffInDC]

NEW NFL RULES:

Basically folks, Football is changed forever because of the "ROGER".... This guy fundamentlly changed the way the game has been played forever.

Funny thing is, that's what we teach kids anyway in the Heads Up Football Training. I was always taught to hit that way

 

[Dhragon]

A very easy way to do away with a lot of this issue. Any player that breaks a rule and it results in an injury will be suspended the same length of time the injured player is out. If the player is out for the year then so are you. If you deliver a helmet to helmet hit that gives another player a concussion and they have to sit out two weeks, then you sit out two weeks and lose two game checks. A lot of this unnecessary crap will stop.

Actually a very good idea if they really want to reduce injuries which result from illegal hits. Would hate to lose Lee forever though just because his helmet accidentally grazed another players who lowered his head into Lee and that player who had a history of concussions ended his career and thus Lee's because of it.

On second thought, bad idea, lol.

 

[TwoDeep3]

An unnecessary blow to the head that makes them an invalid for thirty years. Leaving your mother to handle a family with more questions herself than answers.
Children that go crazy and leave their mother except for the youngest- left to pick up the pieces and take over said family.

You must not have lost a father at the most important time of that family's life. Otherwise you would not have asked that.

You have no idea.

Go back to your happy life. No one else is different apparently.

This is the epitome of what this country has come down to.

The game is violent.

But...

The player has a choice to complete school and go on to a career where he can sit behind a desk and make money.

But the player chooses the big bucks of the NFL.

That is a choice the player makes. Like cigarette smokers or drinkers or any other behavior that has a downside health-wise.

So personal responsibility by the person making the decision is ignored to feel sorry for someone who chooses the danger for the reward.

You can cry about the family, but the guy who made the decision over the family is where the responsibility lies.

But not in this country where former players sue the league because they bumped their head, as if doing so and the results was hidden from them.

 

[jobberone]

Wonder how long this ones going to last.

 

[Corso]

This is the epitome of what this country has come down to.

The game is violent.

But...

The player has a choice to complete school and go on to a career where he can sit behind a desk and make money.

But the player chooses the big bucks of the NFL.

That is a choice the player makes. Like cigarette smokers or drinkers or any other behavior that has a downside health-wise.

So personal responsibility by the person making the decision is ignored to feel sorry for someone who chooses the danger for the reward.

You can cry about the family, but the guy who made the decision over the family is where the responsibility lies.

But not in this country where former players sue the league because they bumped their head, as if doing so and the results was hidden from them.

I never knew cigarette smoking offered your family millions a year.
How enlightening.
Those stupid guys willing to trade years off their lives for a few puffs off a cancer stick.

My bad.