The NFL has changed tackle football forever this year

[GMO415]

These millennials are turned off by the "brutality" of football, thus they won't watch it and definitely won't participate in it. They are now the majority and will soon be in charge of things......this will be the end of football as we know it.

 

[Whyjerry]

What we are seeing is the effects of "give and inch, take a mile" political correctness. Goodell has allowed it at every level of the game and now we find ourselves here. Football is at risk.

 

[Diehardblues]

These millennials are turned off by the "brutality" of football, thus they won't watch it and definitely won't participate in it. They are now the majority and will soon be in charge of things......this will be the end of football as we know it.

I doubt it. What else are they gonna watch?
Golf., lol

College football hadn’t been effected by any of these rule changes.

Nawww... typical empty threats and bullying from this social media type .

My message is. Take off then. We don’t need your support. But they won’t. They’d rather hang around and complain. The power of the keypad . Lol

 

[Diehardblues]

What we are seeing is the effects of "give and inch, take a mile" political correctness. Goodell has allowed it at every level of the game and now we find ourselves here. Football is at risk.

That’s right it is. And Goodell is taking it on and why the owners support his efforts. It’s not a popular effort with fans.

But it’s necessary to protect the image and sovereignty of the game against legal liabilities which ultimately threaten the leagues future.

 

[CouchCoach]

it's the laws of physics, coach. if two bodies collide, both moving at 15 mph, the force is based on a 30 mph collision.

I would be hitting 30 going away form the contact, I am a fragile flower.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I haven't really look at the actual rule and what it specifically says so I say this with that statement made. I learned to play this game without leading with the head or tackling or running or blocking with my headgear down. I learned it, always with my eyes right in front of me, seeing everything as it was coming.

That, IMO, is the way you should play the game.

 

[CouchCoach]

What we are seeing is the effects of "give and inch, take a mile" political correctness. Goodell has allowed it at every level of the game and now we find ourselves here. Football is at risk.

No, this is just the NFL playing then "we care" card in a CYA move. At some point, I believe they will need to play the "look at all the things we've enacted for the safety of the players" card to counter how people will react to the knowledge they had about concussions and still sent players back in the game. They are guarding that information with everything they've got because if the public, not necessarily fans, finds out what they knew and when they knew it, there will be an accounting.

I am pretty much caveat emptor with pro football but I do think they need all of the information. I don't think it will deter many as only one young player has hung it up, that kid from the Niners.

What I don't get is how is this any different from auto racing, boxing, MMA which all have risks involved? Anyone watch a pro game and think that looks like a safe way to spend a Sunday afternoon?

The real issue for me is how they treated the players back then with rung bells and frowning on any second opinions to the point of job security. But the knowledge of the impact of concussions was dark ages back then but we know they would do anything to a player to get him back in the game. Those guys were treated like pieces of meat but today's players have a lot of people looking out for them, they can afford it.

 

[G2]

Didn't all the owners agree with the rule?
It's going to slow the game down and be difficult to judge for officials, but I'm for safety if it makes sense.

The thing I have an issue with is these game changing rules should first be administered at lower levels of football before the NFL starts it up.

 

[kskboys]

What we are seeing is the effects of "give and inch, take a mile" political correctness. Goodell has allowed it at every level of the game and now we find ourselves here. Football is at risk.

Huh? I can't make any sense out of this.

Gooddell is doing what he was hired to do. Clean up the game and prepare for future lawsuits. There is absolutely no political correctness involved.

Seriously, I really don't understand what you're saying. I don't see anything Gooddell has allowed.

 

[cern]

blame it on the lawyers.

 

[CouchCoach]

I haven't really look at the actual rule and what it specifically says so I say this with that statement made. I learned to play this game without leading with the head or tackling or running or blocking with my headgear down. I learned it, always with my eyes right in front of me, seeing everything as it was coming.

That, IMO, is the way you should play the game.

Yep and that is the way they're coaching it now because people are watching more than ever.

I was an 150lb defensive halfback, that would become the CB position eventually, in high school and I was taught technique to not only protect myself but to effectively bring down the ball carrier and back then they ran the ball a lot more so I had to tackle a lot. At first, I hated it because I wanted to make INT's and be a star but the feeling I got after taking down a larger ball carrier with a textbook shoulder, straight back tackle was great until one night it wasn't. My foot slipped and my head dropped and a 225lb FB tank hit me head on and the only reason I made the tackle was he fell over my body. End of hopes of a scholarship to AR or furthering any football after that.

The scary thing about the game for youngsters is that all it takes is one mistake. I had brought down that FB 3 out of 3 plays before that and my guys were all jumping up and down because that FB was a beast. Then they were taking a knee in prayer as I laid immobile on the grass.

One thing about this that I like. This is going to re-emphasize proper tackling technique to the coaching staffs and players and that is a plus to the game to me. A perfectly executed tackle is part of the beauty of the sport to me. Blow up hits are fun too but that doesn't take skill, just guts. And those don't always stop the ball carrier, a perfectly executed tackle always does.

 

[Quickdraw]

No, this is just the NFL playing then "we care" card in a CYA move. At some point, I believe they will need to play the "look at all the things we've enacted for the safety of the players" card to counter how people will react to the knowledge they had about concussions and still sent players back in the game. They are guarding that information with everything they've got because if the public, not necessarily fans, finds out what they knew and when they knew it, there will be an accounting.

I am pretty much caveat emptor with pro football but I do think they need all of the information. I don't think it will deter many as only one young player has hung it up, that kid from the Niners.

What I don't get is how is this any different from auto racing, boxing, MMA which all have risks involved? Anyone watch a pro game and think that looks like a safe way to spend a Sunday afternoon?

The real issue for me is how they treated the players back then with rung bells and frowning on any second opinions to the point of job security. But the knowledge of the impact of concussions was dark ages back then but we know they would do anything to a player to get him back in the game. Those guys were treated like pieces of meat but today's players have a lot of people looking out for them, they can afford it.

True that players were not treated very well, but by the same token, many players admitted that they had to get back into the ballgame for fear of losing their starting job. It's like the 6 of one, 1/2 dozen of another. I doubt the players back then, if they knew about the ramifications of those concussions, would have opted to play it safe and not go back in.

I'm not exonerating the NFL by any means. I'm just pointing out that knowing may or may not have changed a players mind due to losing his starting role.

 

[CouchCoach]

blame it on the lawyers.

ALWAYS and EVERYTHING!!!!! If it's bad, there's a lawyer behind it.

Sorry if there are any lawyers present but my two best buds are lawyers and I tell them what scumbag weasels they are so don't feel bad.

 

[gjkoeppen]

I'm all in favor of ways to make the game safer but not if it fundamentally changes the game. One rule they've already changed and another they're talking about changing. They already took away the free kick after a safety and just putting the ball on the 25 yard line. That takes away a play that has the chance of a score. Now if they do that with kickoffs it's the same thing. Next they will say that all punts will be fair catches and take away the chance of a punt return for a TD. Thes changes are fundamentally changing the game and that's what I'm opposed to. For a while some players had rubber covers on their helmets. Why don't they try making all p-layers wear those first instead of changing the game.
.

 

[CouchCoach]

True that players were not treated very well, but by the same token, many players admitted that they had to get back into the ballgame for fear of losing their starting job. It's like the 6 of one, 1/2 dozen of another. I doubt the players back then, if they knew about the ramifications of those concussions, would have opted to play it safe and not go back in.

I'm not exonerating the NFL by any means. I'm just pointing out that knowing may or may not have changed a players mind due to losing his starting role.

You are probably right, that fear of losing their starting job was paramount to players back then,. Lilly was one of the best DTs to ever play the game and Landry's favorite player ever and he took injections in his back just to practice. I've often wondered how much that had to do with him being his favorite? That's one hell of an example to set when the best player on the team does that.

I remember when North Dallas Forty came out and several players, not Cowboys, commented that the most realistic part of the film were the shots of the shoot ups in the locker room before the game. That was just common in the game.

 

[cern]

ALWAYS and EVERYTHING!!!!! If it's bad, there's a lawyer behind it.

Sorry if there are any lawyers present but my two best buds are lawyers and I tell them what scumbag weasels they are so don't feel bad.

every year I invite lots of friends and business associates to my ranch to go hunting. but never lawyers. speaking of which, spring turkey season begins Saturday. purrs, clucks, yelps and gobbles. followed by an occasional bang.

 

[Diehardblues]

You are probably right, that fear of losing their starting job was paramount to players back then,. Lilly was one of the best DTs to ever play the game and Landry's favorite player ever and he took injections in his back just to practice. I've often wondered how much that had to do with him being his favorite? That's one hell of an example to set when the best player on the team does that.

I remember when North Dallas Forty came out and several players, not Cowboys, commented that the most realistic part of the film were the shots of the shoot ups in the locker room before the game. That was just common in the game.

Very true!!

The difference this era is the lack of depth on teams . In most cases there isn’t a backup on the bench who can step in with as much or more talent.

Even the younger talent start immediately if their 1st round picks.

And the other side of it again revolves around the Salary Cap as well because your not going to bench a top paid starter for a min wage guy on the bench even if he’s better. The Cap has teams compromised in all directions.

So if you want to complain about a rule which has changed the game we love more than anything. It’s the Salary Cap. A rule that isn’t necessary for the leagues survival or image.

 

[Diehardblues]

Yep and that is the way they're coaching it now because people are watching more than ever.

I was an 150lb defensive halfback, that would become the CB position eventually, in high school and I was taught technique to not only protect myself but to effectively bring down the ball carrier and back then they ran the ball a lot more so I had to tackle a lot. At first, I hated it because I wanted to make INT's and be a star but the feeling I got after taking down a larger ball carrier with a textbook shoulder, straight back tackle was great until one night it wasn't. My foot slipped and my head dropped and a 225lb FB tank hit me head on and the only reason I made the tackle was he fell over my body. End of hopes of a scholarship to AR or furthering any football after that.

The scary thing about the game for youngsters is that all it takes is one mistake. I had brought down that FB 3 out of 3 plays before that and my guys were all jumping up and down because that FB was a beast. Then they were taking a knee in prayer as I laid immobile on the grass.

One thing about this that I like. This is going to re-emphasize proper tackling technique to the coaching staffs and players and that is a plus to the game to me. A perfectly executed tackle is part of the beauty of the sport to me. Blow up hits are fun too but that doesn't take skill, just guts. And those don't always stop the ball carrier, a perfectly executed tackle always does.

Yep!!

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve yelled at the screen “ just grab his feet or legs”. Instead they try to knock a guy off their feet and then he bounces off . Just tackle him!!

 

[KJJ]

This is going to be a tough rule to officiate don’t know how they’re going to officiate it. I know the league wants to promote safety but this may be going a little too far. This could really slow down the game with all the penalties being called. Players are so instinctive they’re going to have to retrain themselves. There’s going to be a lot of accidental contact where both players are lowering their heads.

 

[hornitosmonster]

I will know early in the season if I'm done with the NFL (not done with football, just the NFL). It is a prime time for those other leagues to steal some of the NFL's thunder.