Goodell wants to eliminate kickoffs

[ServoBillieves]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000106654/article/roger-goodell-mulling-over-idea-of-eliminating-kickoffs

The man is a complete and utter jackass. He's completely ruining the integrity of the game already, now he's thinking of removing 1/3 of the game? Could you imagine how the Patriots would completely abuse this if it were to come true? If he wasn't feeding millions upon millions of dollars to organizations his stupid ass should have been gone long ago. I won't be football anymore if he gets his way. It will be Goodell ball, and I'll stop watching.

[Mr. Magoo]

Its all about safety which is absolute garbage. I agree Goodell is ruining the game.

[jimmifli]

Modern athletic training has taken the modern athlete past the point that football can be played safely. They're too big strong and fast. The lifetime accumulation of hits guarantee severe brain damage for most professional football players. Fans won't watch if they know their heroes are being slowly killed. They need at least the illusion of safety.

The concussion problem the NFL faces is big enough to take down the game of football. I'm glad Goodell is trying to address it before he's forced to by lawmakers.

[Joe Fo Sho]

Its all about safety which is absolute garbage. I agree Goodell is ruining the game.

This is a quote from Ed Reed.

"All of a sudden, the NFL is starting to get sued for all the stuff they haven't protected over the years, and they haven't done ... now you want to take it out on us?" Reed said, via Sports Illustrated (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/michael_rosenberg/12/02/steelers-ravens-violence/index.html). "Take it out on yourself. It's easy for them to do the things they're doing, fining us and make us look bad, like we're the bad guy, when we're not.


"If they were really so concerned about the violence and the injuries, players getting hurt, answer this question for me: Why is there Thursday Night Football? We played three games in 17 days. Why is there Thursday Night Football? Come on, man."

http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2012/12/03/ravens-ed-reed-nfl-safety-illegal-hits/1744505/

I'm glad a current NFL player is calling Goodell out on his ****.

[Extremebillsfan247]

Changing the game too much is dangerous for any sport in terms of popularity. The sport of Boxing suffered for that same reason, it changed too much. It used to be the 2nd most popular sport in America next to Major League Baseball. JMO

[justasportsfan]

in the end, tackling will be illegal for players safety and flag football is in.

[ServoBillieves]

Modern athletic training has taken the modern athlete past the point that football can be played safely. They're too big strong and fast. The lifetime accumulation of hits guarantee severe brain damage for most professional football players. Fans won't watch if they know their heroes are being slowly killed. They need at least the illusion of safety.

The concussion problem the NFL faces is big enough to take down the game of football. I'm glad Goodell is trying to address it before he's forced to by lawmakers.

Don't want a concussion, don't play the game. Obviously you don't. Did you change Monopoly rules when your cousin was unhappy with what was happening?

Let's put flags on the belts, cry for flags and skip to the endzone. Special team specialists know <cite>e</cite><cite></cite><cite></cite><cite>xactly what they're getting in to. (for the record, my keyboard sucks and apparently I can't get out of italics). If you are a return man, you are no longer receiving a paycheck for what you have been training for for years. Bye Bye Hester, Cribbs, Parrish. The game is no longer the football you know. If you're afraid of a concussion, quit. That simple. Don't want to have the possibility of injury, get a new job ANYWHERE. It's that easy. Good teams would manipulate this abomination of Goodell football to a T, and guess who is the front runner for that? The Patriots.</cite>

[Typ0]

I'm on board with taking off the pads and playing flag football! I'll still watch...

[jimmifli]

Don't want a concussion, don't play the game. Obviously you don't.

The problem is violence loses it's entertainment if you know you are watching people kill themselves. Concussions cause permanent irreversible brain damage.

I love hard fought contact football, I love big hits and tackles, they're fun to watch. But the knowing that players face permanent brain damage, changes that a bit for me and I'd assume most fans. Did you find the Kevin Everett play entertaining? I sure didn't, and I hate watching replays of it. If that type of injury happened on a weekly basis I wouldn't watch football anymore.

Concussions happen on a weekly basis in most games. And now that we know how terrible the damage is, we need to adjust how we play to reduce the risk. Now personally, I don't think this is a good rule change and it wouldn't have much impact on concussions. But I'm glad the conversation is starting.

As for the rest of you post, quit being a ****ing moron. I know it's hard but you can at least try.

[Mouldsie]

I kind of like the alternative proposed by Schiano

[coastal]

Goodell doesn't give a shot about safety.

its all about protecting the revenue stream.

the Saints fiasco was a witch hunt with Greg Williams offered up as the Lee Oswald.

the recent Brandon Spikes bs was telling.

u have a guy out there promising to hurt people, got flagged for an illegal hit and then a few plays later knocks out one of the super stars of the league.

he got another fine.

[jimmifli]

Goodell doesn't give a shot about safety.

its all about protecting the revenue stream.

Of course.

As a fan I'm willing to delude myself, I just need something plausible. I can't watch boxing anymore because all I see is brain damage. But I can still watch MMA, because although the fighters still get KO'd the lack of a standing eight count dramatically reduces the post KO punches. Logical? Not really but it's plausible enough that I can watch for now. In a few years if all the current champs are punchy, I probably won't keep watching.

I really love watching football, but as the evidence mounts it's getting tougher to be a fan. I just need something to latch on to that's plausible and I'm more than happy to contribute my share to the revenue stream.

[BertSquirtgum]

Goodell can go jump in front of a car.

[ServoBillieves]

Goodell can go jump in front of a car.

I'll gladly drive.

[BillsFever21]

This is just completely ******ed. It was bad enough when they basically eliminated the kickoff return game which was exciting and also gave teams who worked harder an advantage by moving the kickoffs to the 35 yard line. Now they are thinking about eliminating the kickoffs altogether? That is just an awful idea. With the way the kickoff rules are now it wouldn't make that much of a difference anyway since there are very few returns anymore.

So what would happen as far as onside kicks go? Would a team still be able to go for them when they are behind or are they done with too since their aren't anymore kickoffs. Even if they're not you're totally giving away any element of surprise and it's almost doomed to fail on the attempt. It's hard enough recovering an onside kick as it is let alone if they know you are doing it for sure which would be the case.

As long as they are going this far you would think punt returns are just as dangerous. If that's the case then they might as well just get rid of kickers altogether and play strictly four down football without any punting with the exception of attempting a FG or extra point.

I guess if that doesn't work for them and they still want kickers they can just have somebody kick the ball and the NFL can have a true "Punt Catcher" position like Chris Watson back in the Wade Phillips days. They can decide if they want to fair catch it or let in bounce and see where it ends up after it's downed.

[coastal]

Of course.

As a fan I'm willing to delude myself, I just need something plausible. I can't watch boxing anymore because all I see is brain damage. But I can still watch MMA, because although the fighters still get KO'd the lack of a standing eight count dramatically reduces the post KO punches. Logical? Not really but it's plausible enough that I can watch for now. In a few years if all the current champs are punchy, I probably won't keep watching.

I really love watching football, but as the evidence mounts it's getting tougher to be a fan. I just need something to latch on to that's plausible and I'm more than happy to contribute my share to the revenue stream.
I hear ya... it's as bad if not worse for me because of my profession.

Based on some of your recent posts, I think you already know of what I speak of anyways.

watxhing Fred get elbowed by Babin last week was hard... Especially after his recent concussion.

sad actually.

[YardRat]

Modern athletic training has taken the modern athlete past the point that football can be played safely. They're too big strong and fast. The lifetime accumulation of hits guarantee severe brain damage for most professional football players. Fans won't watch if they know their heroes are being slowly killed. They need at least the illusion of safety.

The concussion problem the NFL faces is big enough to take down the game of football. I'm glad Goodell is trying to address it before he's forced to by lawmakers.

Pretty sure that's an exaggeration, but if anybody has any reliable statistics that 'most' suffer 'severe' brain damage I'd like to see it.

I also think it's a little inaccurate to state fans won't watch because of the threat of a 'slow death'. I would tend to think that a good percentage watch violent sports in anticipation of witnessing the big hit in football, crushing check in hockey, fiery crash in NASCAR etc, and possibly an equal or slightly larger percentage don't consider it a factor at all.

Next, although the players of the past may have a beef over being ignorant to long-term effects that some may eventually suffer, that's no excuse for the current crop of professionals and hasn't been for a few years...they know what they are getting into and they know the risks involved.

Finally, just IMO, MMA is the most violent and unwatchable 'sport' I've ever witnessed, have watched very, very little of it in the past and have no desire to watch it in the future at all and it's so obvious that the risk of long term affects are probably pretty high, so from my perspective I find it slightly incredulous that somebody can rail against boxing and football but maintain viewing MMA is still bearable until the participants inevitably start suffering from the damage.

[Parzival]

Modern athletic training has taken the modern athlete past the point that football can be played safely. They're too big strong and fast. The lifetime accumulation of hits guarantee severe brain damage for most professional football players. Fans won't watch if they know their heroes are being slowly killed. They need at least the illusion of safety.

The concussion problem the NFL faces is big enough to take down the game of football. I'm glad Goodell is trying to address it before he's forced to by lawmakers.


No, it's not. It makes too many people too much money. That's why guys like Goodell pay lip service to "making the game safer" while trying to add two games and make an 18 game schedule, and play games on Thursdays now.

Besides, no one is forcing these guys to play. Even the lowest paid player could retire from football and work a normal job living comfortably after one season. And even without the money, lots of people actually enjoy playing the game. Where do you stand on college ball? High school?

And as far as your assertation that "fans won't watch if they know their heroes are being slowly killed" I think you're underestimating what people will watch. You said yourself you like MMA...I find it brutal to watch someone turn another persons face into pulp.

[jimmifli]

Pretty sure that's an exaggeration, but if anybody has any reliable statistics that 'most' suffer 'severe' brain damage I'd like to see it.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/04/health/football-brain-disease/index.html

A study published Monday in the journal Brain, the most comprehensive look at CTE published thus far, adds fuel to the discussion, especially as it relates to professional football players.
Of the 35 players, 34 of them at the professional level, who had brain tissue sampled posthumously for the study, all but one showed evidence of disease.
CTE begins when repeated blows to the brain are not allowed to heal. With each successive blow, damage builds and a dense, abnormal protein called tau accumulates.
In its later stages, CTE can lead to things like rage, aggression, paranoia, and suicidal thoughts.

A link to the study for those interested:
http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2012/12/02/brain.aws307.short?rss=1

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a progressive tauopathy that occurs as a consequence of repetitive mild traumatic brain injury. We analysed post-mortem brains obtained from a cohort of 85 subjects with histories of repetitive mild traumatic brain injury and found evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy in 68 subjects: all males, ranging in age from 17 to 98 years (mean 59.5 years), including 64 athletes, 21 military veterans (86% of whom were also athletes) and one individual who engaged in self-injurious head banging behaviour. Eighteen age- and gender-matched individuals without a history of repetitive mild traumatic brain injury served as control subjects. In chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the spectrum of hyperphosphorylated tau pathology ranged in severity from focal perivascular epicentres of neurofibrillary tangles in the frontal neocortex to severe tauopathy affecting widespread brain regions, including the medial temporal lobe, thereby allowing a progressive staging of pathology from stages I–IV. Multifocal axonal varicosities and axonal loss were found in deep cortex and subcortical white matter at all stages of chronic traumatic encephalopathy. TAR DNA-binding protein 43 immunoreactive inclusions and neurites were also found in 85% of cases, ranging from focal pathology in stages I–III to widespread inclusions and neurites in stage IV. Symptoms in stage I chronic traumatic encephalopathy included headache and loss of attention and concentration. Additional symptoms in stage II included depression, explosivity and short-term memory loss. In stage III, executive dysfunction and cognitive impairment were found, and in stage IV, dementia, word-finding difficulty and aggression were characteristic. Data on athletic exposure were available for 34 American football players; the stage of chronic traumatic encephalopathy correlated with increased duration of football play, survival after football and age at death. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy was the sole diagnosis in 43 cases (63%); eight were also diagnosed with motor neuron disease (12%), seven with Alzheimer’s disease (11%), 11 with Lewy body disease (16%) and four with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (6%). There is an ordered and predictable progression of hyperphosphorylated tau abnormalities through the nervous system in chronic traumatic encephalopathy that occurs in conjunction with widespread axonal disruption and loss. The frequent association of chronic traumatic encephalopathy with other neurodegenerative disorders suggests that repetitive brain trauma and hyperphosphorylated tau protein deposition promote the accumulation of other abnormally aggregated proteins including TAR DNA-binding protein 43, amyloid beta protein and alpha-synuclein.

[jimmifli]

I also think it's a little inaccurate to state fans won't watch because of the threat of a 'slow death'. I would tend to think that a good percentage watch violent sports in anticipation of witnessing the big hit in football, crushing check in hockey, fiery crash in NASCAR etc, and possibly an equal or slightly larger percentage don't consider it a factor at all.

If injuries like Kevin Everett's happened on a weekly basis, would you still watch? I'm sure there is a contingent of fans that still would, but I wouldn't be among them.


Next, although the players of the past may have a beef over being ignorant to long-term effects that some may eventually suffer, that's no excuse for the current crop of professionals and hasn't been for a few years...they know what they are getting into and they know the risks involved.

I think most of the current players grew up with coaches calling a concussion something along the lines of "getting your bell rung" and treatment protocols weren't what they are now. There is still a lackadaisical attitude towards concussions as evidenced by Fred Jacksons quick return.


Finally, just IMO, MMA is the most violent and unwatchable 'sport' I've ever witnessed, have watched very, very little of it in the past and have no desire to watch it in the future at all and it's so obvious that the risk of long term affects are probably pretty high, so from my perspective I find it slightly incredulous that somebody can rail against boxing and football but maintain viewing MMA is still bearable until the participants inevitably start suffering from the damage.

The brutality of MMA is in the eye of the beholder. Most of the time is spent clinched against the fence or grappling on the ground. When a solid punch is landed and fighter is unable to defend himself the fight is stopped. Most fights go to a decision (which is only 3 rounds). In comparison to boxing, the fight is paused for 8 seconds to allow the fighter to "recover" and receive continued shots to the head, post knockout. It's only stopped if that happens 3 times in a round or a fighter isn't able to reach his feet despite the time to recover. In terms of opportunity for brain injury there isn't much of a comparison. Boxing presents a much more serious risk.

Finally, I don't think I've railed against boxing or football. I've just stated that the entertainment value of contact sports really diminishes if our heroes are all ******ed. This isn't unique to football, or MMA, or Boxing or Hockey. It's something that every contact sport will need to address.

[Mr. Magoo]

Next thing Goodell would want is to have the players run down the field singing "Tip Toes Through The Tulips"......Common this is football and people are expected to get hit.

[Mr. Pink]

Want to eliminate the head injuries or considerably lower them?

Take away the helmets.

It's that simple.

[Dozerdog]

This is a quote from Ed Reed.

"If they were really so concerned about the violence and the injuries, players getting hurt, answer this question for me: Why is there Thursday Night Football? We played three games in 17 days. Why is there Thursday Night Football? Come on, man."
.



Well Ed, if you want to exchange that $44 million contract you signed for a $200,000 a year deal, I'm sure the NFL can go back to that "Old Timey Football schedule" of jut a 14 games just played on Sundays.

The NFL plays Thursdays so they can make Billions more- in which the players make Millions more.

[Dozerdog]

BTW-

Kickoffs wont be missed all that much=

If the NFL eliminated kickoffs tomorrow, and the XFL sprang up on Saturday and put in all the eliminated kickoffs/ QB hits/ Horse collaring/ rules protecting undefended WRs/ Rules protecting QBs, guess what product you would watch?

I would hate losing kickoffs- but I would hate it a lot more if my already expensive ticket was doubled due to insane insurance premiums & insane court awards that the NFL will have to address

Even if the NFL does not get rid of them watch High Schools and colleges possibly jump on this. They do not have the deep revenue to ward off the lawyers

[Historian]

Modern athletic training has taken the modern athlete past the point that football can be played safely. They're too big strong and fast.

Make the field bigger.

[Historian]

Even if the NFL does not get rid of them watch High Schools and colleges possibly jump on this. They do not have the deep revenue to ward off the lawyers

There are no kickoffs at the modified level, even though they do have kickers that kick extra points...just for this reason.

JV and V still have KOs.

[Night Train]

The biggest problem is the obscene amount of $$ being paid everyone in pro sports. Owners hate paying someone who isn't playing.

Yet I didn't tell them to give these guys 5-10 Mil a season and now they wish to change the game itself to preserve their investment.

You think the owners actually care about the players safety ? What nonsense. They view them as cattle.

At least I still have college football, which I love. The NFL is ruining the game.

[YardRat]

http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/04/health/football-brain-disease/index.html


A link to the study for those interested:
http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2012/12/02/brain.aws307.short?rss=1

I'll have to read the details of the study later, but it would be interesting to know how random the selection of the football players were. Pretty sure it wouldn't be too difficult to put together twice as many players (35 is a very small number compared to the total, which one would think the descriptive 'most' would be relative to) that show no symptoms of brain damage at all, let alone damage classified as 'severe'.

[DraftBoy]

Well Ed, if you want to exchange that $44 million contract you signed for a $200,000 a year deal, I'm sure the NFL can go back to that "Old Timey Football schedule" of jut a 14 games just played on Sundays.

The NFL plays Thursdays so they can make Billions more- in which the players make Millions more.

The increase in revenue the league is seeing this year due to extra thursday night games did not have a large impact on the cap so the league may be making billions more as you say but the players aren't seeing that increase as of now.

- - - Updated - - -


The biggest problem is the obscene amount of $$ being paid everyone in pro sports. Owners hate paying someone who isn't playing.

Yet I didn't tell them to give these guys 5-10 Mil a season and now they wish to change the game itself to preserve their investment.

You think the owners actually care about the players safety ? What nonsense. They view them as cattle.

At least I still have college football, which I love. The NFL is ruining the game.

Yup.

[OpIv37]

I said it was going in this direction a long time ago.

What a putz. I can't stand Goodell.

[OpIv37]

Of course.

As a fan I'm willing to delude myself, I just need something plausible. I can't watch boxing anymore because all I see is brain damage. But I can still watch MMA, because although the fighters still get KO'd the lack of a standing eight count dramatically reduces the post KO punches. Logical? Not really but it's plausible enough that I can watch for now. In a few years if all the current champs are punchy, I probably won't keep watching.

I really love watching football, but as the evidence mounts it's getting tougher to be a fan. I just need something to latch on to that's plausible and I'm more than happy to contribute my share to the revenue stream.

Actually, you're a bit off on the boxing/MMA thing. The reason there are less concussions/brain damage in MMA than boxing is because there are fewer repeated blows to the head. In MMA, you can strike the whole body, legs included, and the gloves are smaller, making knockouts easier. Getting knocked out after 40 or 50 blows to the head is far worse for the brain than 2 or 3 love taps followed by a hard knockout shot. Combine that with the fact that MMA utilizes submissions and some guys don't even go for knockouts, and you have a sport that's much safer for the brain (although much more hazardous for the rest of the body, but most of that is far easier to fix than the brain).

[OpIv37]

Pretty sure that's an exaggeration, but if anybody has any reliable statistics that 'most' suffer 'severe' brain damage I'd like to see it.

I also think it's a little inaccurate to state fans won't watch because of the threat of a 'slow death'. I would tend to think that a good percentage watch violent sports in anticipation of witnessing the big hit in football, crushing check in hockey, fiery crash in NASCAR etc, and possibly an equal or slightly larger percentage don't consider it a factor at all.

Next, although the players of the past may have a beef over being ignorant to long-term effects that some may eventually suffer, that's no excuse for the current crop of professionals and hasn't been for a few years...they know what they are getting into and they know the risks involved.

Finally, just IMO, MMA is the most violent and unwatchable 'sport' I've ever witnessed, have watched very, very little of it in the past and have no desire to watch it in the future at all and it's so obvious that the risk of long term affects are probably pretty high, so from my perspective I find it slightly incredulous that somebody can rail against boxing and football but maintain viewing MMA is still bearable until the participants inevitably start suffering from the damage.

So obvious that they are probably pretty high? A lot of non-committal qualifiers in that statement. See my previous post.

[DraftBoy]

Actually, you're a bit off on the boxing/MMA thing. The reason there are less concussions/brain damage in MMA than boxing is because there are fewer repeated blows to the head. In MMA, you can strike the whole body, legs included, and the gloves are smaller, making knockouts easier. Getting knocked out after 40 or 50 blows to the head is far worse for the brain than 2 or 3 love taps followed by a hard knockout shot. Combine that with the fact that MMA utilizes submissions and some guys don't even go for knockouts, and you have a sport that's much safer for the brain (although much more hazardous for the rest of the body, but most of that is far easier to fix than the brain).

Since you've done some MMA sparring, do you wear head gear when you spar like in boxing?

[OpIv37]

Since you've done some MMA sparring, do you wear head gear when you spar like in boxing?

At the place I train, head gear is optional for adults. It used to be optional for the kids, but now the owner/head trainer is starting to require it.

I don't wear it, but we are pretty controlled when we spar anyway. We don't kick or knee the head in practice and we usually only hit with 16 oz boxing gloves- not the 4 oz MMA gloves. The only time it gets out of control is when the fighters have fights coming up and we are helping them get ready.

[jimmifli]

I'll have to read the details of the study later, but it would be interesting to know how random the selection of the football players were. Pretty sure it wouldn't be too difficult to put together twice as many players (35 is a very small number compared to the total, which one would think the descriptive 'most' would be relative to) that show no symptoms of brain damage at all, let alone damage classified as 'severe'.

It certainly isn't random, since it's a post mortem examination. But the fact that the injury can also be seen in college and high school athletes points to a common problem. Whether you think those symptoms warrant the descriptor "severe" is a matter of opinion.

[Bill Cody]

Goodell's idea stinks. Kickoffs are exciting. With all the money the NFL makes they're still using extremely dated helmet technology, no excuse for it but getting helmets that actually protect the head would address the larger issue of head trauma in football which my guess is substantially underestimated. It's like the oil companies using plastic boom to control oil spills, embarrassing.

But speaking of kicking, they need to narrow the goalposts and move the extra point back 10 yards. The extra point is silly now very very rarely missed, I'd like to see 10% or so missed, otherwise it's a waste of time. And kickers are so good now the kicks need to be made harder so teams will be more tempted to go for it.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

Want to eliminate the head injuries or considerably lower them?

Take away the helmets.

It's that simple.

You're just trading one type of head injury for another there. Before helmets, skull fractures, broken noses, broken teeth, etc were all serious concerns. I say they need to force everyone to wear those great gazoo helmets like Mark Kelso. It takes away the ability to use the helmet like a weapon, so they won't.

[DraftBoy]

At the place I train, head gear is optional for adults. It used to be optional for the kids, but now the owner/head trainer is starting to require it.

I don't wear it, but we are pretty controlled when we spar anyway. We don't kick or knee the head in practice and we usually only hit with 16 oz boxing gloves- not the 4 oz MMA gloves. The only time it gets out of control is when the fighters have fights coming up and we are helping them get ready.

So with the lack of head gear beaing worn does that not level the disparity that you mentioned earlier some?

[k-oneputt]

Never happen.

[OpIv37]

So with the lack of head gear beaing worn does that not level the disparity that you mentioned earlier some?

The way we usually spar? I don't think so. I mean, there are risks involved but we aren't repeatedly firing shots into each other's heads. If you hurt your training partners, then you have no one to train with.

[ServoBillieves]

I think my biggest issue is the turnover factor that comes with kickoffs. My good friend George was a wedge breaker and ended up actually playing a year of college ball at Bucknell as a DE because of it; but man, he would sprint as hard as he could and flatten the returner with a clean, shoulder to gut hit. Never injured anybody, but usually knocked the ball loose and gave great field position.

Screw that punt/whatever noise, it's essentially what a pee-wee football team would do, and I seriously wouldn't watch professional football anymore.

[ServoBillieves]

You're just trading one type of head injury for another there. Before helmets, skull fractures, broken noses, broken teeth, etc were all serious concerns. I say they need to force everyone to wear those great gazoo helmets like Mark Kelso. It takes away the ability to use the helmet like a weapon, so they won't.

That's seriously not a half-bad idea. Protection on both ends. Miss the ol' Great...

[Dozerdog]

The increase in revenue the league is seeing this year due to extra thursday night games did not have a large impact on the cap so the league may be making billions more as you say but the players aren't seeing that increase as of now. - - Updated - - -



Possibly- but the Thursday games make the entire package as a whole that more valuable. The question is- would Ed Reed trade in the Millions for an easy schedule?

[Dozerdog]

I think my biggest issue is the turnover factor that comes with kickoffs. My good friend George was a wedge breaker and ended up actually playing a year of college ball at Bucknell as a DE because of it; but man, he would sprint as hard as he could and flatten the returner with a clean, shoulder to gut hit. Never injured anybody, but usually knocked the ball loose and gave great field position.

Screw that punt/whatever noise, it's essentially what a pee-wee football team would do, and I seriously wouldn't watch professional football anymore.


You would actually stop watching NFL football if kickoffs were replaced.


So what are you and Nathan Lane gonna do during Superbowl Sunday?

[ServoBillieves]

You would actually stop watching NFL football if kickoffs were replaced.


So what are you and Nathan Lane gonna do during Superbowl Sunday?

Nathan Lane? Seriously? A great actor who is openly gay... OH WOW great joke. I get it. We'll probably make out and my wife will cook dinner. Or maybe he'd like to watch the media circus of SB commercials like my wife does as we fondle each other's nether regions. Did I mention I'm married? If you want to play paddy-cake with the sped neighbor that's on you sweetheart, at least I enjoy my hard hitting football.

[Dozerdog]

In all seriousness- the history of football has had to make major changes to survive


Teddy Roosevelt- probably the biggest "Man's man" to be president- saved the game that was almost outlawed because college kids were getting killed. 18 deaths in 1 year alone. He put together a think tank that looked at the rules, improved safety, and made the game more of what it is today. I'm sure back then there were folks who thought the game would turn into a "game for pussies"

Kickoffs would be missed- but I'd rather trade the KO to keep the game successful

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/books/how_teddy_roosevelt_saved_football_lFb0YLJVUCB9833dGarZoL

[trapezeus]

the proposed idea would make two score games much more intriguing. the odds of converting a fourth and 15 are a lot better than trying to get onside kick. it would be interesting to see how the 4th and 15 works time wise. if you convert the first down, does the clock start running? because on a kickoff, the clock stops once the runner is down.


So if you were down 14 with 2 minutes to go, it isn't so much a death sentence, because if you can score, you have a shot to get the 15 or more with essentially a time out. and if you convert it and the clock stops because of the rules or because the receiver went out of bounds, you are now in hail mary range in the worst case scenario. something to think about for sure.

[YardRat]

It certainly isn't random, since it's a post mortem examination. But the fact that the injury can also be seen in college and high school athletes points to a common problem. Whether you think those symptoms warrant the descriptor "severe" is a matter of opinion.

Pretty sure 'severe' is a specific medical classification for brain trauma, not a matter of opinion. Could be wrong, though.

[Mike]

The Real is issue at the end of the day, the long term issue is not player safety as much as it is having great players in 20 years. Right now the NFL is facing two major challenge:

1) Player Safety: The real issue is not weather Ed Reed gets injured on Sunday, no! The real issue is weather or not you allow your kid to play football on Monday. The more the public becomes aware of concussions and the potential brain damage the less likely they are going to allow their kids to play football at a young age or at all. Further, the more dangerous it is, the less likely small league, and high schools will take on such a liability.

2) Exercise: Have you seen the Play 60 commercials? When most of us were kids, playing games and sports was a normal part of the day. Now, most kids prefer playing video games, watching, TV, etc. Obesity, diabetes, is soaring among young kids these days largely due to diet and lack of exercise.

- Combine these two issues where many kinds are not playing sports and the few that do might not be allowed to play football by their parents or not provided by their schools and what do you have? Soccer type talent, which in itself can bring down the game of football. Further, unlike most other sports, the NFL gets its players exclusively from the US, so if the talent dries up here so will the game.

[YardRat]

Did you find the Kevin Everett play entertaining? I sure didn't, and I hate watching replays of it. If that type of injury happened on a weekly basis I wouldn't watch football anymore.



If injuries like Kevin Everett's happened on a weekly basis, would you still watch? I'm sure there is a contingent of fans that still would, but I wouldn't be among them.



Two more points regarding the Everett comments specifically...

1-Typical argument for some with certain leanings....expecting governance based on the exception, not the rule.

2-Darryl Stingley was paralyzed reaching for a pass. Dennis Byrd rushing the QB. All of the them (including Everett) suffered injuries far more serious than a 'typical' concussion, so I'm not sure why Everett is even being brought into the conversation (other than he was injured on a kicking play). If Everett is a poster boy for eliminating kick-offs, where has all of the concern been over the last 34 years for the safety of other players injured on plays other than kicks? What would you like to eliminate next...rushing the passer? Downfield passing? Defense, altogether?

Hell, nobody but purists or old-schoolers are *****ing about all of the rules changes opening up the offenses and creating more situations where a player could get severely injured on a pass play, which as noted earlier obviously happens.

[Mr. Pink]

Since the Everett point was brought up...

Eliminate rushing the QB because of what happened to Theismann.

Eliminate tackling a ball carrier because of what happened to Bo Jackson.

Eliminate passing because of what happened to Stingley.

Eliminate blocking because of what happened to Utley.

Eliminate extra points because of what happened to Gronkowski.

You can go on and on and on...where does it end?

[BertSquirtgum]

The owners should eliminate Goodell before he ruins the most popular sport in America.

[jimmifli]

Two more points regarding the Everett comments specifically...

1-Typical argument for some with certain leanings....expecting governance based on the exception, not the rule.

2-Darryl Stingley was paralyzed reaching for a pass. Dennis Byrd rushing the QB. All of the them (including Everett) suffered injuries far more serious than a 'typical' concussion, so I'm not sure why Everett is even being brought into the conversation (other than he was injured on a kicking play). If Everett is a poster boy for eliminating kick-offs, where has all of the concern been over the last 34 years for the safety of other players injured on plays other than kicks? What would you like to eliminate next...rushing the passer? Downfield passing? Defense, altogether?


I brought up Kevin Everett as an example of how player injuries diminish the entertainment of the game. As fans we all understand how severe and life altering spinal injuries are. And witnessing such injuries makes it harder to enjoy a football game as a fun distraction on Sunday. This is used as a comparison for concussions, since repeated head trauma also been shown to cause sever life altering injuries.

I would have thought attempting to make ****ty arguments based on your perception of my politics would be beneath you as a poster, but apparantly not. I'm not advocating government intervention. But the game is played my millions of children, and the evidence of CTE in highschool players will bring attention. If congress can spend a few years chasing MacGuire, Bonds and Clemons over steroids - all in the name of protecting children, they'll do it to NFL and NCAA over head injuries as well. And that says nothing of the lawsuits the NFL is facing from retired players. Burying your head in the sand and expecting nobody to notice the problem is a recipe for disaster, I'd rather have people that know and love football making changes rather than being forced by judges or lawmakers.

As mentioned earlier, I'm not a fan of this rule, I don't think it actually does much for player safety. I am though, a fan of changing rules to decrease the severity and frequency of head injuries. And I'm glad that Goodell seems willing to consider significant changes to the game to make brain safety a priority, even if this rule misses the mark.

[jimmifli]

Pretty sure 'severe' is a specific medical classification for brain trauma, not a matter of opinion. Could be wrong, though.
I wasn't aware. If you're able to provide a link I'll reword my post.

[YardRat]

I brought up Kevin Everett as an example of how player injuries diminish the entertainment of the game. As fans we all understand how severe and life altering spinal injuries are. And witnessing such injuries makes it harder to enjoy a football game as a fun distraction on Sunday.[quote]

Of course they do, of course they are, and of course they do. But they are part of the game and always will be. Injuries can never be removed entirely from any physical activity.

[QUOTE]This is used as a comparison for concussions, since repeated head trauma also been shown to cause sever life altering injuries.

Well it's a bad comparison, IMO. Where is all of the concern for the aging vets who are now crippled because of repeated trauma to their knees?


I would have thought attempting to make ****ty arguments based on your perception of my politics would be beneath you as a poster, but apparantly not. I'm not advocating government intervention.

Well, sometimes things just have to be pointed out. 'Governing' is not restricted to politics, and no policy, rule or legislation will ever be able to account for every imaginable incident. No one can account for everything, or prevent everything from occurring. There are always going to be exceptions to the rules, and attempting to cover every exception is an effort in futility and poor oversight.


But the game is played my millions of children, and the evidence of CTE in highschool players will bring attention.

It already has...the biggest current athletic issue at the HS level at the moment, and not restricted to football. Still, parents and students have a choice, also, with much less reward vs far greater risk than professional athletes.


If congress can spend a few years chasing MacGuire, Bonds and Clemons over steroids - all in the name of protecting children, they'll do it to NFL and NCAA over head injuries as well.

Granted.


And that says nothing of the lawsuits the NFL is facing from retired players. Burying your head in the sand and expecting nobody to notice the problem is a recipe for disaster, I'd rather have people that know and love football making changes rather than being forced by judges or lawmakers.


I can agree with that.


As mentioned earlier, I'm not a fan of this rule, I don't think it actually does much for player safety. I am though, a fan of changing rules to decrease the severity and frequency of head injuries. And I'm glad that Goodell seems willing to consider significant changes to the game to make brain safety a priority, even if this rule misses the mark.

Don't know if I can agree with this, though. An ineffective rule is worthless, and reeks more of positive publicity than actually addressing the issue.

[YardRat]

I wasn't aware. If you're able to provide a link I'll reword my post.

Glasgow Coma Scale (Minor, moderate, severe).

[NOT THE DUDE...]

Modern athletic training has taken the modern athlete past the point that football can be played safely. They're too big strong and fast. The lifetime accumulation of hits guarantee severe brain damage for most professional football players. Fans won't watch if they know their heroes are being slowly killed. They need at least the illusion of safety.

The concussion problem the NFL faces is big enough to take down the game of football. I'm glad Goodell is trying to address it before he's forced to by lawmakers.

why hasnt it taken down ufc or boxing? hockey? total bs. its called being a pussy.... if you dont like the risk, dont play... simple as that.

[Bills41]

That would be stupid to eliminate kickoffs!