The future of football in doubt?

[TCB]

The game itself is under a lot of scrutiny.
Kids are going to be steered away from playing at a young age until they make the game safer.
Documentary on tonight on PBS about CTE and concussions.
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/frontline-league-denial-tv-review-article-1.1478752

 

[ATL96Steeler]

I seen enough on head/brain trauma already.

Yes, there will be a decline in participation especially @ really young levels...I think kids start too early anyway. As far as HS level, maybe a decline, but I don't think the major market HS team will have a big problem fielding enough players for a team.

 

[j_y19]

The answer is very simple. Make them play without helmets. No one will lead with their heads then. They will quickly go back to tackling with their shoulders and wrapping up. Maybe give them partial helmets without facemasks that protect their ears and back of their heads (like the old leather helmets) in the event of a pancake hit. This will solve the problem and will also greatly reduce neck injuries. You don't see near the amount of head injuries in rugby and it is a serious collision sport also with big guys moving fast.

 

[TCB]

The answer is very simple. Make them play without helmets. No one will lead with their heads then. They will quickly go back to tackling with their shoulders and wrapping up. Maybe give them partial helmets without facemasks that protect their ears and back of their heads (like the old leather helmets) in the event of a pancake hit. This will solve the problem and will also greatly reduce neck injuries. You don't see near the amount of head injuries in rugby and it is a serious collision sport also with big guys moving fast.

In the days of leather helmets, the game was safer. More busted noses and missing chicklets, but no one was flying in head first.

 

[j_y19]

In the days of leather helmets, the game was safer. More busted noses and missing chicklets, but no one was flying in head first.

Nope. Guys today have become human missiles. They are so padded, they feel invincible. No one tackles anymore, they just throw their bodies at the ball carrier in an attempt to try and knock him down.

 

[TCB]

Nope. Guys today have become human missiles. They are so padded, they feel invincible. No one tackles anymore, they just throw their bodies at the ball carrier in an attempt to try and knock him down.

I disagree 100 percent with you on this. Take away their helmets or put on leather ones, and they are not diving in head first. Period

 

[j_y19]

I disagree 100 percent with you on this. Take away their helmets or put on leather ones, and they are not diving in head first. Period

How is that disagreeing with me? Isn't that what I said to do?

 

[j_y19]

Oh, I see. When I said Nope above, you thought I was disagreeing with you......I was actually agreeing with you. Poor choice of a word on my part.

 

[TCB]

Oh, I see. When I said Nope above, you thought I was disagreeing with you......I was actually agreeing with you. Poor choice of a word on my part.

Crap. I misunderstood. You were right.

 

[TCB]

I seen enough on head/brain trauma already.

Yes, there will be a decline in participation especially @ really young levels...I think kids start too early anyway. As far as HS level, maybe a decline, but I don't think the major market HS team will have a big problem fielding enough players for a team.

When you say you have seen enough, what does this mean?
You are experienced in the matter, or you are sick/fed up with the subject?

 

[Sportster 72]

Call me old school. Hitting is football. They can protect the head if they want but careers will get shorter when hitting in the knees becomes more popular. As long as their are millions of dollars to be made people will keep playing. Turn into touch football and no one will watch.

 

[gkekoa]

As long as there is the promise of millions of dollars for people who can barely graduate HS and there is violence in the game...there will be people willing to play and people willing to watch.

 

[j_y19]

As long as there is the promise of millions of dollars for people who can barely graduate HS and there is violence in the game...there will be people willing to play and people willing to watch.

Agreed. The question is will they legislate the physical contact out of the game? Will the NFL eventually become some glorified flag football league? Multi billion dollar settlements every decade or so will drive the owners to radically alter the game.

 

[TCB]

What a compelling documentary. If anyone didn't see it yet, try to find a way to.

Major Takeaways from 'League of Denial: NFL's Concussion Crisis' PBS Documentary | Bleacher Report

 

[gkekoa]

Agreed. The question is will they legislate the physical contact out of the game? Will the NFL eventually become some glorified flag football league? Multi billion dollar settlements every decade or so will drive the owners to radically alter the game.

They will legislate it out until it hurts the bottom line.

The multi-billion dollar settlements are related to lies and cover-ups from the past. It is now well documented and understood about the threats, just like boxing. It is now up to the players to play or not.