The future of Football

[BamaProud]

It doesn't look good IMO.

The new Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) study isn't going to help. It says 99% of all NFL players have CTE. I'm not a Pro Football (or any other pro sport) fan but I think we may be the last generation of people really into any type of football. Parents aren't letting their kids play. Much like pro Boxing was 15-20 years ago, I think football is coming to the end of its era.

 

[THEdonkey0515]

Yeah setting here watching the story about the ravens linemen who is leaving the game at 26 due to a CTE test.... They are talking about all the players who have left the game under the age of 30 due to this reason over the last couple years some really good players....

Also they say the way they throw money at this guys a man can play 6-8 years now days & make as much money over his career as players 10....15 years ago made over a 10-12 year career so some don't feel the need to keep pushing year after year.

They will differently be making some more changes over the next couple years Probaby start with taking kickoffs out of the game.

 

[PalsPal]

If I had a son, I would not allow him to play.

With that said, the study is skewed. For one thing, it isn't 99% of all players, it is 99% of the brains that were DONATED by family members who already suspected that there were issues with their loved ones. That's a big difference. And, the test can only be performed postmortem.

Now concerning parents not allowing their kids to play. That is the case with a growing number; however, you will still see the inner-city type kids keep on playing, because that may be their only opportunity at getting an education and possibly making good $$$. They will take the risk.

 

[BamaProud]

If I had a son, I would not allow him to play.

With that said, the study is skewed. For one thing, it isn't 99% of all players, it is 99% of the brains that were DONATED by family members who already suspected that there were issues with their loved ones. That's a big difference. And, the test can only be performed postmortem.

You are right about this study. It did not attempt to compare CTE occurrence between the general population to ex-football players. However, CTE has been found to be a rare condition in the general population in other studies.

 

[BamaProud]

That last study I read confirms what Palspal stated above. The fan popularity of football continues to grow, but middle class kids participation is declining in favor of soccer, lacrosse etc.

I've read some really interesting ideas about addressing the head injury problems. One proposed solution is to limit the total poundage you can have on the field at one time. For example, a team have more than 2,500 pounds of players on the field at any given time. This would likely reverse the trend of "bigger" players and likely result in less weight disparity between, say, a linebacker and a RB. I'm not sure if you'll ever reproduce the fan excitement of the game with these types of restrictions, however.


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I have heard another proposal. It sounds counterproductive, but some people say getting rid of helmets and pads would help. It is theorized that helmets/pads make players feel invincible making them play rougher...kinda like the soccer mom driving her big SUV. Furthermore, players sometimes use their helmets as weapons. I would like to see a study that compares the rate of CTE in Rugby(no pads) players to American football players.

 

[Ed B]

If I had a son, I would not allow him to play.

With that said, the study is skewed. For one thing, it isn't 99% of all players, it is 99% of the brains that were DONATED by family members who already suspected that there were issues with their loved ones. That's a big difference. And, the test can only be performed postmortem.

You are right about this study. It did not attempt to compare CTE occurrence between the general population to ex-football players. However, CTE has been found to be a rare condition in the general population in other studies.

The report showed something like 113 of 114 (can't remember exact number but only one didn't have it) former players had signs of CTE. Anyone else curious who the one was that thought they had it only to find out they were just legitimately crazy.




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[RUGER]

. At the end of the day, it's all about the money.

No doubt about that.

Is this the same condition that was the basis of the movie "Concussion" that Will Smith played in?
If you haven't it, it is a very informative movie. Well as much as a "movie" can be anyway.

I have no doubt if they took the helmets away this issue would absolutely all but disappear.
I don't care what kind of "protection" you have, if you slam your head against a wall hundreds or thousands of times a year over the course of several years it is gonna do some damage.

 

[PalsPal]

I have no doubt if they took the helmets away this issue would absolutely all but disappear.
I don't care what kind of "protection" you have, if you slam your head against a wall hundreds or thousands of times a year over the course of several years it is gonna do some damage.

While taking away helmets would help against the tackling issues and head-to-head contact, you then have the problem of banging your head on the ground while being tackled without protection.

Yes, money is the issue. The NFL is trying to avoid paying out millions via lawsuits to those who have sustained repeated head injuries.

On the other hand, these guys were paid tons of cash to play a violent game. Now, previous players could claim that the head injuries having devastating effects later in life wasn't made known, but that isn't the case going forward. I'm sure the NFL will look at having some kind of waiver clause in future contracts.

 

[PillsburyDoughboy]

I saw a OJ Simpson special where they were playing high light reels of the 70s. All the plays they showed the teams looked so small and so slow coming off the line. Even OJ looked slow in comparison to what we have today in the NFL.

The way these teams hit and take the hits I cannot even imagine getting hit by them. It takes one tough Son of a Gun to be able to take that sort of beating. To the John Elways and Joe Montana's of the World I applaud you.

 

[TreyB]

I saw a OJ Simpson special where they were playing high light reels of the 70s. All the plays they showed the teams looked so small and so slow coming off the line. Even OJ looked slow in comparison to what we have today in the NFL.

The way these teams hit and take the hits I cannot even imagine getting hit by them. It takes one tough Son of a Gun to be able to take that sort of beating. To the John Elways and Joe Montana's of the World I applaud you.

Bigger, Faster and Stronger

 

[BamaProud]

I see no end to it where the individual athlete's health is ever at the forefront of consideration. So long as the NFL pays well, the talent will keep coming.

I have to disagree. Boxing is a prime example. It was huge only 25 years ago and even bigger prior to that. There will still be plenty of people, mostly looking for an escape from poverty, that look to football as a way to a better life. Much like the few boxers we have competing today.

I don't think we will ever see a lack of linemen or running-backs, but as we all know the Quarterback is the most important position on the football field --By far. It takes more than athleticism to play QB. It takes intelligence and intelligent people naturally stay away from things that increase the chance that your brain will turn to mush. They also keep their kids away from such things.

Arguably there is already a lack of good quarterbacks in the NFL. Take Tom Brady and put him on nearly any other team and they win at least a few more games, maybe even make a run for the superbowl. That can't be said for the best Runningback, or the best lineman or receiver in the league. Without good quarterback play, I don't know it the game can remain entertaining. People aren't entertained by 3 yards and a cloud of dust.

 

[Scioto]

I do believe we are witnessing the peak of football popularity. NFL tv viewership and game attendance has been in decline. Youth participation is in decline. College seems strong still, but is it really? Outside of the SEC, ACC, and Big Ten, is attendance/viewership of the two other Power 5 any better today than ok to good? After that, so many of the other schools rely on the chicken$&@? Saturday games with the big guys to pay their bills.

The JAMA study was flawed, but the risk of head injuries are real and parents, this parent included, are forbidding their sons from playing. I'm a proponent of getting rid of the helmets and pads and mandating/teaching only rugby tackling. But let's not forget, soccer has its own concussion problems.

Twenty years from now, maybe sooner, UT fans and all SEC fans will probably be angry that their schools have no lacrosse programs and all the high school talent is leaving for the Big Ten, Northeast schools, and UDenver. All of the discussion in the ACC will be about Syracuse's upteenth straight conference championship and 20 game winning streaks against Clemson and FSU. Jim Brown was also an All-American in lacrosse at the 'Cuse.

 

[THEdonkey0515]

They have been playing American football for 150 years now people know what kinda health problems it can cause... People back then can say they had no idea what was really going on & that may be true.....But everyone that is playing the game Now and in the future knows what could happen & they are still playing.... No need to change the rules & make the game everyone loves into something else.

 

[wayne]

BRING BACK THE LEATHER HELMET!!!!

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[dr]

Wussification of America. Rush said the libs would eventually ban football, and all contact sports.

 

[wayne]

Wussification of America. Rush said the libs would eventually ban football, and all contact sports.

The NCAA banned "two a day" practices effective this year.

I was listening to college sports on satellite radio and one of the former coaches, I can't recall which one, said that "2 a day" practices were no longer needed since training is now basically year around. He said that in the past when players were taking a couple months off, that "2 a days" were needed to get back into football shape. Since taking away "2 a day" practices, the NCAA now allows for more practice days to begin the season.

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[Scioto]

Wussification of America. Rush said the libs would eventually ban football, and all contact sports.

The NCAA banned "two a day" practices effective this year.

I was listening to college sports on satellite radio and one of the former coaches, I can't recall which one, said that "2 a day" practices were no longer needed since training is now basically year around. He said that in the past when players were taking a couple months off, that "2 a days" were needed to get back into football shape. Since taking away "2 a day" practices, the NCAA now allows for more practice days to begin the season.

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I don't know if it was the same episode, but I also heard that the coaches are happy they banned two-a-days. Younger players learn better with one-a-days. And the longer 28/29 day preseason practice schedule means fewer injuries. Urban Meyer was quoted as saying Mickey Marotti hated days 3 and 4 under the old schedule. That's when most of the hamstring injuries were occurring. This preseason and at least for the first couple of weeks, they are going hard two days, off two days, and so on.

They are just a bunch of wussies. I can't believe these wussie coaches also make their wussie players drink water during preseason camp. Don't they realize that just gives the players cramps? I thought that was learned 150 years ago. :rotf: oke:

 

[Scioto]

For what this is worth

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-sta ... reparation