Sundaily NFL Banter

[Dalton26 16,892]

That Pittsburgh/Cincy game was more of a battle of who wanted to lose more.

[mdn82 25,546]

Prayers in the Seattle Dallas game.

[MartintheMopMan 7,765]

Prayers in the Seattle Dallas game.

That was brutal. It wasn't even a huge hit, he just... went down and didn't come back.

[Dalton26 16,892]

He looked like he was out before he even hit the ground.

[Str8Hoosiers 2,965]

This brings up a topic of conversation that they discussed during that game as the hit happened.... With everything being done for player safety they have almost removed kickoff returns and they were discussing what options for punts... What do you think? I like the big hits, I think the kicking game is a big party of football... These guys get paid millions of dollars and part of that is entertainment but the other part is that it isn't the safest job... There are repercussions...

[MartintheMopMan 7,765]

This brings up a topic of conversation that they discussed during that game as the hit happened.... With everything being done for player safety they have almost removed kickoff returns and they were discussing what options for punts... What do you think? I like the big hits, I think the kicking game is a big party of football... These guys get paid millions of dollars and part of that is entertainment but the other part is that it isn't the safest job... There are repercussions...

I think information about the level of long-term damage actually being suffered by players has not been readily available until very recently. Until then, these guys did not really know everything they were getting into. All the evidence about concussions was saying they should be fine without permanent impairment and that wasn't it at all. Not to mention, players on the practice squad who are suffering big hits with not super awesome pay.

 

I think the NFL will end up changing rules some more to reduce hits. I don't think it's the correct decision and agree kicking is an important part of the game. There are massive implications in removing kicking, it would change the entire game.

 

What they need to be doing is more research about reducing concussions with more advanced helmets and allowing players to use these helmets. There are good studies supporting those stupid looking helmets that look like they were wrapped in those packaging pillows and helmets like the Procap Steve Wallace used to wear. They have designed crumple zones outside of the helmet that can easily be changed and absorb the impact slowing the speed of the hit itself. 

 

But, the NFL has big barriers to entry for new helmets, and rules designed to discourage new helmet designs. Well, maybe not intentionally designed, but that's their effect. Currently, they are talking a big game of wanting better helmets developed, but not supporting the process enough. And alternative studies probably need to be done in order to determine the best possible way to reduce concussions. At the moment it seems like the NFL just throws random rule changes and hopes they mollify the public and player's union. There needs to be something more. I don't know exactly what since it's not my area of expertise, but shrugging it off as unavoidable just turns football into a modern day gladiator match where people suffer for our entertainment.

[Str8Hoosiers 2,965]

I get what you are saying and agree with most of it... But give me a contract, even to be on a practice squad and even though I may get seriously hurt I would jump at that opportunity. I'm all for better equipment, but I'm not for changing the game... I think it has already gotten way to soft and changing the kicking aspect could change it even more dramatically. The people who "suffer for our entertainment" are not doing it for us I promise that...

[MartintheMopMan 7,765]

I get what you are saying and agree with most of it... But give me a contract, even to be on a practice squad and even though I may get seriously hurt I would jump at that opportunity. I'm all for better equipment, but I'm not for changing the game... I think it has already gotten way to soft and changing the kicking aspect could change it even more dramatically. The people who "suffer for our entertainment" are not doing it for us I promise that...

Totally. I am 100% against changing the game. Ideally, I would like the game to drift back to how it was around 10 years ago with improved equipment removing the danger the rule changes were supposed to handle. The current iteration of "refball" is intolerable really. Games are so slow and big plays are meaningless because they're always called back. A massive investment in innovation and support in getting products tested and patented would go a long way toward fixing the problem. Some problems with that are an unwillingness to admit there is more the NFL could be doing to protect players and how entrenched current helmet providers are.

 

I disagree somewhat about practice squad players, but not entirely. If they've been given a full explanation of the risks they're undertaking and do so for the level of pay they're offered, then that's them. They just have such little bargaining power it makes me nervous, for most the only way to ever earn the big money is to be on practice squad first, so they have to accept what they are offered. Generally though, free choice with their bodies.

 

As for doing it for entertainment, I believe all aspects of the modern NFL are so connected to fan entertainment, it's impossible to extricate them. Would there still be football if people didn't watch it like we do? Yeah, of course. But, nothing like the scale at which it currently exists. These guys work-out every day, practice every day, and play hard including big hits to get the recognition to get paid more. And the amount they're paid is directly connected to how popular the sport is and how much money the NFL gets from our viewership. If football were a sport a few thousand people watched semi-professionals play each week, then the decisions made all the way down the line for players would be different.

 

I think a lot of guys would still play if they were just paying for "love of the game" and a 5-figure salary, but definitely much fewer and the game itself would be transformed by who chose to play it. Our entertainment dollars fund the NFL's scale and current form. Every practice squad player making a monster play during practice is doing it for the opportunity to make mad money on the biggest stage which, is inseparable in my opinion from doing it to entertain us.

 

Like in the gladiator example, on a microscale you can find reasons for each fight for gladiators. Money, women, to stay alive, getting out of prison, whatever. But overall, the reason they were there is because people wanted to watch them. People wanting to watch them led to everything else.

[Alford Bailey 12,426]

Its football. Its a brutal contact sport. You should plan on getting hurt if you are gonna play it.

[MartintheMopMan 7,765]

Its football. Its a brutal contact sport. You should plan on getting hurt if you are gonna play it.

Definitely. I think the debate is less about just planning on getting hurt, and the NFL's repeated and long-term attempts to cover-up what they knew about the possible permanent effects concussions were having on players and former players.

 

So, no one could plan for the possibility of a lifetime of brain damage and increased susceptibility to diseases like Alzheimers because the players did not know it was happening as often as it was. Lately, I think personally the NFL hasn't been making rule changes to actually prevent concussions (for the most part, concussion protocol updates are really good, but the hitting, kicking, and punting rule changes are less so) but to save face for the public. Then, when we eventually have commercials showing sad former players while Arms of An Angel plays in the background asking us to donate to the NFLPA, they'll be able to say "well, we did our best to stop it!".

 

It's classic, they are doing what the lawyer tells them not what's best for the sport as a whole.

[Dalton26 16,892]

Vernon Davis just got traded to the Broncos.

[Str8Hoosiers 2,965]

Just when Owen Daniels appeared to get involved

[MartintheMopMan 7,765]

Vernon Davis just got traded to the Broncos.

For a 6th and a swap! That's so much more than we should have ever gotten!

 

And Hayne cleared the wire!

 

Boy, when your expectations are at the absolute bottom it sure doesn't take much to make you happier about your team.

 

Plus, Davis has a legit shot to get that ring. He deserves it.

[Naturalhoosier 15,439]

I love me Vernon Davis!!!!!

[Dalton26 16,892]

For a 6th and a swap! That's so much more than we should have ever gotten!

And Hayne cleared the wire!

Boy, when your expectations are at the absolute bottom it sure doesn't take much to make you happier about your team.

Plus, Davis has a legit shot to get that ring. He deserves it.

I thought the 9ers got 2 6th rounders.

[MartintheMopMan 7,765]

I thought the 9ers got 2 6th rounders.

Yes. They traded VD and a seventh next year for a sixth next year and the year after.

Knowing Baalke he will turn those two sixths and a practice squad player into a second. Then draft an injured project from North Nebraska University. For their deepest position which is, um, nothing.

[Dalton26 16,892]

Johnny Football!!!!!

[Naturalhoosier 15,439]

Johnny Football!!!!!

Eff that guy

[hoosierwhodey 1,256]

Who-Dey!!

[Str8Hoosiers 2,965]

Sorry for any color blind individuals that couldn't watch the game last night but those uniforms were great!!!!!

 

And the fact that we are now undefeated in them is even better! GO BILLS

 

*** Also in the lead spot for a Wild Card spot!