This weekend marked the 40th ACL tear of the season with 3 weeks and the playoffs still to go... Is this a direct correlation to the new rule changes emphasis on no high hits? Will they eventually have to adjust the rules back towards the middle somewhere? For a comparison, there were only 36 knee injuries in the ENTIRE season last year, there is still close to 1/3 of the season left and we have already passed that mark. Also on that note, does this finally put the last nail in the coffin for Brady's run this year with New England. I know they keep pulling wins out of their *** like David Copperfield, but with Gronk out for the season yet again I can't help but think they will struggle mightily for the remaining 3 weeks and flame out in their first playoff game. I suppose you can never count Tom out, but is the writing on the wall?
I think it certainly has contributed to it, at least a little. I think football needs a complete redesign of their protective ware. Change the helmet from a rock hard piece of plastic into some type of reinforced gel type helmet. Same with the shoulder pads. This would keep people from using the helmets and pads as weapons, while still protecting peoples melons.
yup its been a fun few wins for the patriots pulling it out in the last few minutes,,,they might win there first playoff game at home, but with a completely depleted defense, AND offense, I don't see how on earth they can get past Denver, IN Denver. I hope they lose first round because im sick of going deep in the playoffs with a false sense of hope knowing full well the teams weakneses.
I dont even know how they will go about fixing it, but ill tell you one thing, i HATE seeing the greats get injured, regardless of team. Rodgers, Julio Jones, AP, Randall Cobb, Reggie Wayne, Gronk...the list goes on and on... Bad for football.
Football is a violent sport any way you patrol it. While the assault on high hits may be a correlation to more lower body injuries, ACL injuries are commonplace in many sports. Just a nature of the game anymore. Look at how many players are dealing with ACL/knee injuries in basketball the past few years. Heck, Rose and Shumpert on the same day two years ago. One thing I do know is even with better equipment & helmets the brain is still floating around inside the cranium no matter what you put over it to "protect" it. The league is going to be forced to make players sign waivers with the understanding that head trauma in the NFL won't go away and the players know brain injuries will be something that can plague them for the rest of their lives.
This is something I'm SHOCKED hasn't happened yet. Players know what they are getting into these days by playing this sport, and are risking it anyway to make the big bucks. The NFL shouldn't be held liable in anyway IMO.
The NFL is far more about covering their own butt and less about player safety. But, I agree that players know what they are doing. All players have know about concussion since they started playing, many in pop warner and youth leagues. The only thing that has changed is the compensation these players are getting vs players back in the 70's and the fact we know concussions are far more detrimental to the long term health of the players.
Take all the pads away and let them go at. They'll learn quick how to tackle correctly and learn quicker how bad an incorrect tackle feels without their helmet when they go head to head with a defenseless receiver.
The difference is not how the game is played...damn guys use to wear leather helmets or no helmets at all. The difference is guys are bigger, faster and stronger. Wide receivers use to be 5'8 and fast, now their 6'4 and Olympic sprinter fast...at 225 to 230. Donta Hightower came out of Bama at 260, I stood next to him quite a few times, hes now pushing 270 and no gut...I did not think that human could carry another pound...and he goes sideline to sideline. Ronnie Lott was a vicious hitter, maybe the nastiest of all time...he would be an undersized free safety, best case today.
ALL of the NFL players know the dangers and they assumed the risk when they signed with their respective teams. Modern day NFL players trying to sue is like a modern day boxer suing the WBA for having brain injuries. It is laughable. Playing professional football is not a right, even if a player is world class. It is a choice. There are many other things in life that a person could choose to do if they felt like strapping on a football helmet was a serious risk to their well being.
All I know is that if they get any more rules people aren't even going to be able to touch each other. They're going to have to change the name to NFFL. national flag football league
I agree a lot has to do with the type of athlete now (bigger, faster, stronger). But these new rules are really putting hampering the game of football. A defender has no choice but to change his vision of where he is going to tackle an offensive player. The game is so fast that he doesn't have time to "guage" mid section. ANYWHERE above the waist is out of the question in a defenders mind. So much emphasis has been put on near the head tackles. Their focus is waist or below now.... hence... a lot of blown out knees. As far as the QB?? I dont' even know where you would attempt to tackle him. It's like a you have to grab him by his arms and gently help him down to the ground. Completely different game.
" Defenseless player " is what gets me. Back in the day...players simply wouldn't go over the middle or expose themselves for fear of getting clocked. Somehow that changed to players not allowed to be hit anymore unless they are paying attention? It's literally against the rules to hit players who arnt ready for it. A simple fix would be to have players sign waivers, and bring back the old rules. If you want the fame/money/stardom, then they have to be willing to risk there health. Just like Boxers. Or MMA fighters. We may lose a few players...but there are plenty of players in this country who will willingly sign the paper. It's all entertainment anyways
