New post up. Prepare to get a little angry. Not at me, of course, but it will still be there.

The average football tackle equates approximately to being engaged in one car crash. This references the amount of force exerted through the soft tissue, spine and brain.

Now ponder all the tackles a football player has partaken over the course of endless practices, college, and pro games.

Any wonder why brain damage is so prevalent in football?

However, how far down the rabbit’s hole does ANYONE really want to engage on this discussion?

Albeit a shitty movie, Any Given Sunday did have a great line spoken by James Woods who played the team’s orthopedist. And the point to the tirade is that the players know the risks, choose to accept the risks and have to be prepared to face the consequences of those risks.  They are gladiators....

Otherwise, the NFL will be legislated into a Flag Football League. And some are already bitching that it has already come to that!

Time for change???????

While the over size helmets trotted out last year seem to be more bust than boon, there are a lot of ways to reduce impact. Neoprene webbing is used by Navy Seals in conjunction with other materials, no one is calling those dudes sissies. If stuff like that can help save a person on a 30 foot fall into the ocean, while being shot at, on a regular basis, it should be looked at in the NFL.

BigBadBill - 04 February 2010 08:26 AM

While the over size helmets trotted out last year seem to be more bust than boon, there are a lot of ways to reduce impact. Neoprene webbing is used by Navy Seals in conjunction with other materials, no one is calling those dudes sissies. If stuff like that can help save a person on a 30 foot fall into the ocean, while being shot at, on a regular basis, it should be looked at in the NFL.

Absolutely.

The NFL bears responsibility for protection of its players. But then again, so does the NFLPA. And during the tenure of Gene Upshaw, little was voiced despite the growing concern of some players.

Time will tell if DeMaurice Smith will push the envelope on the issue.

As to the equipment, sure it is wise to investigate into better protective headgear. However, that will not necessarily prevent the shearing type impact sustained to the cervical spine during a tackle. It is the mid to upper portion of the neck that protects the brainstem. And the engaged “whiplash” (not a great term but cannot think of a better one at the moment) motion over a repeated nature can cause permanent damage to the senses, reflexes and mental function.

TomD - 04 February 2010 08:31 AM

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell even asked Schwarz: ‘’How do you know they did this from football and not swimming?’’

Leave it to Goodell to fall back into corporate lawyer mode to cover the NFL’s ass. They’re just begging for the government to intervene on this aren’t they? All Goodell cares about is dollars and the bottom line.

Goodell was hired by the NFL team owners and represents their interests. Yes, he should be representing the interests of the entire NFL, but we know better.

Admitting any culpability to the issue without consent would result in him being immediately fired.

Tyrone Briggs - 04 February 2010 08:35 AM

Absolutely.

The NFL bears responsibility for protection of its players. But then again, so does the NFLPA. And during the tenure of Gene Upshaw, little was voiced despite the growing concern of some players.

Time will tell if DeMaurice Smith will push the envelope on the issue.

As to the equipment, sure it is wise to investigate into better protective headgear. However, that will not necessarily prevent the shearing type impact sustained to the cervical spine during a tackle. It is the mid to upper portion of the neck that protects the brainstem. And the engaged “whiplash” (not a great term but cannot think of a better one at the moment) motion over a repeated nature can cause permanent damage to the senses, reflexes and mental function.

Agreed on all points. I guess I am just saying that since nothing is being done, beyond spiffy denials, any step in the right direction would be welcomed.

Violence sells the game.

The “silver hammer” was a nice touch.

Players are disposable.

There has been some more pushback to the NFL as concussions go.
A number of players have volunteered to donate their brains (after they die, of course) for the purpose of researching the effects of head trauma on NFL players. Christopher Nowinski, a former WWE rassler, has worked pretty hard not only on NFL stuff, but also the effects pro wrestlers endure.
I’d have to look up the exact name, but I know there’s at least one doctor/NFL puppet who lost his job with the league after saying it wasn’t known just how much damage concussions caused NFL players, or something like that. There was a pretty good report on HBO’s Real Sports about it.
Heck, if we even want to go on a wrestling tangent, the amount of “extreme” stuff has gone down pretty significantly over the last 10 years. How much of that is concern for the talent and how much is Vince McMahon’s all-but-in-name monopoly is another matter.