Concussions ... (1 Viewer)

As I reflect on past years, it seems to me that there was an occasional concussion reported during any given season. Maybe 4 or 5 for the entire season. I can only recall three players who had them with any concern ... Wayne Chrebet, Steve Young and Troy Aikman.

This year there is a RASH of reported concussions.

Kurt Warner

Ben Roethlisberger

Brian Westbrook

DeSean Jackson

Clinton Portis

Jamal Lewis

Jason Smith

Brodney Pool

Donald Strickland

Captain Munnerlyn

Charles Tillman

Anthony Herrera

Eric Frampton

Danny Ware

Cory Redding

Sebastian Vollmer

Patrick Chung

Kevin Burnett

Justin Durant

Glover Quin

Why is this?

Option 3. Concussions are turning into a huge issue for the NFL.

It needs to be addressed this offseason.

Too many players are coming in at full force in a spearing fashion with their head down.

Whether they make helmet to helmet contact is not the issue, this tackling technique is dangerous for both players involved.

I see it happen a multitude of times in virtually every game I watch. Stiffer penalties and fines need to be imposed, imo.

Listening to Mike & Mike this morning on the radio...Golic remembered being helped up from a tackle by his teammate, pulled by the arm to the huddle and then to the line of scrimmage for the next play. Then he was told by his tackle to block the gap in front of him to his left...

Players reporting it now so they can get paid time off w/ new NFL rules.

Plus, they don't want to be a vegetable at 40+.

gethugefast1 said:

Listening to Mike & Mike this morning on the radio...Golic remembered being helped up from a tackle by his teammate, pulled by the arm to the huddle and then to the line of scrimmage for the next play. Then he was told by his tackle to block the gap in front of him to his left...

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Billy Bob

Players are also much bigger and stronger than they were in the past, so the hits are harder.

gethugefast1 said:

Listening to Mike & Mike this morning on the radio...Golic remembered being helped up from a tackle by his teammate, pulled by the arm to the huddle and then to the line of scrimmage for the next play. Then he was told by his tackle to block the gap in front of him to his left...

Players reporting it now so they can get paid time off w/ new NFL rules.



Plus, they don't want to be a vegetable at 40+.

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The bolded part - not the idiocy preceding it. You don't make it to the NFL by being soft. Are there players that relax when they get paid? Sure - but faking injuries or making sure they don't have to play? C'mon.When it comes to issues of the brain and long-term damage, I have no problem with players/teams/doctors being cautious.

The game has gone from just that, "a game", to a multi-billion dollar business. I look at the evolution of boxing as a similar example. In the 20s-70s, boxers would literally maim each other in the ring; as the sport grew through the advent of TV/Cable/PPV and the purses similarlly grew, we rarely see the "donny brooks" today that we can rent at the local video store from year ago. As a company (or league in this case) you protect your assets and that is exactly what the NFL is doing. Someone also mentioned new rules and that comes into play too as players can voice their opinions with less repercussions (especially the stars). Over the past week, we all know there was controversy surrounding Big Ben not playing. Tomlin was on Sirius yesterday and kind of danced around the situation.

While I see why he did that, I would have had no problem if he said the following: "There are roughly 7-9 franchise QBs in the NFL and we have one. We are also paying this individual 100mm, and we would like for that investment to be sound as possible, not only in the short-term, but also years from now as we could likely go another 25 years after Ben's retirement before we get another QB like him". End of story.

From the busines perspective, I feel the NFL has been very lucky as to who has had these injuries. Mike Webster was a great Center and suffered dimentia due to the mass hits he took. But what if that were Dan Marino, John Elway, or Terry Bradshaw?? We know Mike Webster as a good indivdual and great player...but the general public (think about our significant others), most likely do not have a clue of who he is. The NFL has literally dodged bullet after bullet, in regards to this issue (from a publicity standpoint), but if Emmitt Smith starts to drool on his shoes in the next 5 years, the NFL's dirty little secret will be exposed to the general public...and that will hurt business.

PatsFanCT said:

Players are also much bigger and stronger than they were in the past, so the hits are harder.

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This is a big factor. Players today are just way bigger, stronger, and faster than ever before. This is so due to advances in science, supplements, training regimens, nutrition, etc. However, there is no way to train the brain or the head to be stronger.Lineman just 20 years ago weighed 240-280 lbs. Lineman today are virtually all over 300 lbs.LBs in years past weighed 215 lbs and ran 4.9 forty times. LBs today weigh 245 lbs and run 4.5 forties.Etc, etc, etc.These days a 220 lb RB who runs a 4.3 crashes head on to a 245 lb LB who runs a 4.8. The impact of that collision is nothing like the impact of football collisions from the early 1900's - the mid 1990's.Athletes are advancing, collisions are getting more impactful, and there are no new and advanced ways to protect player's brains.

Casting Couch said:

Option 3. Concussions are turning into a huge issue for the NFL.It needs to be addressed this offseason.Too many players are coming in at full force in a spearing fashion with their head down.Whether they make helmet to helmet contact is not the issue, this tackling technique is dangerous for both players involved.I see it happen a multitude of times in virtually every game I watch. Stiffer penalties and fines need to be imposed, imo.

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Couldn't disagree more.It's a fast, violent sport.95% of helmet to helmet contact is both unintentional and unavoidable.Players moving at top speeds making adjustments to a ball in flight, or a receiver coming towards them, or reading the QB and reacting... there just isn't routinely enough time, let alone the super human reflexes it would take, to ensure that helmets don't collide with force on any given play.For me, it all comes down to intent. If in the refs/leagues subjective judgment a player initiates helmet to helmet contact intentionally then I'm all for a increased penalties and/or fines.Even now though, guys are regularly getting flagged for collisions that just happen as a part of the play. Collisions most would likely avoid or adjust too if they had the time to do it, but it's simply not possible. Things are moving too fat.If the solution is to throw more flags then it just makes the game worse and doesn't solve the problem.To me the only solution lies in better protective equipment, not changing a fundamental aspect of the on-field product.

treat88 said:

Casting Couch said:

Option 3. Concussions are turning into a huge issue for the NFL.It needs to be addressed this offseason.Too many players are coming in at full force in a spearing fashion with their head down.Whether they make helmet to helmet contact is not the issue, this tackling technique is dangerous for both players involved.I see it happen a multitude of times in virtually every game I watch. Stiffer penalties and fines need to be imposed, imo.

Click to expand...

Couldn't disagree more.It's a fast, violent sport.95% of helmet to helmet contact is both unintentional and unavoidable.Players moving at top speeds making adjustments to a ball in flight, or a receiver coming towards them, or reading the QB and reacting... there just isn't routinely enough time, let alone the super human reflexes it would take, to ensure that helmets don't collide with force on any given play.For me, it all comes down to intent. If in the refs/leagues subjective judgment a player initiates helmet to helmet contact intentionally then I'm all for a increased penalties and/or fines.Even now though, guys are regularly getting flagged for collisions that just happen as a part of the play. Collisions most would likely avoid or adjust too if they had the time to do it, but it's simply not possible. Things are moving too fat.If the solution is to throw more flags then it just makes the game worse and doesn't solve the problem.To me the only solution lies in better protective equipment, not changing a fundamental aspect of the on-field product.

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For clarification, when I referred to stiffer penalties for spearing or launching helmet to helmet, I am talking about ejections, suspensions and fines, not 15 yd penalties.

To complement my post above, I grew up playing hockey and played through college (D III). While many of the injuries in the two sports do not overlap (virtually no plantar faciatis (sp) or torn rotator cuffs in hockey), there are a few injuries that occur in both sports including concussions. Some of you may remember that players like Guy LaFleur played without a helmet. Eventually, the NHL deemed that every player was required to wear a helmet, much to the chagrin of the old time players (they were actually grandfathered in with Craig McTavish being the last player to go helmetless), for a couple of reason. Of course, one was tradition,but the other was a simple notion that the more equipment players wear the more daring/crazy they get when they get on the ice.

Hockey has traditionally been a game where players "police" themselves from infractions that could maim another player (more than any other sport), which has even led to blackballing. As someone that played in college (where you are required to wear a mask versus highly competitive men's leagues that drew about 20% semi-pro players without masks), I can tell you it was much more gentlemanly in the latter. These guys were beasts, but since they did not have face shield, they kept their sticks down (which in college no one worried about). The comparison is that with the high-tech equipment the NFL employs, it lends itself to acting more barbaric (beyond what is necessary to make a tackle), and injuries ensue.

1) I would love to see a game today where players wore minimal equipment and leather helmets. I guarantee you, there would be no helmet-to-helmet hits (which then debunks the theory that guys in the 50s just "shook it off".

2) I would also love to compare the concussion rate in the NFL, to that of Austrailian Rule Football. We joke that those guys are nuts, but no one in their right mind would go head-to-head without protection.

Sometimes the best defense against something like this is less protection and not more.

Sweet Love said:

To complement my post above, I grew up playing hockey and played through college (D III). While many of the injuries in the two sports do not overlap (virtually no plantar faciatis (sp) or torn rotator cuffs in hockey), there are a few injuries that occur in both sports including concussions. Some of you may remember that players like Guy LaFleur played without a helmet. Eventually, the NHL deemed that every player was required to wear a helmet, much to the chagrin of the old time players (they were actually grandfathered in with Craig McTavish being the last player to go helmetless), for a couple of reason. Of course, one was tradition,but the other was a simple notion that the more equipment players wear the more daring/crazy they get when they get on the ice. Hockey has traditionally been a game where players "police" themselves from infractions that could maim another player (more than any other sport), which has even led to blackballing. As someone that played in college (where you are required to wear a mask versus highly competitive men's leagues that drew about 20% semi-pro players without masks), I can tell you it was much more gentlemanly in the latter. These guys were beasts, but since they did not have face shield, they kept their sticks down (which in college no one worried about). The comparison is that with the high-tech equipment the NFL employs, it lends itself to acting more barbaric (beyond what is necessary to make a tackle), and injuries ensue.1) I would love to see a game today where players wore minimal equipment and leather helmets. I guarantee you, there would be no helmet-to-helmet hits (which then debunks the theory that guys in the 50s just "shook it off".2) I would also love to compare the concussion rate in the NFL, to that of Austrailian Rule Football. We joke that those guys are nuts, but no one in their right mind would go head-to-head without protection.Sometimes the best defense against something like this is less protection and not more.

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Nail hit squarely on head.

Because Jesus himself was knocked out and missed a game, now of course everyone has to be more cautious.

Tim Tebow

More guaranteed money = more concussions reported

probably a good thing

gethugefast1 said:

Listening to Mike & Mike this morning on the radio...Golic remembered being helped up from a tackle by his teammate, pulled by the arm to the huddle and then to the line of scrimmage for the next play. Then he was told by his tackle to block the gap in front of him to his left...Players reporting it now so they can get paid time off w/ new NFL rules.Plus, they don't want to be a vegetable at 40+.

Click to expand...

Seems more and more former players are coming out of the closet on this subject

ATC1 said:

Because Jesus himself was knocked out and missed a game, now of course everyone has to be more cautious.Tim Tebow

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Thank you for clarifying - I thought you meant DeSean Jackson

Sweet Love said:

Sometimes the best defense against something like this is less protection and not more.

Click to expand...

Sweet Love said:

To complement my post above, I grew up playing hockey and played through college (D III). While many of the injuries in the two sports do not overlap (virtually no plantar faciatis (sp) or torn rotator cuffs in hockey), there are a few injuries that occur in both sports including concussions. Some of you may remember that players like Guy LaFleur played without a helmet. Eventually, the NHL deemed that every player was required to wear a helmet, much to the chagrin of the old time players (they were actually grandfathered in with Craig McTavish being the last player to go helmetless), for a couple of reason. Of course, one was tradition,but the other was a simple notion that the more equipment players wear the more daring/crazy they get when they get on the ice. Hockey has traditionally been a game where players "police" themselves from infractions that could maim another player (more than any other sport), which has even led to blackballing. As someone that played in college (where you are required to wear a mask versus highly competitive men's leagues that drew about 20% semi-pro players without masks), I can tell you it was much more gentlemanly in the latter. These guys were beasts, but since they did not have face shield, they kept their sticks down (which in college no one worried about). The comparison is that with the high-tech equipment the NFL employs, it lends itself to acting more barbaric (beyond what is necessary to make a tackle), and injuries ensue.1) I would love to see a game today where players wore minimal equipment and leather helmets. I guarantee you, there would be no helmet-to-helmet hits (which then debunks the theory that guys in the 50s just "shook it off".2) I would also love to compare the concussion rate in the NFL, to that of Austrailian Rule Football. We joke that those guys are nuts, but no one in their right mind would go head-to-head without protection.Sometimes the best defense against something like this is less protection and not more.

Click to expand...

I was going to post something pretty similar, but you already covered what would have been my main point."Proper form tackling" has changed since the leather helmet days (which was more likely today's rugby). It was a lot of grabbing and arm tackling back then rather than full-on colliding.It's kind of like the seatbelt effect. There have been studies showing that seatbelts don't really affect traffic fatalities because people who wear seatbelts feel safer and are therefore marginally less careful not to crash. The reduction in fatalities per accident is offset by the increase in accidents.It may be the same with football helmets. As they get more protective, players get more reckless, and the safety benefits are offset by the greater recklessness players end up playing with.