What would happen if the NFL put in weight restrictions? (1 Viewer)

[ImTheScientist]

Im not concerned what so ever with their safety as they are getting paid to entertain and play a game.

 

[money.never.sleeps]

1. I highlighted this because that is my sticking point...6 fot 3 and 280 is not natural. People do not get that big eating 2,000 calorie a day diets...even 3000 calories. Why do these people get a free pass to eat whatever they want? If you read the article I put in a few posts up, Brad Culpepper was going to McDonald's and Wendy's late at night so he could keep weight on, that's not muscle buddy.

2,000 and 3,000 calories isnt much at all. I'm 6'1 and 215 (under 10% body fat) and I consume close to 5,000 daily. People have different body types so I dont agree that its ridiculous to be 6'3 and weigh 280.

My HS TE who now plays LT in the NFL was about 6'3 265 in HS. He went to college as a TE and gained about 15-20 pounds. He then was advised to go to a lineman position because the game has changed for the TE to a more athletic position. He put on another 20. I know he is weighed weekly and is docked $$ if he doesnt hit a certain weight so I agree that the NFL has a problem but Im not sure if correctable at this point. You're right though.. its not muscle but pure weight in a majority of cases which comes from over consumption no matter where.

Same could be said about a majority of positions though.. Everyone is bigger and if you're not.. you're on the street for the most part. Why does the NFL have the combine? To weed out the physically inadequate. It didnt just start now but the numbers evolved.

 

[wsig]

Weight limits on kickoffs are a terrible idea. Speed is the big factor in most of these hits, not size. Especially on STs. If you've got two smaller, faster guys running into each other at full speed, you've got just as much of a problem. Look at the Dunta Robinson/DeSean Jackson collision. Both are under 200, and they both got KO'd. Regulating to smaller players will put more of a premium on speed, given that NFL teams are always looking for an advantage. Just get rid of kickoffs, since they want to and are rapidly moving in that direction, anyway. I like them, but then again I like defense too and it seems that's getting regulated out of the game too...

Caveat: this is way simplified.Force = change in momentum, and momentum = mass * acceleration. So two 200-lb guys running into each other at 20 mph produce the same force as two 240-lb guys running into each other at 16 mph. I haven't bothered to research the correlation coefficient of size and speed, but I suspect the NFL has (or will before it implements any weight limits). And I'm pretty confident that, among NFL special-teamers, a 20% weight gain doesn't result in a 20% speed reduction. All that said, you could argue that special teams coaches already value speed far more than size, so there's no need to add weight limits.

A good deal of the most violent collisions are the ones involving smaller players on kickoffs and gunners on punt returns. It's got little to do with equations, and everything to do with what we see develop every week. The more elusive players have a better chance at hitting the returner with the most momentum, from having a less impeded path. If a LB gets chipped coming down, it also takes him longer to get back to top speed. Look at 10 yard splits of DBs, WRs, or RBs compared to LBs.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

For the record, I don't necessarily agree with Goodell for just kickoffs but I am interested that any kind of weight restrictions are being discussed behind closed doors somewhere.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Gotta bump this when we are talking '13 Jags vs the '72 Dolphins.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Interesting revisit. The unconventional thinking appeals to me.

Isn't it logical to conclude that the unwritten minimum weight limits on linemen make line play generally less athletic than it could be? In other words, since the first requirement of a lineman is to weigh something very close to 300 pounds, the position has already significantly narrowed the talent pool before ever considering athleticism.

With many, maybe millions, more in the pool of men who weigh 225-275, wouldn't you be more likely to have greater athleticism in bigger numbers?

I still think this is the best post in the thread.

 

[DropKick]

The weight discrimination lawsuits would dwarf (pun intended) the concussion law suit.

 

[ghostguy123]

I guess I'l be the one to tell it like it is...

Who cares? Let them weigh 500 pounds, let them take steroids, let them play through injuries that should keep them off the field... as a fan, I just want to be entertained by football being played at the highest level possible. To hell with the consequences to the players; they're getting paid millions of dollars, and no one is forcing them to do it anyway.

The cold, hard truth.

The stick to watching movies if you want to be entertained.

 

[ghostguy123]

Weight limits is interesting, but I don't think it would help anything as far as ON the field, unless you tried to do weight restrictions on each position, which just wont work for a variety of reasons.

As far as off the field, yes, it would likely increase the lifespan of a lot of the players who wouldnt have to carry an extra 50 pounds around for a decade or more. You would think this would be looked at even more than concussions.

But, i dont think it will happen, nor would I really be in favor of it.

 

[Not Sleeping]

I guess I'l be the one to tell it like it is...

Who cares? Let them weigh 500 pounds, let them take steroids, let them play through injuries that should keep them off the field... as a fan, I just want to be entertained by football being played at the highest level possible. To hell with the consequences to the players; they're getting paid millions of dollars, and no one is forcing them to do it anyway.

The cold, hard truth.

The stick to watching movies if you want to be entertained.

Hmm, I know I can be a raging, indifferent ####### at times, so I shouldn't be surprised that three years later I find myself agreeing with this guy. These are big boys. They know what they're signing up for. And for a lot of them, it's a choice between fame, money, and women vs. hard time (see Smith, Aldon..who may get both!). Of course, I'm probably one of the few who thought this was actually a good idea that should be seriously looked into:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eXFYuskXE8

 

[ghostguy123]

I guess I'l be the one to tell it like it is...

Who cares? Let them weigh 500 pounds, let them take steroids, let them play through injuries that should keep them off the field... as a fan, I just want to be entertained by football being played at the highest level possible. To hell with the consequences to the players; they're getting paid millions of dollars, and no one is forcing them to do it anyway.

The cold, hard truth.

The stick to watching movies if you want to be entertained.

Hmm, I know I can be a raging, indifferent ####### at times, so I shouldn't be surprised that three years later I find myself agreeing with this guy. These are big boys. They know what they're signing up for. And for a lot of them, it's a choice between fame, money, and women vs. hard time (see Smith, Aldon..who may get both!). Of course, I'm probably one of the few who thought this was actually a good idea that should be seriously looked into:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eXFYuskXE8

I suppose I would just rather watch a great sport than be temporarily entertained by ridiculous hits and injuries.

 

[Not Sleeping]

I guess I'l be the one to tell it like it is...

Who cares? Let them weigh 500 pounds, let them take steroids, let them play through injuries that should keep them off the field... as a fan, I just want to be entertained by football being played at the highest level possible. To hell with the consequences to the players; they're getting paid millions of dollars, and no one is forcing them to do it anyway.

The cold, hard truth.

The stick to watching movies if you want to be entertained.

Hmm, I know I can be a raging, indifferent ####### at times, so I shouldn't be surprised that three years later I find myself agreeing with this guy. These are big boys. They know what they're signing up for. And for a lot of them, it's a choice between fame, money, and women vs. hard time (see Smith, Aldon..who may get both!). Of course, I'm probably one of the few who thought this was actually a good idea that should be seriously looked into:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eXFYuskXE8

I suppose I would just rather watch a great sport than be temporarily entertained by ridiculous hits and injuries.

Ah, but in the All-Drug NFL, you get to watch an even GREATER sport. This is not a hypothetical. I'm actually just describing today's NFL.

 

[ghostguy123]

Ah, but in the All-Drug NFL, you get to watch an even GREATER sport. This is not a hypothetical. I'm actually just describing today's NFL.

Pretty true, but now imagine an All-drug NFL with no rules of any kind on hits. Monthly deaths, here we come.

Well actually, with the current restrictions, it just cost you 15 yards and a few grand to kill someone on a hit.

 

[Riversco]

If the NFL wanted to lower playing weight, they should enact on the field rules that would deter teams from seeking huge linemen.

You'd have to install a rule that would require linemen to sprint.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Since much of my old work seems to be getting bumps 10 and 12 years later, maybe after the recent shift I have seen from certain posters who feel the 300+lb DL falling on the QB while in the process of sacking the QB i might add, maybe we would like to have another look at this topic.

I argue that steroids pushed the weights of a lot of players North of 300. There were not a lot of 300 lb guys in the NFL in the 70s and even the 80s. NFL outlaws steroids in '88 I believe it was and weights skyrocketed after.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

1. I highlighted this because that is my sticking point...6 fot 3 and 280 is not natural. People do not get that big eating 2,000 calorie a day diets...even 3000 calories. Why do these people get a free pass to eat whatever they want? If you read the article I put in a few posts up, Brad Culpepper was going to McDonald's and Wendy's late at night so he could keep weight on, that's not muscle buddy.

2,000 and 3,000 calories isnt much at all. I'm 6'1 and 215 (under 10% body fat) and I consume close to 5,000 daily. People have different body types so I dont agree that its ridiculous to be 6'3 and weigh 280.

My HS TE who now plays LT in the NFL was about 6'3 265 in HS. He went to college as a TE and gained about 15-20 pounds. He then was advised to go to a lineman position because the game has changed for the TE to a more athletic position. He put on another 20. I know he is weighed weekly and is docked $$ if he doesnt hit a certain weight so I agree that the NFL has a problem but Im not sure if correctable at this point. You're right though.. its not muscle but pure weight in a majority of cases which comes from over consumption no matter where.

Same could be said about a majority of positions though.. Everyone is bigger and if you're not.. you're on the street for the most part. Why does the NFL have the combine? To weed out the physically inadequate. It didnt just start now but the numbers evolved.

5,000 calories daily you say? How is that going these days? I can barely get 1,800-2,200 in my system daily and that includes alcohol.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

This is one of your better ideas and I think it would make a dramatic and immediate impact in reducing injuries. However, I dont see it as being tenable for a number of reasons, one being that there will be unintended consequences with players cutting weight drastically for weigh-ins similar to MMA/boxing.

ETA - I think you're right, I just dont think theyre smart enough to go along with it.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

This is one of your better ideas and I think it would make a dramatic and immediate impact in reducing injuries. However, I dont see it as being tenable for a number of reasons, one being that there will be unintended consequences with players cutting weight drastically for weigh-ins similar to MMA/boxing.

300 lbs and Under, that would also make guys feel comfortable keeping their weight around 275 along the OL/DL knowing they won't be giving up 75-100 lbs to the guy across from them.
I don't think it would be an issue for most guys on Sundays. We know there was a time when 250 was the avg weight of OL, 275 was big.

A handful of guys it would be a major issue, a lot of players would just be 86'd from the league, that's what we would be facing. Some guys will just be too big and can start their new life in the XFL or "The Rock'" League

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

This is one of your better ideas and I think it would make a dramatic and immediate impact in reducing injuries. However, I dont see it as being tenable for a number of reasons, one being that there will be unintended consequences with players cutting weight drastically for weigh-ins similar to MMA/boxing.

300 lbs and Under, that would also make guys feel comfortable keeping their weight around 275 along the OL/DL knowing they won't be giving up 75-100 lbs to the guy across from them.
I don't think it would be an issue for most guys on Sundays. We know there was a time when 250 was the avg weight of OL, 275 was big.

A handful of guys it would be a major issue, a lot of players would just be 86'd from the league, that's what we would be facing. Some guys will just be too big and can start their new life in the XFL or "The Rock'" League

I think you're right, I just dont think theyre smart enough to go along with it.

 

[Brunell4MVP]

I mean I'm 5'11" 250 and can run a marathon. I could get to 300 in about a month if I wanted. Some of these guys are 6'7". 300 lbs seem a ridiculous weight limit to me. You want a bunch of NBA forwards playing OL? Heck, gotta imagine Josh Allen is 240 and he's a QB

 

[wgoldsph]

I've been reacting to the first page of the post and then realized that it's from //twelve years ago//.
So sorry about that.

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

Pardon my glib response, but everybody knows that linemen carry fundamentally unhealthy weight and that to expect the players union and ownership to do the right thing and put caps in place isn't going to happen in the absence of a groundswell of public support for same.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

I mean I'm 5'11" 250 and can run a marathon. I could get to 300 in about a month if I wanted. Some of these guys are 6'7". 300 lbs seem a ridiculous weight limit to me. You want a bunch of NBA forwards playing OL? Heck, gotta imagine Josh Allen is 240 and he's a QB

Tell us more, please.

I've never met a man past 40-50 who is in reasonably good health and over 250-300 lbs, no cardiologist is going to endorse that, none that I have encountered but I want to learn.

Have you ever seen what they measure a man's weight to be vs BMI...you're 5-11, BMI 25, about 180 lbs...BMI 30, 215...you said you're 250 and can jump to 300, that's simply not true or not something to measure success. But I am happy you posted this because I feel it shows how a majority of people think when it comes to weight, I certainly don't think i am in the majority thinking here. Most would be against this but all the players until more recently were much smaller in mass than what we see on he field now and you have so many stretched and torn ligaments, the body isn't made to handle 350 lbs, IMHO.

 

[panhead55]

NFL football players are gladiators. No holds barred. Let um eat.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Pardon my glib response, but everybody knows that linemen carry fundamentally unhealthy weight and that to expect the players union and ownership to do the right thing and put caps in place isn't going to happen in the absence of a groundswell of public support for same.

A local radio host/former OL has made a point of dropping from 290 to 220. Now in his 40s he said he did it to stay alive for his family.