NFL - NEWS & NOTES

i'd also like to mention that a helmet doesn't prevent someone's head from snapping back. the device that does that is called a neck brace.

bingo.

 

Didn't say it kept the head from snapping back but would you rather your bare head hit the turf or have a helmet on when it does?

So guys with the ball will stop trying to fall forward to get the first down or touchdown and defensive players will stop flocking to the ball carrier? Doubtful that it would change that much.

 

Thanks, you kind of made the point for me.

1200 rugby players with head injuries out of (assuming >) 50,000 who sought treatment for injuries (2.4%)

228 NFL players out of 1696 players. (13.4%)

How about this, go find a sample size that is equal, then come back to me with a similar argument, I'll happily listen. Nothing in your argument was apples to apples with the exception of a 30 year sample that has nothing to do with "modern technology".

Basically, the evolution of the football helmet has left people thinking they can't be hurt when using their head as a weapon, especially when it is designed to fit perfectly within the shoulder pads, making them a unit when combined and used "properly", thus the shoulders/torso absorb the majority of the blow; however, it's tough to do when you're diving head first into another player's head.

Go watch the video that was posted in this thread of the Hawk tackle. It is impressive and needs to be the precedent. These idiots that lead with their head are getting what they deserve, scrambled eggs. The ones who target other's head should be booted for the season!! It is malicious and unacceptable. Take helmets away, I guarantee these idiots would play much differently.

 

and of those, as per the article quoted, one third are neither concussions nor brain injuries - in other words, cuts and other comparatively minor issues. so the actual number is around 800.

also from that article...

 

interesting discussion on the fox nfl pre-pregame show about the process of the catch thing.

i'll just focus on one comment. mike periera (sp?) stated "if the NFL could do it again, i think they'd leave the golden tate catch as an interception and touchback."

now, we're not talking about a call made in the heat of the moment, we're talking about a call made after patient review of the various camera views. this tells me one thing:

if the officials cannot even correctly interpret the rule when they have the time to carefully review the video, the rule is messed up.

 

Flacco out for the season...

 

Jameis Winston and Doug Martin were an unstoppable combination.

Winston tied a rookie record with five touchdown passes, Doug Martin ran for 235 yards and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Philadelphia Eagles 45-17 on Sunday.

Winston completed 19 of 29 passes for 246 yards and had four of his TD passes in the first half to four different receivers. He tied Matthew Stafford's rookie mark in the third quarter on an 8-yard toss to Cameron Brate, the fifth receiver to catch a TD.

Martin had 177 yards in the first half, including runs of 84 and 58 yards. He finished 2 yards short of tying Barry Sanders' record for most without a TD. Sanders had 237 for the Lions against Tampa in 1994.

Tampa set a franchise record with 283 yards rushing and 521 total yards and were second most in franchise history in the regular season .

(NY Times)

 

Let's assume that Rugby quote of 1200 players only has to do with New Zealand. Upwards of 150000 players are registered in New Zealand alone. So 1 in 3 player get some kind of injury, whether it be a cut or whatever. And that is just Union, not League (different sports). So that figure would change to 0.8% and take away the non-brain injuries and it becomes only about 0.5% of player get a concussion or other brain injury.

 

No doubt about it, the Panthers are legit. And Jamis Winston... I gotta tell ya, I didn't see that one coming. I was expecting a complete flop. Time will tell, but the kid seems to have what it takes.

It's a scary thing being in the NFC South without a defense (coming from a Saints fan).

 

Great you can do math and yes 1/3 is cuts bruises ect but the 2/3rd is the part you should be worried about.

The point being concisions are still going to be present even if you teach a rugby style tackle and take away the helmet. Helmets were added to prevent injuries that were already happening in the game. Sadly we do not have data of injuries from the pre-helmet era but you would not make the switch to helmets unless you were getting injuries at the time to a naked head. Take away the helmet and other things within the game are going to have to change. Likely to the point where it would no longer be football. Proper technique and improved equipment is the way to go.

 

why, yes. yes i can. thanks for noticing *KISSED*

actually, what worries me is the percentage of all players that get concussed, not the ratio of concussions to other trivial head injuries. it seems to me that a higher percentage of people who play a particular sport getting concussed is a bad thing, and that a lower percentage is better.

 

Prevent? If that's the case, they're a 100% failure.
Of course head injuries will still be present, not saying, and never said they wouldn't. My point is and has been, all along, that players are using them as a weapon (I'll add that they give a false sense of security) and they won't stop as long as these weapons are made "better".

Eggs no longer come in a basket because some got broken. Now, with special egg cartons, people can be less careful with their food, and some still get broken due to improper care.
http://deadspin.com/helmet-warning-label-tells-users-not-to-play-football-1027606499

We're already there, dude. Football is becoming a different sport due to the idiot who are out to remove another player, whether it's smashing their heads, taking out a knee, gouging eyes in the bottom of a pile. It's basically a protected gladiator sport that they are trying to turn into a family entertainment event.

Regarding proper technique, have you watched the Hawk tackle video yet?

 

Watched it the day it was posted.

This has been in football for ages. Bad things happen in the bottom of a pile and always will. Its not just in pros either it happens all the way down in pop Warner football. I remeber being on the bottom of a pile fighting for a fumble and someone kept poking me in the eye. Tired of eye poking I bit the next finger that came through my mask. Once on the sideline I was standing next to a teammate who was shaking his hand I asked him what happened he said someone bit him. I simply looked at him and said that sucks never letting him know it was me. Mike Golic has talked about all kind of things that guys do to each other in the bottom of a pile as have a few other players. That part hasn't changed much.

One problem when it comes to the concussion argument is that the number can be misleading. If you just look at the raw data it might lead you to say well concussions are on the rise and its all because people are using helmets as weapons. One big part of the problem is the league, the media and the fans are paying more attention to concussions than in the past. How many times have you heard former players talk about getting their bell rung and they went right back in the game. Nobody was tested for a concussion nothing was mentioned about it in the injury report. It was basically an ignored injury. It is no longer being ignored and yes it is because the league was sued over it that something is being done. So it may seem like there is all of a sudden and increase in concussions during a season but there are good odds the number of concussions has been high all along. Teams are just being forced to report it better than in the past.

How long have you been watching football? Taking out players has been part of the sport for a long time (note im not saying it should be or is righ). Its not well received when it hits the mainstream media but teams and players have long tried to take out opposing players. Al Davis wasn't asking for hard safe tackles when he said the other teams quarter back must go down and he must go down hard. Buddy Ryan (as well as other coaches) used bounties. Several older players have talked about trying to take out this guy or that guy on a team.


The kind of change you are talking about at least in that statement has long been part of the game. The kind of change I'm talking about is where you don't even recognize the sport. One of the things mentioned when they talk about removal of the helmets is eventually they would have to do away with the three point stance and players would start from a standing position. Does that sound like a big enough change for you?

 

Patriots win worst officiated game in NFL history. Example last play of game Watkins catches it and falls backwards OOB with 2 seconds left untouched. The ref says to let the clock run because he fell a yard backwards. He was untouched. There is no forward progress stoppage. Bills had 1 more chance to tie it. Also let's not forget the ref mistaking a whistle for a flag and calling a would-be TD play dead at the spot of the catch (which technically be rule, since whistle was blown when ball was in midair it should have been ruled a non-play and repeat of down).

EDIT: Officials said Watkins was ruled to have given himself up in the field of play. That is the most BS judgment call considering the situation. He fell back trying to reach the sideline. Why would he forfeit there?

 

Jeanquev, if you truly believe (or if it's true) everything you are saying about how players act and about the game's roots and style, then concussions are not an issue to worry about, which is my ultimate point.

Let these jackasses destroy each other, keep the attorneys out of it, and I'll sit back with my popcorn and enjoy every minute of it. I like gladiator sports, and I'm good with seeing blood and twisted body parts. When I played, I loved it even more. My thoughts were "bring it, big boy, I'm better than you" and it worked. Still works today.

You don't enter a ring (field) knowing that there is a possible consequence, suffer said consequence, then file suit to be awarded for your suffering. A bunch of pus*ies, I tell you.

Nobody craps their own pants and sues the food maker and fruit of the loom, shouldn't happen in football either!