Bad news for football.

[ajcardfan]

I'm telling ya. If they don't get a serious answer for the concussion problems soon.. it's going the way of boxing.


http://www.cbssports.com/general/wr...-pop-warner-football-doesnt-bode-well-for-nfl

 

[BigRedRage]

it could also just be because of the increasing popularity of NYS football.

 

[freebyrd]

wow...the united states without football?!
that would be disastrous, the article says it could be all gone within 30 years,
hope we win a superbowl before then

i have no idea what the solution is, as the players have gotten bigger faster and stronger over the years concussions have really become a problem

they might have to do something like mandatory minimum years that you can play
like say regardless of age or talent level you are only allowed to play a fixed number of years, like no one over 30,

does rugby have these sorts of concussion problems? it may sound crazy but what if they took off some of the padding and helmets which can really be used as weapons,
whatever the answer is i don't want to live in a world without football

 

[AZ Native]

it could also just be because of the increasing popularity of NYS football.

Could be, but I know of a number of parents who have pulled their kids out because of the concussion issues.

 

[RedViper]

The sport is kind of a mess on the high school level in Arizona. Way too many lopsided games as the result of a few haves against a bunch of have not schools fed by open enrollment. The inner city schools are completely awful, some haven't won a game in years. Why should anyone expect kids to sign up for a schedule of double digit losses, usually by 30 points or more. Some of these cash strapped schools are bound to start folding up their programs.

 

[Buckybird]

I'm not sure it will be gone in 30 yrs, but diffanately will affect the game & who plays it.

It's former players sued & still want more, Riddell is gone from the official helmet of the league & rules are being changed yearly. Scary, but IMO the concussion & brain trauma will always be there in such a collision based sport.

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

We have Police officers, Firefighters, Soldiers etc... Who put themselves at considerably more risk, for peanuts.

Something tells me if the game is still offering Million$, the show will go on.

The league just has the wrong Lawyers drawing up their disclaimers.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

I'm telling ya. If they don't get a serious answer for the concussion problems soon.. it's going the way of boxing.


http://www.cbssports.com/general/wr...-pop-warner-football-doesnt-bode-well-for-nfl

In more ways than one.

You must be registered for see images

 

[Azlen]

We have Police officers, Firefighters, Soldiers etc... Who put themselves at considerably more risk, for peanuts.

Something tells me if the game is still offering Million$, the show will go on.

The league just has the wrong Lawyers drawing up their disclaimers.

The difference is that the NFL really needs a feeder system to supply talent. If at a young age, an athletes parents steer them towards other sports rather than football, the talent pool gets smaller. Police officers, soldiers etc don't have to start as kids to maximize their talent.

 

[Buckybird]

In more ways than one.

You must be registered for see images

Wow

If Walden isn't suspended for that headbutt, the NFL will never learn. How he wasn't kicked out of that game is beyond me!

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I think the NFL will be fine. If you look at it, I'd say a great % of NFL players come from families in less than ideal situations and they are likely not concerned with concussion issues.

The upper crust, and better off, families are the ones that are more likely to pull their kid from football. But for every Jonathon Martin in the NFL, I'd guess there are about 7-8 guys that come from a tough upbringing and have a decent chance of ending up on the Bengals roster.

 

[BigRedRage]

Could be, but I know of a number of parents who have pulled their kids out because of the concussion issues.

If my son wants to play, he'll be playing.

I think he is too nice and reserved for football though honestly.

 

[cardpa]

First football is an expensive sport and really the most expensive sport for a school district to support. No other sport comes close to needing the amount of money football does. You can probably fund soccer, track, basketball, field hockey, softball and baseball for the amount football cost.

I did not see the game last night however I am assuming the video clip came from last nights game. If 93 didn't get ejected immediately then part of the problem starts there. I also think as much as owners say they are concerned with concussions they would turn a blind eye to it for the money they make on their team. Money still rules this and every other sport played at a pro level. $5,000 and $10,000 fines for players who are making millions are not steep enough to affect there pocketbook. Even for a guy making $500,000 a $5,000 fine is only 1% of his salary. For a guy making $2,000,000 a $10,000 fine is only 0.5% of his salary. That is about the same as you or I taking a couple hundred and blowing it at the casino. Fines need to be big enough to impact their earnings. Teams should also be fined for any player on the team that is fined for a hit resulting in a fine. Imagine how quick the owners would react if you started taking money out of their pocket.

There will always be a certain percentage of players who will risk concussions for the money. Money also drives the players in the NFL. Even if money is not the number one priority with a player you can bet it runs a very strong number 2.

Coaches will always look the other way or encourage players to push the limit because they know their pay is based on results (wins) and very few coaches are guaranteed jobs over the long term so they are looking out for their interests. Again driven by money.

They could place weight limits on players. For example no lineman over 300 lbs. Most of them are carrying extra weight anyway. Most of these guys running 320-330 or more have Dunlap symptoms anyway. Their belly Dunlap over their belts.

 

[Duckjake]

The sport is kind of a mess on the high school level in Arizona. Way too many lopsided games as the result of a few haves against a bunch of have not schools fed by open enrollment. The inner city schools are completely awful, some haven't won a game in years. Why should anyone expect kids to sign up for a schedule of double digit losses, usually by 30 points or more. Some of these cash strapped schools are bound to start folding up their programs.

Around here more and more boys are dropping football to play Lacrosse. On the other hand NFL Flag football participation is growing rapidly. I wouldn't be surprised if Flag is where a lot of those missing Pop Warner kids can be found.

I told my boy that if he isn't going to be first or second team he'd be stupid to play High School football. Get beat up 6 days a week just to sit on the bench on Friday. So he played Ultimate Frisbee instead.

 

[GuernseyCard]

wow...the united states without football?!
that would be disastrous, the article says it could be all gone within 30 years,
hope we win a superbowl before then

i have no idea what the solution is, as the players have gotten bigger faster and stronger over the years concussions have really become a problem

they might have to do something like mandatory minimum years that you can play
like say regardless of age or talent level you are only allowed to play a fixed number of years, like no one over 30,

does rugby have these sorts of concussion problems? it may sound crazy but what if they took off some of the padding and helmets which can really be used as weapons,
whatever the answer is i don't want to live in a world without football

Recent studies indicate that hockey has the most concussions amongst organized team sports.

 

[GuernseyCard]

First football is an expensive sport and really the most expensive sport for a school district to support. No other sport comes close to needing the amount of money football does. You can probably fund soccer, track, basketball, field hockey, softball and baseball for the amount football cost.

I did not see the game last night however I am assuming the video clip came from last nights game. If 93 didn't get ejected immediately then part of the problem starts there. I also think as much as owners say they are concerned with concussions they would turn a blind eye to it for the money they make on their team. Money still rules this and every other sport played at a pro level. $5,000 and $10,000 fines for players who are making millions are not steep enough to affect there pocketbook. Even for a guy making $500,000 a $5,000 fine is only 1% of his salary. For a guy making $2,000,000 a $10,000 fine is only 0.5% of his salary. That is about the same as you or I taking a couple hundred and blowing it at the casino. Fines need to be big enough to impact their earnings. Teams should also be fined for any player on the team that is fined for a hit resulting in a fine. Imagine how quick the owners would react if you started taking money out of their pocket.

There will always be a certain percentage of players who will risk concussions for the money. Money also drives the players in the NFL. Even if money is not the number one priority with a player you can bet it runs a very strong number 2.

Coaches will always look the other way or encourage players to push the limit because they know their pay is based on results (wins) and very few coaches are guaranteed jobs over the long term so they are looking out for their interests. Again driven by money.

They could place weight limits on players. For example no lineman over 300 lbs. Most of them are carrying extra weight anyway. Most of these guys running 320-330 or more have Dunlap symptoms anyway. Their belly Dunlap over their belts.

The cost of equipment plus ice rink rentals makes ice hockey the most expensive sport to participate in.

 

[BillsCarnage]

Recent studies indicate that hockey has the most concussions amongst organized team sports.

And I'd bet most of those are caused from the head hitting the ice, maybe the boards to a lesser degree, rather than head to head or body to head contact.

It's an impact sport and any impact sport is going to have concussions. It's unavoidable.

I'd be curious to see the stats of NFL vs Rugby or Aussie rules football.

If the NFL could be in trouble, what's going to happen to college football where there is no union or NFL quality insurance coverage?

It also makes me wonder if smaller fields such as the AFL have lower concussion rates.
Smaller field = less room to cover = less speed = less momentum = reduced impact.

 

[wa52lz]

I think the NFL will be fine. If you look at it, I'd say a great % of NFL players come from families in less than ideal situations and they are likely not concerned with concussion issues.

The upper crust, and better off, families are the ones that are more likely to pull their kid from football. But for every Jonathon Martin in the NFL, I'd guess there are about 7-8 guys that come from a tough upbringing and have a decent chance of ending up on the Bengals roster.

100% agree with this

 

[crisper57]

Timely Tragedy in AZ...

http://www.azcentral.com/12news/fre...ona-high-school-football-player-critical.html

A high school football player died Monday night at a Phoenix hospital, days after he suffered a blow to the head during a game.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Youvella caught a pass followed by what officials said appeared to be a typical football tackle. On the way down, the back of Youvella’s head hit the ground hard.

Witnesses said Youvella got right back to his feet and lined up for two more plays before collapsing on the field.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I don't buy that this kind of issue, and spotlight on the issue, will effect or will destroy the sport.

Please note, the response below is relative to hypothetical chance that people would want to "outlaw" football, either by law, or by choice of the masses.



1. Most people will forget about all this in 5 years like they do with everything else.

2. If people think it is going to stop with football they are so wrong. There are concussions in basketball, baseball, soccer, lacrosse, rugby, etc., etc.

3. There are concussion that happen outside of sports. Accidents, slips and falls, etc., etc.

4. There are so many things that are more dangerous and bad for your health than sports, that I couldn't list them in a life time. The easiest to point out is getting into your car and driving around.

I mean, are people going to really sit back and give into the bubble wrap society where we teach our youth to be scared to walk out the front door ? Preach to sit in your house and only leave to go to school/work ?

I don't know. People have the right to choose, and I cannot imagine that all people fall into this bubble wrap society thought that we can create a society where nothing bad ever happens in people's lives.

I don't buy into it, I won't live like that that, and I won't raise my kids to live like that either.

We are humans, this is our planet, and environment, and I will live in it. Bad things happen, and to try and stop that is unnatural. Life is balance, good with bad.

I have had concussions in my life, because of sports, and they were well worth it. I didn't make any money for it, hell I had to pay for the right to go do it. The joy, memories, and values I learned greatly out weigh the risks. I am not saying people are wrong for thinking other wise, but people should always have the right to choose to take said risk.

If people want to huddle in their houses scared of the world, that is fine with me, but don't complain when you look back at your life and your highlights are all TV shows you watched, and video games you played.

JMHO.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

http://www.azcentral.com/12news/fre...ona-high-school-football-player-critical.html

Very, very sad.

I have great sympathy for the family, and the community.

But, as for the debate, and taking emotion out of it, it is part of the risk.

None the less, we are humans, and this is horrible to hear about. That just plain sucks.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

And I'd bet most of those are caused from the head hitting the ice, maybe the boards to a lesser degree, rather than head to head or body to head contact.

It's an impact sport and any impact sport is going to have concussions. It's unavoidable.

I'd be curious to see the stats of NFL vs Rugby or Aussie rules football.

If the NFL could be in trouble, what's going to happen to college football where there is no union or NFL quality insurance coverage?

It also makes me wonder if smaller fields such as the AFL have lower concussion rates.
Smaller field = less room to cover = less speed = less momentum = reduced impact.

Hockey has a lot of concussions because of the armor they have on under there uniforms. Just the elbow pads alone are weapons, IMO.

Rugby:

1. You don't where helmets, or pads.

2. There is a ZERO TOLERANCE high tackle penalty in rugby. You cannot tackle above the head, make contact to the head, or even grab and tackle by the collar (horse collar). That has ALWAYS been a rule in rugby. Always.

3. You take the pads, and helmets off people and they are WAY WAY more aware of there head and where they put it.

The concussion I have had were either my own damn stupidity or just coincidence.

But, if I didn't want to get a concussion I would not have gone out on the field. I knew the risk I was taking and it was well worth it.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Oh, and the best reason football will always be around.

Money.

Football generates ungodly amounts of money for states, schools, and players.

In America, money means more to most than other people's health.

 

[Dback Jon]

The sport is kind of a mess on the high school level in Arizona. Way too many lopsided games as the result of a few haves against a bunch of have not schools fed by open enrollment. The inner city schools are completely awful, some haven't won a game in years. Why should anyone expect kids to sign up for a schedule of double digit losses, usually by 30 points or more. Some of these cash strapped schools are bound to start folding up their programs.

Yup - the open enrollment/recruiting by the richer schools is killing AZ Football.

Schools like Chandler, Hamilton etc have a lot of out of district players, mainly from the inner city.

 

[cardpa]

The cost of equipment plus ice rink rentals makes ice hockey the most expensive sport to participate in.

Not in total cost. Maybe for individual cost however you field many more football players on a team then in hockey. I would estimate that you dress 3-4 times as many players in football as you do in hockey.