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Only the players can save themselves! (long)
Posted on: November 9, 2017 at 17:01:53 CT
Oakville Tim MU
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I've always been amazed that the NFLPA -- the players union for the highest level of football, they'd be the ones -- doesn't protect itself from itself by limiting what protective equipment "can do."
For years now, helmets and shoulder pads have been gradually turned into missile-quality "weapons" through their lightness, strength and ability to withstand contact.
Call me a neanderthal, but if the NFL turned back the clock 100 years to leather helmets with no face masks, I'll bet the mortgage that players would resume tackling properly because they would rightfully fear their own heads caving in if they led with them.
Look at rugby. A rough-and-tumble sport, no doubt, a collision sport I suppose... but without any headgear those athletes have to respect the opponent in how they hit and tackle. They have a vested interest in keeping every scrum and every re-start played hard but not dirty.
Look at the PGA. I read this week that Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods are both (my interpretation) calling for restrictions on what the tour ball can do -- it's too "workable" by tour players, leading to too much 15- and even 20-under scoring.
OTOH, certainly "kill shots" are tolerated, even celebrated, trickling all the way down to junior football by now. Watch any football highlights show -- "kill shot" defenders' sidelines go crazy-wild in celebrating when one of their own lays an opponent out. "Kill shots" are what gets a defense on ESPN, etc. If you get 15 yards for one, what's the big deal?
It's ironic, because I'd have thought Jack Tatum versus Darryl Stingley back in the 1978 pre-season would've scared everyone straight.
Absent of radically reining-in the impact ability, etc., of helmets and shoulder pads, it seems to me the only thing left is to change the rules themselves: If you lay out an opponent with a "kill shot," leading with the head, targeting, etc., you not only give up the 15 yards plus you're ejected plus your team must now play a man short the rest of the game. Radical, I know. But THAT'S a penalty that surely no coaching staff will tolerate.
But otherwise, the Aaron Hernandezes of the world sadly will become a dime a dozen in organized football.
For years now, helmets and shoulder pads have been gradually turned into missile-quality "weapons" through their lightness, strength and ability to withstand contact.
Call me a neanderthal, but if the NFL turned back the clock 100 years to leather helmets with no face masks, I'll bet the mortgage that players would resume tackling properly because they would rightfully fear their own heads caving in if they led with them.
Look at rugby. A rough-and-tumble sport, no doubt, a collision sport I suppose... but without any headgear those athletes have to respect the opponent in how they hit and tackle. They have a vested interest in keeping every scrum and every re-start played hard but not dirty.
Look at the PGA. I read this week that Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods are both (my interpretation) calling for restrictions on what the tour ball can do -- it's too "workable" by tour players, leading to too much 15- and even 20-under scoring.
OTOH, certainly "kill shots" are tolerated, even celebrated, trickling all the way down to junior football by now. Watch any football highlights show -- "kill shot" defenders' sidelines go crazy-wild in celebrating when one of their own lays an opponent out. "Kill shots" are what gets a defense on ESPN, etc. If you get 15 yards for one, what's the big deal?
It's ironic, because I'd have thought Jack Tatum versus Darryl Stingley back in the 1978 pre-season would've scared everyone straight.
Absent of radically reining-in the impact ability, etc., of helmets and shoulder pads, it seems to me the only thing left is to change the rules themselves: If you lay out an opponent with a "kill shot," leading with the head, targeting, etc., you not only give up the 15 yards plus you're ejected plus your team must now play a man short the rest of the game. Radical, I know. But THAT'S a penalty that surely no coaching staff will tolerate.
But otherwise, the Aaron Hernandezes of the world sadly will become a dime a dozen in organized football.
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Only the players can save themselves! (long) - Oakville Tim MU - 11/9 17:01:53