Before I start, let me say that I LOVE football. I loved playing it and I love watching it now. Not sure if it is me getting older and paying more attention or what but each week there seems to be a staggering number of injuries across the league. Just the Skins game alone yesterday, there were injuries to RG3, D Jax, Helu, and a couple of others. Frankly, the hit Darrel Young took was pretty frightening. Young was falling down but a DB was already coming full speed and hit him right in the head bending Young's neck. I literally thought that that hit was an inch away from paralyzing if not killing Young.
The players are getting bigger, stronger, and faster and with that come more violent collisions. Just looking at the numbers, from 1979 to 2011, the typical top-five offensive tackle enlarged from an average of 6-foot-4, 264 pounds to 6-foot-6, 314 pounds. From 1979 to 2011, NFL-bound centers enlarged from an average 6-3, 242 pounds to 6-4, 304 pounds. In the same period, guards enlarged from an average 6-3, 250 pounds to 6-4, 317 pounds. Today's offensive linemen are on average 24 percent heavier than those of 1979, plus an average 31 percent stronger than those of 1991.
Guys on the defensive side of the ball have also grown although the numbers are not as large as those on the offense as defenders are not looking for girth but rather strength and speed.
Again, I love watching football and the sport is the most popular and richest of all American sports so it is not going anywhere but I truly believe the human body is not meant to play this sport. Having LBs that are 240 lbs., can bench press 400+ lbs., run a 4.6 40 yard dash is just dangerous if this guy hits you full on. The constant, violent collisions that linemen inflict on their bodies cannot be good for their long term health. The size of QBs, RBs, WRs, DBs, LBs and the way these guys have to start and stop and cut on a dime just cannot be good for their joints. I think that is why you see so many ACL tears from just cutting.
The way we are moving, I honestly won't be surprised if we someone get killed on the football field. When that happens, I'm sure there will be a big uproar about the violence of the game but it will fade and football will go on. As long as people watch and it makes as much money as it does football will be around.
2 comments:
I'm glad I didn't try to pursue my childhood dream of becoming a football player. Given how big and strong these guys are, I would have broken into pieces with one hit.
I think it has reached a point where it has become gladiatorial. It is very dangerous. I don't think the equipment has evolved enough to protect the players. At the same time, this danger and violence is what makes the game so wildly entertaining. The NFL has faced lawsuits because of the long term damage the sport has had on former players. The league has had to pay out millions in compensation. I think the NFL has recognized that this problem will only get worse as players become bigger, stronger, faster. If the league doesn't do something to curb the increase in violent play, more lawsuits and monetary losses will result. That is a minor issue compared to the impact on the health of the players. In response, the NFL is coming up with rules in hopes of limiting the violent hits to protect players. Many especially defensive players are perceiving this as the NFL trying to dumb down the sport. I disagree with that. I think its really narrow minded of a defensive player (such as Brandon Merryweather) to not recognize this and evolve his technique to support the health of the league. I think the sport is evolving to a more technique and skill based style of play. I think the sport can be equally entertaining if the defense is focused on perfecting tackling technique as opposed to encouraging guys to go and take the head off of a helpless receiver.
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