OT - Antwaan Randle El

[McPeachy]

Quite the article / interview.

Was earlier quoted (deleted by ESPN - go figure) that he believes that football may not even exist in 20 - 25 years from now. Randle El stated, "Right now, I wouldn’t be surprised if football isn’t around in 20, 25 years.” I bet Tom jizzed in his pants when he read that.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/1...antwaan-randle-el-wishes-chosen-play-football

I wonder if the NFL Players Association will call Antwaan and ask him to retract, and re-clarify his stance?

 

[MrTitleist]

Didn't get a chance to read this yesterday.. but Randle El was certainly talented.. I was surprised to see his comments. Not a good look for the NFL.

 

[ragtimejoe1]

I'm a huge football fan but honestly I'm thinking there is some smoke to this concussion thing. I know it is down played and needs more evaluation, but it does seem like something is there.

There is no question that kids are bigger, stronger, and faster at younger ages than ever before. Past is not necessarily precedents in this regard. Players now and in the future are going to be exposed to much harder hits for a greater time period compared with previous generations of football players.

I hope we get good quality and unbiased research conducted on these issues. I also hope the research shows that football is relatively safe and the concussion thing is greatly overblown. However, I do think there is enough smoke to spend the resources to do a thorough investigation. Smoking didn't cause cancer for a long time and the idea that smoking caused cancer was nothing more than a bunch of sissies whining.

 

[DVDA]

The issues with concussions has caused a lot of parents to prevent their kids from playing the sport. Guys who made millions of dollars playing the sport are now saying they regret their decision. That's huge. The rule changes to make things safer are turning the game into flag football which has already diminished my interest in football. The rule changes are only going to make the sport less bearable to watch. The sport is bleeding and I don't see it stopping anytime soon.

 

[BackHarlowRoad]

There's definite smoke. I enjoy football as much as anyone else and would hate to see it disappear but isn't it kind of obvious that bashing your brain repetitively against someone else's a few times a week over the course of a few years will eventually cause some sort of damage?

More research needed, yes, but common sense surely has to tell us that football and brains don't mix. Unlike other animals, our body wasn't designed for this.

With that being said, there are plenty of other sports that don't involve head to head collisions that I enjoy watching so maybe football can survive when it ends up being played differently. Just might take some time to get used to.

 

[LanderPoke]

Football will exist, but it'll look more like flag football.

 

[Adv8RU12]

Boxing used to be a college varsity sport with national championships but now it isn't.

 

[WestWYOPoke]

I've been thinking same thing as Randle El for the last few years - within the next 30 years, the NFL as we know it will either cease to exist or be significantly different.

One big change that could occur, IMO, would be the removal of facemasks or helmets (and thus a vast reduction in the size of shouler pads) all together from the game. There have been a few studies as of late that show the removal of helmets drastically reduces the incident of head injuries because guys aren't running full bore in to each other face first.

 

[Wyokie]

I've been thinking same thing as Randle El for the last few years - within the next 30 years, the NFL as we know it will either cease to exist or be significantly different.

One big change that could occur, IMO, would be the removal of facemasks or helmets (and thus a vast reduction in the size of shouler pads) all together from the game. There have been a few studies as of late that show the removal of helmets drastically reduces the incident of head injuries because guys aren't running full bore in to each other face first.

Without helmets, you can't tell who is who team-wise. O.K. a person can look at the jerseys but still...

 

[WestWYOPoke]

I've been thinking same thing as Randle El for the last few years - within the next 30 years, the NFL as we know it will either cease to exist or be significantly different.

One big change that could occur, IMO, would be the removal of facemasks or helmets (and thus a vast reduction in the size of shouler pads) all together from the game. There have been a few studies as of late that show the removal of helmets drastically reduces the incident of head injuries because guys aren't running full bore in to each other face first.

Without helmets, you can't tell who is who team-wise. O.K. a person can look at the jerseys but still...

Seems to work fine in rugby, soccer, basketball, women's lacrosse, field hockey...

 

[Wyokie]

I've been thinking same thing as Randle El for the last few years - within the next 30 years, the NFL as we know it will either cease to exist or be significantly different.

One big change that could occur, IMO, would be the removal of facemasks or helmets (and thus a vast reduction in the size of shouler pads) all together from the game. There have been a few studies as of late that show the removal of helmets drastically reduces the incident of head injuries because guys aren't running full bore in to each other face first.

Without helmets, you can't tell who is who team-wise. O.K. a person can look at the jerseys but still...

Seems to work fine in rugby, soccer, basketball, women's lacrosse, field hockey...

Eh....It was a shitty argument on my part. Carry on. :roll:

 

[Bryoming]

I've been thinking same thing as Randle El for the last few years - within the next 30 years, the NFL as we know it will either cease to exist or be significantly different.

One big change that could occur, IMO, would be the removal of facemasks or helmets (and thus a vast reduction in the size of shouler pads) all together from the game. There have been a few studies as of late that show the removal of helmets drastically reduces the incident of head injuries because guys aren't running full bore in to each other face first.

This would bring the game full circle. Sure there would be fewer concussions, but this opens the door up to skull fractures and deaths again.

 

[WestWYOPoke]

I've been thinking same thing as Randle El for the last few years - within the next 30 years, the NFL as we know it will either cease to exist or be significantly different.

One big change that could occur, IMO, would be the removal of facemasks or helmets (and thus a vast reduction in the size of shouler pads) all together from the game. There have been a few studies as of late that show the removal of helmets drastically reduces the incident of head injuries because guys aren't running full bore in to each other face first.

This would bring the game full circle. Sure there would be fewer concussions, but this opens the door up to skull fractures and deaths again.

True, this is why I don't think they should necessarily get rid of helmets entirely, just face masks. Plus, with the advancements in sports medicine and emergency treatment in the last 70 years, I don't think we would see a ton of deaths from skull fracture, probably less than we see from head injury now.

I'll use rugby as an example, sure you still see concussion and skull fractures, but they are less prevalent and with a low mortality rate when the do occur. And the tackling and impact in rugby isn't entirely different from football.

 

[ragtimejoe1]

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/14609331/nfl-says-did-not-intervene-nih-study-selection-nih-official-says-three-league-members-tried-do-so" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"If this money does have strings, then the NFL needs to own up to the fact that it's attempting to control the science," Speier said. "I'm deeply troubled by the conduct of the NFL, and I also question the arrangement where a 'nonprofit' arm of the NIH accepts corporate donations in a way that enables researchers to be bullied by corporate interests."

 

[caballo blanco]

I'll use rugby as an example, sure you still see concussion and skull fractures, but they are less prevalent and with a low mortality rate when the do occur. And the tackling and impact in rugby isn't entirely different from football.

Tackling is very much different rugby, much safer, much less about giving up yards, more about position. You never lead with your head (spear/crown of helmet hits), hence the drop in concussions. Take away the pads and people tackle much safer, some might call it boring. I played rugby, no concussions, hell I've seen more torn ACLs than head injuries. Rugby rules are intended to keep you safe, Football rules are intended to keep it fair.

 

[WestWYOPoke]

I'll use rugby as an example, sure you still see concussion and skull fractures, but they are less prevalent and with a low mortality rate when the do occur. And the tackling and impact in rugby isn't entirely different from football.

Tackling is very much different rugby, much safer, much less about giving up yards, more about position. You never lead with your head (spear/crown of helmet hits), hence the drop in concussions. Take away the pads and people tackle much safer, some might call it boring. I played rugby, no concussions, hell I've seen more torn ACLs than head injuries. Rugby rules are intended to keep you safe, Football rules are intended to keep it fair.

I agree. I played rugby as well. The Seattle Seahawks have actually been using rugby tackling techniques to become more effective at tackling. Tackling head behind in rugby isn't a rule, it's a natural evolution since there are no helmets. If football did something similar we would see the same thing happening in football as well.

 

[kansasCowboy]

Football... The sport that does everything to protect practically your entire body, won't be around. A sport that practically EVERYONE LOVES? Won't be around...

But Boxing, a sport based on literally fighting (something you get flagged for with pads on) is okay? They have padded gloves, so it must not be the same, right? But these guys 80% on the time aim for the head. These guys who have the power to punch with a force of over 1,000 lbs, bash the other guys, unprotected face. They get broken jaws, lose teeth, broken cheek bones, broken noses and swelling to the eyes... And Concussions, on occasion that would make you question if the guy would come back for more and continue his career... And he generally does.
And don't get me start on MMA! A sport with even less padding on the hands and even less rules for safety comparative to boxing and definitely to football, and it makes multi millions, and it isn't even in question to the safety of players as compared to football. Here the injuries occur to the entire body. Blount force truama, broken bones to the face, shoulders, arms, hands, ribs and legs... And Concussions. These guys literally tear each other apart. But it's a travesty when a "padded" player receives a significant injury.
Comparatively, more MMA fighters are injured with career ending injuries than to football players. Now we're talking pros. But I'll even add in the college game, out of the literal thousands of players, chances for concussion is slim. And generally that concussion is mild, we only hear of the major concussions, which knocks the number down even more. I'm failing to see how these other two professions are okay.
And I question the integrity of people who "choose" to play a physical sport, knowing the risk that they put themselves in. Succeed in said sport. Make a significant better living in said sport that the vast majority of the country. And then questions the "games integrity". As if the sport has never tried to protect its players...

And yet, Rugby has been around quite longer. Has always had less pads, and seems to be just fine, because it's an international sport.

The Running of the Bulls has been brought to question in America far more than in any other country, including Spain, yet thousands every year join, "WILLINGLY" knowing full well then risk of 1-5 of them during that run.
Bull fighting is still a full on profession, and the risk is significantly higher of injury or death than football.

Racing, yep. They get a helmet. And a car that is caged around them for padding, yet go hundreds of miles per hour and we wait in anticipation for the "big one" to happen every year. Cars thousands of pounds going 100 mph flipping out of control. Broken bones, concussions, dehydration, and death... Still going.

 

[Wyokie]

You could add rodeo events like bull riding to that list as well, Kansas.

 

[kansasCowboy]

You could add rodeo events like bull riding to that list as well, Kansas.

I could, but then those vegans and petas would be all over me because the animals sustain more injuries that the people...

What is sad is we live in a country where bitching has become a constant norm. We all have to have something to cling too. Something to cry about. And the majority will never be happy, because if they get what they want, it's never enough or they just find something else to occupy their time and bitch about.

OMG!!! GYMISTS need to be looked at! They have NO protection and hurdle their bodies through the air with such force that if they land wrong it can be a serious concussion or even broken bones. Screw this taping their ankles and wrists business, where are their helmets? Shoulder pads; high ankle shoes to prevent those twisted and broken ankles?

You can make any sport look bad.
That is the point of a sport. Physical fit bodies doing what they can do best. And we cheer that on... Well most of us still.
Get rid of the Olympics in this day and age... Someone might get hurt! Tripping over a hurdle; a strong body buckling under a tremendous amount of weight; All that trauma with those GYMISTS!
Skiing some what in control down the side of a mountain, until you lose control...Bobsleds flipping and unable to stop.

No, we need to get back to the age of safety. Where our biggest risk is losing at chess... Yep, it's slow paced. Very few injuries. We have this under control now... Until players start having aneurysms from thinking too hard and we'll have to call that into question as well.

Nope, it's time to take the role of Spongebob. (I just happened to see this with my kids today). Stay inside where it's safe and nothing can harm you. You sit and hang out with your new friends Chip, Penny and Used Napkin. Safe...

Safe... safe... Safe..Safe.

Are we SAFE YET!?

 

[Wyokie]

You could add rodeo events like bull riding to that list as well, Kansas.

I could, but then those vegans and petas would be all over me because the animals sustain more injuries that the people...

Good point. I hate PETA. I stopped liking Pamela Anderson because she joined PETA. AND I have a low opinion of vegans.

What is sad is we live in a country where bitching has become a constant norm. We all have to have something to cling too. Something to cry about. And the majority will never be happy, because if they get what they want, it's never enough or they just find something else to occupy their time and bitch about.

Hence why I hate elections. Politicians are worse than lawyers. I can't stand the PC crowd. :tickedoff: :roll: