05-24-2020, 12:37 PM
The league really needs to decide whether they truly want to make the game safe, by completely bastardizing it and changing the way it's played entirely, or they need to just accept the fact the game can be dangerous and just play the game the way it's meant to be played.
To each their own, but I consider many of these rules changes that have been made to be glorified PR stunts. They're half-measures that really don't address the root problem. That problem being, that football is a violent game. It can be and mostly is violent at all times, in all plays, in endless scenarios.
Injuries can happen at any time, and there is nothing that can done to fully protect against it without a complete overhaul of the rules of the game. Of course, the league can't come out and admit this, even know everyone knows it to be true. And they can't completely change the sport because it will result in less interest. So what we're left with are these minor changes to kickoffs, and lowering of the head and targeting rules, so it appears the league is all about player safety. By making these changes the league can say they're addressing safety concerns. But are they really? Of course not.
Look at Luke Kuechley. That guy came into the league and played the majority of his career after a lot of these rule changes. He also played the right way. But guess what? The dude had a ton of concussions. Why? Because that's the nature of the game. The famous concussion he had, where he was out of on the sideline and was crying, didn't come after lowering his head or anything that could be described against the rules. It came after he was fell back after making a tackle and his helmet hit another defenders. You can't protect against that.
Like I said, I really just wish the league would make a choice. Either go all in, and let me decide if I want to watch a newer or safer version of the NFL, or just leave the game alone.
Too many of these rule changes result in inconsistent calls and completely put certain players at tremendous disadvantages. Take targeting. If the ball is up in the air and the receiver is already going up to get and you're closing in, are you not supposed to try to break up the play? What's the alternative? Just let him catch the ball? Do you stand in place, and wait for him to catch it, then try to make the tackle? What are you supposed to do.
Personally, I really wish they would just trust the officials as they did for years to decide when a play is deserving of being dirty. It's like the quote about pornography; you'll know it when you see it. Instead they're forcing them to work off a defined rulebook and to flag everything, regardless of the situation or intent.
I'll stop rambling, but this crap drives me nut. Just play the sport as intended or don't play it all. The fact it's gotten to the point that ideas like being able to go for a 4th and 15 instead of an onsides kick is ridiculous. This isn't the arena league. And the rule change that preceeded this proposal isn't doing nearly enough in making the game safe to warrant a domino effect of idiotic changes.
/Rant
To each their own, but I consider many of these rules changes that have been made to be glorified PR stunts. They're half-measures that really don't address the root problem. That problem being, that football is a violent game. It can be and mostly is violent at all times, in all plays, in endless scenarios.
Injuries can happen at any time, and there is nothing that can done to fully protect against it without a complete overhaul of the rules of the game. Of course, the league can't come out and admit this, even know everyone knows it to be true. And they can't completely change the sport because it will result in less interest. So what we're left with are these minor changes to kickoffs, and lowering of the head and targeting rules, so it appears the league is all about player safety. By making these changes the league can say they're addressing safety concerns. But are they really? Of course not.
Look at Luke Kuechley. That guy came into the league and played the majority of his career after a lot of these rule changes. He also played the right way. But guess what? The dude had a ton of concussions. Why? Because that's the nature of the game. The famous concussion he had, where he was out of on the sideline and was crying, didn't come after lowering his head or anything that could be described against the rules. It came after he was fell back after making a tackle and his helmet hit another defenders. You can't protect against that.
Like I said, I really just wish the league would make a choice. Either go all in, and let me decide if I want to watch a newer or safer version of the NFL, or just leave the game alone.
Too many of these rule changes result in inconsistent calls and completely put certain players at tremendous disadvantages. Take targeting. If the ball is up in the air and the receiver is already going up to get and you're closing in, are you not supposed to try to break up the play? What's the alternative? Just let him catch the ball? Do you stand in place, and wait for him to catch it, then try to make the tackle? What are you supposed to do.
Personally, I really wish they would just trust the officials as they did for years to decide when a play is deserving of being dirty. It's like the quote about pornography; you'll know it when you see it. Instead they're forcing them to work off a defined rulebook and to flag everything, regardless of the situation or intent.
I'll stop rambling, but this crap drives me nut. Just play the sport as intended or don't play it all. The fact it's gotten to the point that ideas like being able to go for a 4th and 15 instead of an onsides kick is ridiculous. This isn't the arena league. And the rule change that preceeded this proposal isn't doing nearly enough in making the game safe to warrant a domino effect of idiotic changes.
/Rant
