How the NFL ha changed

[Fox1994]

To be honest, it's not the lack of physicality that I miss most about the NFL. Style of play will always evolve over time, in any sport. Right now, it happens to a passing league with lots of scoring. It is what it is.

The two things that bug me the most, is the lack of diversity in play style from team to team (everyone runs largely the same schemes on both sides of the ball these days), and excessive player movement. Watching that 1990 game, the 49ers and Giants lineups basically didnt change for 7 or 8 years. Teams dont stay together for more than two now.

Yep. I don't care too much about free agency, I worry about how every team is playing the same game in a different uniform. It's monotonic.

[BigBucs]

To be honest, it's not the lack of physicality that I miss most about the NFL. Style of play will always evolve over time, in any sport. Right now, it happens to a passing league with lots of scoring. It is what it is.

The two things that bug me the most, is the lack of diversity in play style from team to team (everyone runs largely the same schemes on both sides of the ball these days), and excessive player movement. Watching that 1990 game, the 49ers and Giants lineups basically didnt change for 7 or 8 years. Teams dont stay together for more than two now.

Quite difficult to keeo teams together for extended amounts of time nowadays because of the the salarys, the greed from both sides and the salary cap.

[ram29jackson]

Football in general has become a much more pussified game in the past 20 years, and while thats pretty disheartening to think about, its definately needed IMO when you see the shape that some of the former players are in. Yeah, I realize most of you don't really give a shit about them, but its absolutely horrifying if you really take a look at it.

You have guys like former Patriots LB Ted Johnson... who after he retired would sit in his bedroom all day with the curtains drawn and the lights off because of all the concussions he suffered, played through, was talking into playing through (Bill Bellichek), and he couldn't even play with his fucking kid.

When former All-Pro DB Andre Waters comnmitted suicide in 2006, doctors examined his brain and found that as a result of his playing days, he had brain tissue that was the equivalent of an 85 year old man's. He was 44 years old.

Former Steelers lineman Terry Long committed suicide at age 45 by drinking anti-freeze... after a failed suicide attempt before and attempting to burn down a chicken processing plant.

I kind of went off on a tangent here... and I guess what I'm getting at is that there needs to be better handling of players with concussions, and better treatment for former players, but I think it all kind of falls under the same umbrella.

that could be more severe depression than the concussions and players heavily miss the comradery after retiring as well. I refer to your last 2 examples

[Maynard]

i wonder if anyone feels the games are any less enjoyable today then they were 20 years ago?

my answer is no (forgetting i am a browns fan) and i think games have gotten more enjoyable.

if you go back to the SB...1997 pack/broncos was the first in a trend of close, competitive SB games. Except for a few games, like 25 and 23, all the SB were basically blow outs or not really a competitive game.

I like that i can be a non fan of the playoff/SB teams and still see an exciting close game. The pussy-ing of the league isnt a big factor in my point, but still the changes in the game over the past 20 years have been for the better imo

[ram29jackson]

I already said this 2 years ago, and you guys are finally catching up......

[1ke]

that could be more severe depression than the concussions and players heavily miss the comradery after retiring as well. I refer to your last 2 examples

Are you being serious right now? Please say your not. Concussions are a much bigger deal than that normal fans realize. But please tell me your not serious?

[ram29jackson]

i wonder if anyone feels the games are any less enjoyable today then they were 20 years ago?

my answer is no (forgetting i am a browns fan) and i think games have gotten more enjoyable.

if you go back to the SB...1997 pack/broncos was the first in a trend of close, competitive SB games. Except for a few games, like 25 and 23, all the SB were basically blow outs or not really a competitive game.

I like that i can be a non fan of the playoff/SB teams and still see an exciting close game. The pussy-ing of the league isnt a big factor in my point, but still the changes in the game over the past 20 years have been for the better imo

that game was close because it was 2 quality teams with quality coaches who had been there before.

the recent close ones are for reasons stated earlier- free agancy- everyone runs the same thing- offensive favored rules.

[ram29jackson]

Are you being serious right now? Please say your not. Concussions are a much bigger deal than that normal fans realize. But please tell me your not serious?

concussions don't cause you/lead you to commit suicide. Depression does.

of course as a football fan I have learned plenty about concussions.

[Sportsbuck]

that could be more severe depression than the concussions and players heavily miss the comradery after retiring as well. I refer to your last 2 examples

They became depressed as a result of the concussions... I did my graduation project on this subject, so I know it pretty well.

I don't think depression caused a 45 year old man's brain tissue to resemble an 85 year old man's...

[Sportsbuck]

concussions don't cause you/lead you to commit suicide. Depression does.

of course as a football fan I have learned plenty about concussions.

Concussions can, have, and do lead to depression.

Ted Johnson is a living testament to that.

[ram29jackson]

Concussions can, have, and do lead to depression.

Ted Johnson is a living testament to that.

I understand the correlation. I dont disagree with that. I basically meant concussions in and of themselves wont lead to suicide. and without concussions guys still get depressed after retiring.

[1ke]

Cant really disagree with that, you just made it seem as they had nothing to do with eachother. Its just a scary thought how many players have had countless concussions and they wouldnt even know.

[Warner2BruceTD]

concussions don't cause you/lead you to commit suicide. Depression does.

Concussions destroy the brain, leading to depression, paranoia, and in some cases, delusional/psychotic behavior and insanity.

The men sportsbuck mentioned all died due to brain damage/concussions that led to the above symptoms.

Also, this guy:



Proven, scientific evidance that concussions lead to suicide, and in his case, murder.

Cause/effect

[Rayman]

The rare thread in which nearly every post brings up excellent points on both sides of an argument.

It's something that sucks, but you understand why it's done. I think the league has been a little excessive though when it comes to protecting players who once they retire they don't give a shit about.

[Hasselbeck]

The fact is, in 2010, lots of the players *cough* Glen Coffee *cough* care more about the money than the sport. They don't wanna be the next Gale Sayers in the fact that they get hurt after 4 seasons and can't play anymore. They want the money flowin' for the next 15 years. And the NFL wants them playing for that long as well, so they make the game "safer."

You used Glen Coffee as an example about players who care more about money than performance?



Dude WALKED away from money to be a minister. Terrible analogy.

If you want to cite selfish athletes, Glen Coffee isn't your guy. You can name Albert Haynesworth.. or Jamarcus Russell.. who after they were paid, just basically said "fuck it"..