How the NFL ha changed

[TimsGiants]

as much as I loved this game watching the replay makes me sad
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YK01NSMQMe4[/ame]

Game used to be physical, these guys were killing each other. Jut watch few minutes and youll see. Game now is so soft. $ really killed NFL. I watch Antre Rolle blast a wr tonight in preseason which of course was a 15yard defnseless bs penalty. Thats gonna cost him few thousand. Instead they should fine QB for making the throw...fucking BS pussy game it is today

[OnlyOneBeerLeft]

Preach on man... but... a valid point is the game speed was NOWHERE near what it is with the athletes hitting you now. Imagine how much damage a hit from a Safety who is 220-230 lbs and runs a 4.3/4.4 40 could do to another human? It would prob kill you.

Back then a safety was usually a converted CB who was too old/slow to cover WRs. Now on some teams your safety is the fastest guy on the defense.

I def miss the physical nature, but players are getting hurt at record numbers now with the athleticism and size out on the field. Maybe they can start wearing bubble wrap and we can watch people hit again.

:obama:

[packersfan4eva]

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."

[Macken]

well said packersfan..

[MrBill]

Agreed TG. The NFL is by far still my favorite sport but they have made it so much about scoring and protecting offensive players that it feels a lot like flag football with pads when watching some plays unfold.

[Maynard]

the game in general is a watered down version of what it used to be. they wanted parody and thats what they have now. Makes it more competitive across the board which is good imo. but the rules now are so geared to offense and protecting the players that alot of the excitement that we used to see is gone.

i dont thing its the players fault. i think its the owners fault. they spend all that money on a star only to see him hurt for the year....they dont like that

the QB rules are a joke. seeing a guy get a 15 yard penalty for a blow to the head when its nothing more than a inadvertent head slap us comical. Or hitting them low when its ok for pulling linemen to take out DL all the time

[Maynard]

what cracks me up about the video is the replay towards the end on the taylor catch. it shows how terrible it was back then. The huddle up, goto the booth, spend 2 minutes reviewing then come back and say no replay was allowed because of the whistle blowing it dead. Did they need to do all of that to say they blew the whistle? i mean if u blew the whistle you know you blew the whistle

[Houston]

Remember the NFL peoples make these rule, not the players. It's not like our players couldn't hang with the ones they had down then.

[Blade]

I don't understand how Glen Coffee got into this discussion? Isn't he going back to school now?

[NAHSTE]

Make the players play without pads and helmets, and they'll go back to form tackling. It's the best way to reduce concussions.

[Sportsbuck]

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.

[NAHSTE]

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.

Sure, but it was a great tangent. You can't argue with the examples you provided.

There's also been evidence found that even if a player stops after high school he likely has some brain damage as well. I don't know if my brain is different from playing football, but I know for damn sure the toll the game took on my knees, ankles, shoulders, etc.

I still have pain from football-related wear and tear, and I never had any major injuries. I can only imagine what it's like getting out of bed for some of these former NFL players. Of course, I'd do it all over again, but I don't know if Earl Campbell or Ted Johnson would say the same.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Protecting the QB is a slippery slope. On one hand, I completely understand the leagues mindset, because people want to see Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady, not Jim Sorgi vs. Matt Guttierez. Most of the starters in the league stink, the backups are largely atrocious, and it leads to bad games when you have reserve QB's playing. On the other hand, the glancing blows to the helmet that result in 15 yards, or the banned ankle tackles are probably a bit too extreme. But where do you draw the line? If defenders know that a glancing head blow is a personal foul, you will see less head contact.

It's an entertainment business, and the stars have always been the QB's, and to a lesser extent on the pro level (but not college), the head coach.

I think the switch to personel people emphasising speed had caused the most damage. Even in the 90's, the game was slower. It's a speed game now, and faster = more violent when people collide.

[Warner2BruceTD]

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.

[1ke]

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."

Wait...I dont get the Glenn Coffee thing here. He is leaving the league to go back to school for his last year, and then going to become a pastor after that.