How the NFL ha changed

[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?

:jonesy:

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"..

 

[dave]

You see a lot fewer 10-3 games in this era, which is a good thing IMO.
You may also see a lot less long-term damage to players health, so they might actually be able to walk when they're 50, which is a good thing IMO.

Yeah, 70s and 80s football may have been more macho, but unnecessary roughness really isn't needed to make the game great, cheap shots on QBs doesn't make a game great, etc...

I suspect if you ask a lot of the oldtimers, while they may agree the game is more pussified, they probably wish they'd played in this era ... as their hip and knee replacements creak.