Pollard: NFL won't won't exist in 30 years

[ThomasTomasz]

Bernard Pollard has a bleak take on the future of the NFL.

The hard-hitting Baltimore Ravens safety told CBSSports.com recently that he doesn't believe the league will be in existence in 30 years because of rules changes, instituted in an effort to make the game safer, that have changed the game and the chance a player might someday die on the field as players keep on getting stronger and faster.

"Thirty years from now, I don't think it will be in existence. I could be wrong. It's just my opinion, but I think with the direction things are going -- where they [NFL rules makers] want to lighten up, and they're throwing flags and everything else -- there's going to come a point where fans are going to get fed up with it," he told the website.

"Guys are getting fined, and they're talking about, 'Let's take away the strike zone' and 'Take the pads off' or 'Take the helmets off.' It's going to be a thing where fans aren't going to want to watch it anymore."

The issue of football safety was on the mind of President Barack Obama recently when he told The New Republic in an interview for its Feb. 11 issue that, if he had a son he would think long and hard before allowing him to play the sport.

Obama told the magazine that football fans are going to have to wrestle with the fact that the game will probably change over time to try to reduce the violence.

The president says that some of those changes might make football, in his words, "a bit less exciting" but that it will be much better for players.

"And those of us who are fans maybe won't have to examine our consciences quite as much," he said.

Pollard said he understands the movement to make the game safer for players, but coaches are looking for players that are "stronger and faster year in and year out. And that means you're going to keep getting big hits and concussions and blown-out knees.

"The only thing I'm waiting for ... and, Lord, I hope it doesn't happen ... is a guy dying on the field. We've had everything else happen there except for a death. We understand what we signed up for, and it sucks," he told the website.

Pollard has a reputation for big hits. He was fined $15,250 for unnecessary roughness last week for his third-quarter hit on New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker in the Ravens' AFC Championship Game victory.

Pollard received a 15-yard penalty on the play for striking an opponent in the head and neck area.

He also forced a crucial fumble, however, by knocking running back Stevan Ridley out of that game. He was not penalized or fined for the hit on Ridley.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/201...llard-baltimore-ravens-nfl-not-exist-30-years

 

[jms493]

I do not care what Bernard Pollard says about anything...play football and shut up.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I'm not sure if the game won't exist all together, but it won't look or be played the same. That process started years ago. The game is completely different now than it was 15 years ago. The three point stance is next to go. All hitting will soon be limited to between the armpits & waist.

The new scientific breakthrough where they can now indicate brain trauma on live patients is the death knoll for the league. We already see the ripple effects of 'football fear', with less & less parents letting their kids play. Now that we can track brain damage before these guys put bullets into their chests, you'll see high school & college players give up the game at the first sign of trouble. And i'm sure the NFL will force players into retirement who show damage, to protect themselves from liability.

The best athletes won't be choosing football (this has started already), so quality of play will drop within the next 15 years or so and then keep going down from there.

And Pollard is absolutely right. An on field death, especially if its brain related, and it's RIP NFL as we know it. That would be a difficult blow to bounce back from.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I don't know much about hockey, but I was listening to a radio show the other day and the host made a great point.

He was saying that a few years ago, when all of this head trauma stuff was just coming to the surface, The NFL & NHL took completely different paths.

Goodell caved to the media, caved to sponsors, put in game changing rules changes, softened the game, etc.

Gary Bettman told the media to fuck off, told sponsors that if they didn't like the game to go spend their money elsewhere (Air Canada), and basically said 'this is our game, its a contact game, it contains violence, and if you don't like it, go fuck yourself, we don't care'. So now you hardly ever hear about this brain trauma shit re: NHL anymore. It was nipped in the bud.

While the NHL has had labor issues, they have shows a steady rise in ratings the last few years and always have full arenas. The NFL is showing signs of decline, with both an increasing number of empty stadiums, and slowly declining ratings (some of that to do with overexposure). This isn't to suggest that the NFL at this point isn't still a massive entity that is not the envy of every sports league, because it is, but if you are looking for signs & trends beyond the surface there are cracks in the foundation. Fans are losing interest. Not quite in droves, but there is data to suggest the NFL has peaked.

 

[Aso]

I'm only 19 so the NFL has to exist for at least another 50-60 years.

 

[EmpireWF]

Pollard isn't wrong.

 

[ralaw]

I don't know much about hockey, but I was listening to a radio show the other day and the host made a great point.

He was saying that a few years ago, when all of this head trauma stuff was just coming to the surface, The NFL & NHL took completely different paths.

Goodell caved to the media, caved to sponsors, put in game changing rules changes, softened the game, etc.

Gary Bettman told the media to fuck off, told sponsors that if they didn't like the game to go spend their money elsewhere (Air Canada), and basically said 'this is our game, its a contact game, it contains violence, and if you don't like it, go fuck yourself, we don't care'. So now you hardly ever hear about this brain trauma shit re: NHL anymore. It was nipped in the bud.

While the NHL has had labor issues, they have shows a steady rise in ratings the last few years and always have full arenas. The NFL is showing signs of decline, with both an increasing number of empty stadiums, and slowly declining ratings (some of that to do with overexposure). This isn't to suggest that the NFL at this point isn't still a massive entity that is not the envy of every sports league, because it is, but if you are looking for signs & trends beyond the surface there are cracks in the foundation. Fans are losing interest. Not quite in droves, but there is data to suggest the NFL has peaked.

The popularity of the NFL versus the NHL can't be ignored. IMO Goodell had to deal with the issue.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

The popularity of the NFL versus the NHL can't be ignored. IMO Goodell had to deal with the issue.

Please, don't think i'm comparing the two, or comparing the level of scrutiny each was under. Basically the NHL was able to get away with not making fundamental changes their game, so in effect, their lack of comparative popularity worked to their advantage. To my knowledge, they also don't have an entire alumni base litigating them to death, either. But Bettman still showed some guts when he told those big ticket sponsors to take a walk. And to me, the NFL has gone too far in the other direction.

 

[Tailback U]

It's ok to compare but they are not that similar. I haven't heard of a single NHL player suing the NHL.

 

[ralaw]

Please, don't think i'm comparing the two, or comparing the level of scrutiny each was under. Basically the NHL was able to get away with not making fundamental changes their game, so in effect, their lack of comparative popularity worked to their advantage. To my knowledge, they also don't have an entire alumni base litigating them to death, either. But Bettman still showed some guts when he told those big ticket sponsors to take a walk. And to me, the NFL has gone too far in the other direction.

Litigation is obviously what all of this is about. I wish Goodell could have taken a similar stance to what Bettman took, but if he had done so the headlines would be, "Goodell, the NFL don't care about your kids!!" With Bettman most people don't even realize he basically rejected the idea.

For the most part as long as the NFL is in the business of making millionaires I don't think the league will ever struggle finding top talent.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

The angry alumni suing the NFL all started a few years back when it was about the pension issue.

Had the NFL just taken care of those guys then, I wonder if the brain issue stuff would be as front & center today. The NFL has about four decades worth of players pissed off at them and looking for any reason to stick it to them.

 

[EmpireWF]

Litigation is obviously what all of this is about. I wish Goodell could have taken a similar stance to what Bettman took, but if he had done so the headlines would be, "Goodell, the NFL don't care about your kids!!" With Bettman most people don't even realize he basically rejected the idea.

For the most part as long as the NFL is in the business of making millionaires I don't think the league will ever struggle finding top talent.

That headline followed by, "FORMER NFL PLAYERS WIN BILLION DOLLAR LAWSUIT AGAINST LEAGUE"

 

[ram29jackson]

will there be a day when collecting football helmets is like collecting gladiator armor? I hope not

 

[JimLeavy59]

I don't know much about hockey, but I was listening to a radio show the other day and the host made a great point.

He was saying that a few years ago, when all of this head trauma stuff was just coming to the surface, The NFL & NHL took completely different paths.

Goodell caved to the media, caved to sponsors, put in game changing rules changes, softened the game, etc.

Gary Bettman told the media to fuck off, told sponsors that if they didn't like the game to go spend their money elsewhere (Air Canada), and basically said 'this is our game, its a contact game, it contains violence, and if you don't like it, go fuck yourself, we don't care'. So now you hardly ever hear about this brain trauma shit re: NHL anymore. It was nipped in the bud.

While the NHL has had labor issues, they have shows a steady rise in ratings the last few years and always have full arenas. The NFL is showing signs of decline, with both an increasing number of empty stadiums, and slowly declining ratings (some of that to do with overexposure). This isn't to suggest that the NFL at this point isn't still a massive entity that is not the envy of every sports league, because it is, but if you are looking for signs & trends beyond the surface there are cracks in the foundation. Fans are losing interest. Not quite in droves, but there is data to suggest the NFL has peaked.

Except for Phoenix and Dallas, Bettman has to get out of those markets that aren't into hockey. I'm still holding out hope for a Milwaukee NHL team.

 

[ram29jackson]

Except for Phoenix and Dallas, Bettman has to get out of those markets that aren't into hockey. I'm still holding out hope for a Milwaukee NHL team.

they should have got one long before Carolina

 

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

How do NHL retirees get treated?
I'm curious if they've had any echoes from them or were they taken care of. Maybe since only Canadians play hockey the medical treatment is already covered.
Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[mgoblue2290]

Is there a difference between the amount of concussions and also their severity for players in the NFL and NHL?

 

[Prodigal Son]

The NHL did not tell anyone to fuck off. They changed their rules when it comes to hitting. Let's not act like Goodall just neutered the game, while the NHL did nothing. The game is vastly different then it was 10 years ago. A lot of the thugs that played are no longer useful, because the game has attempted to cater to the more talented player. There was threats of a lot of the more talented players wanting to leave because the game had become a thug haven with cheap shots and many other things to slow down the skill players. I believe it was Joe Thornton who was one of the main guys behind the threats of leaving the NHL.

 

[ram29jackson]

 

[ram29jackson]

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