JUST FOOTBALL

[Emeritus]

I agree, Try. Entertainment just isn't that important. I saw a lot of great football before the use of the helmet as a weapon came into fashion.

[LadyHawk]

Football is show business. Period. It's entertainment. And people want to be entertained and get their money's worth. Absolutely it is NOT worth some guy losing his life or his ability to walk or eat solid food again. On ESPN this morning they were talking to a LOT of NFL players who are not happy with the changes being implemented by the NFL...guys who are currently playing; not the retired ones. One of the Dolphins' linebackers was interviewed and he said - in a nuthsell - that he wants to play and play hard...they won't make him retire.

[16Forever]

She's got style, she's got faith and she's gonna get a great divorce attorney - She's too good for the jackass that wears #4.


http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5710035

[16Forever]

Well, well, well...Mr. Anderson sent this out to the teams today -

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d8 ... ule=HP_cp2

[TryThinking]

We can't just dismiss it with the fact that these guys are getting paid allot of money and they should just nut-up and get it done.

*************************************'

The flipside of that is that these guys are voluntarily signing up to play in the NFL. No one is MAKING them do it. Kinda like...don't buy a house under the flight path at the airport and then bitch about the noise. No one MADE you buy a house there when you knew WHY it was so cheap. Just sayin...

LH I see your point, but the lure of money is only happening because we the audience/fans are paying it. The question is are we paying it to see someone end up in a wheelchair for the rest of his life and however many extended family members that may affect? I certainly am not, I enjoy the contact as I was a middle linebacker in HS and loved nothing more than laying a tight end out coming across the middle trying to use his height advantage on me. Since that time though players have gotten MUCH bigger~faster and stronger and the impact force has increased greatly! I'm all about the sport as it was my favorite to play and watch, however there is nothing wrong with trying to limit life changing injuries in my opinion.
No I don't enjoy watching flag football. (for the preemptive comments)

[Emeritus]

I don't buy the argument that the vicious hits are excusable because the players volunteered to play the game. What if some played wearing brass knuckles? Would that be excusable because the players weren't forced to play? A line must be drawn somewhere. I would prefer that it would be drawn on the side of preventing permanent injury.

[TryThinking]

Well, well, well...Mr. Anderson sent this out to the teams today -

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d8 ... ule=HP_cp2

I think that pretty well stated their point as to what will happen for illegal hits. They were already illegal, but stepping up the enforcement seems to be the only way it will be followed. I can understand that a guy that makes his living on his reputation as a hard hitter not thinking twice about changing the way he plays when he is slapped with a $7,500 fine. When he's making multi-million dollars a year playing, he just considers that a cost of doing business and not even thinking about the consequences. You now slap a $75,000 fine or suspension of a game without pay on him and he's going to think twice before launching himself at the guys head.
I personally am OK with the new enforcement rules as they can still make hits and tackles without going head hunting.

[Emeritus]

Absolutely. When I played school ball I had the wind knocked out of me a few times and that really gets your attention. It is dismissed by people who have never had it happen to them, but it's no fun. Football is violent enough without using helmets as weapons.

[16Forever]

I played WR in HS and I got to experience smelling salts a few times too.

[Emeritus]

I was a tackle. The first thing that I learned to do was to keep my feet under me. The fans and even the refs can't see much of the foot stomping that goes on. When I played you would pad and tape up your hands and forearms, too.

bob_lilly2_1024.jpg (41.77 KiB) Viewed 14851 times

[LadyHawk]

I don't buy the argument that the vicious hits are excusable because the players volunteered to play the game. What if some played wearing brass knuckles? Would that be excusable because the players weren't forced to play? A line must be drawn somewhere. I would prefer that it would be drawn on the side of preventing permanent injury.

Brass knuckles...that is not authorized equipment in the NFL so I'm not even sure how to address that comment. I am not condoning excessive use of force/unsportsmanlike conduct ... players intentionally harming other players to take them out of the game. I'm not saying that "vicious hits are excusable because players volunteered to play the game." If that is how you interpreted my comment, then we are not understanding each other. So far I'm not hearing ANY NFL PLAYERS being interviewed asking the NFL for these changes. But they ARE saying they will adapt if that is required, which it appears it will.

We will probably start seeing more flags in our near future as these guys are going to have to readjust their tackle zone...something they've been taught forever. But I could be wrong (wouldn't be the first time).

Bottom line: it appears that the NFL is taking steps to prevent life-threatening injuries.

[Emeritus]

Bottom line: it appears that the NFL is taking steps to prevent life-threatening injuries.

I think that is all that anybody is asking. I believe that everybody wants football to be a rough game. I know that I enjoyed playing it that way. Like everything else, it is subject to abuse and some players have chosen to cross the line. There is a difference between sport and hooliganism.

[dredwak]

bobLilly.jpg (20.95 KiB) Viewed 14823 times

[Emeritus]

When I was in high school, Bob Lily was my ideal. He represented everything about a football player that I admired, then and now.

[tenn10]

Those pics of Bob Lily reminded me of the "100 Greatest Football Players of All Time" program that has been coming on NFL network every Thursday night. They are counting backwards from 100 and list ten players each week. This week is numbers 30-21:
21) Tom Brady
22)Gale Sayers
23)John Elway
24)John Hannah
25)Dan Marino
26)Bob Lilly
27)Merlin Olsen
28)Emmitt Smith
29)Jack Lambert
30)Dick "Night Train" Lane

That is an amazing list.....numbers 20-1 must be humdingers

[tenn10]

here is the web site that list each one selected so far, if anyone is interested

http://top100.nfl.com/

[Emeritus]

Hey, thanks for posting that, Tenn. That's pretty good company to be in.

[Emeritus]

The trouble with lists is that everybody has their own. I'm sure that most people would agree that all of the top 100 all belong, but where on the list depends on how much importance you give to different criteria. For example, should quarterbacks be rated according to the Super Bowls that they have won, or do teams, not quarterbacks, win Super Bowls? How important should longevity be in determining a player's ranking? I doubt if there could ever be a unanimous list.

[Emeritus]

Houston didn't lose yesterday, but they dropped behind the Titans in the AFL South. Coming off they bye they will have to play the very good Colts, so Houston will have to have some help against the Titans to keep pace.

[LadyHawk]

I missed the post-game interview of Vikings HC Brad Childress, but wow - he was sure getting flogged by ESPN analyst, Trent Dilfer. Sounds like he threw "the old man" (Favre) under the bus?

[Emeritus]

That's a good description, LadyHawk. He didn't mention that if he had challenged the Packers first touchdown the Vikings might have won the game.

[LadyHawk]

Trent Dilfer pretty much "challenged" Brad Childress last night to bench Favre. But he said Childress probably won't because of Favre's long starting record...apparently the longest in sports history. And "who wants to be the bad guy to break that record?"

Ya know? That's a mistake. You do what is best for the TEAM, not for an individual player who has played BEYOND his abilities and is now a detriment. Time to bench Favre, I say. Screw his "record." He's outlived it.

[Emeritus]

Childress staked everything on getting Farve to play. It almost worked last year, but now Farve is clearly over the hill. The problem for Childress is that Farve was his choice and if Farve can't do it he's out of luck. There is no capable replacement for him, because Childress bet everything on Farve instead of going after another quarterback.

[LadyHawk]

HEADLINE: "Favre has stress fracture; playing status unclear"[/size]

Looks like Childress won't have to worry himself with benching Favre...

[Emeritus]

Which means that the Vikings have no quarterback. Who believes that Tarvaris Jackson will be able to save the season? The Vikings had a chance to pick up a good quarterback two years ago, but Childress sold out everything to get Brett instead. Last year it came close to working, but now the Vikings are left holding the bag. Of course, Brett gets paid anyway.

[LadyHawk]

Countdown to Favre Retirement Announcement #15 in 3...2...1...

[TryThinking]

Countdown to Favre Retirement Announcement #15 in 3...2...1...

Knowing Bret, he'll probably be trying to get out there with a special boot on. Like him or not, the guys a fighter.

[LadyHawk]

Countdown to Favre Retirement Announcement #15 in 3...2...1...

Knowing Bret, he'll probably be trying to get out there with a special boot on. Like him or not, the guys a fighter.

I have ZERO respect for him anymore. He's not helping his team, by his actions ON or OFF the field. Fighter or not...I am no longer a fan of Brett Favre, as an athlete or as a man. I'm sick of selfish, egotistical men. And he is one of them.

[TryThinking]

Countdown to Favre Retirement Announcement #15 in 3...2...1...

Knowing Bret, he'll probably be trying to get out there with a special boot on. Like him or not, the guys a fighter.

I have ZERO respect for him anymore. He's not helping his team, by his actions ON or OFF the field. Fighter or not...I am no longer a fan of Brett Favre, as an athlete or as a man. I'm sick of selfish, egotistical men. And he is one of them.

~cough cough~ How bout them Seahawks?!

[16Forever]

I just got my "Favre Hater Club" membership card.