America's Game on NFLNET: 2009 New Orleans Saints
The NFL had two major, difficult work-stoppages in the 80's over essentially the right for limited, then unlimited free agency. The 1982 NFL player's strike wiped out half the season and eliminated divisions instead of a Super Bowl tournament. The stubborn, almost diehard resistance by NFL owners to grant even Plan B free agency was one reason why most players salaries didnt rise too high or expotentially from the late 70's-early 90's. Pro Bowl SB-winning QB's like Joe Montana or superstars like John Elway, Dan Marino, Eric Dickerson didn't earn anything close to the same monstrous salaries Drew Brees, Brady, Big Ben, Ray Lewis and now Mahomes demanded and received. Eric Dickerson mightve played his entire career in L.A. if it weren't for the fact he felt he deserved a new, bigger contract and the cash-light Rams FO and organization would rather trade him to a perennial loser like Indy was back then in a blockbuster trade then pay what was the NFL's best, most prolific RB of the 1980's a higher-quality, higher playing contract.
One major reason why NFL defenses and defensive players, in general, could play a lot more looser, and a more violent game 45-50 years ago was due to that most star NFL players werent making $5-10 million dollars yearly back then, if not more. Plus, what the NFL FO, and team physicians, knew collectively about CTE.or other major career-threatening injuries was significantly limited compared to advances in neuroscience and severe truama-related injuries to the upper body and brain. NFL.teams, its FO and owners viewed players as more expendable and disposable as participants involved in a violent, extremely physical game. 40 years ago, if someone like Joe Montana suffered a concussion, he wouldn't be sent to a neurospecialists tent on the sidelines, he'd be given some smelling salts, maybe sit out 1-2 possessions and then be sent back out there even if he still felt a little woozy and disoriented.2009 New Orleans Saints
AIRED SEP 8, 2010STEREO • CC
Story of the 2009 New Orleans Saints and their run to Super Bowl XLIV through the eyes of Sean Payton, Drew Brees and Jonathan Vilma. Narrated by Brad Pitt.
Today at 10:00 PM Find it on212 NFLNET
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And a previous post by me:
NOTE: NFLNET has been playing America's Game episodes throughout the weekend.
Boy, did they let the defense "tackle the ball carrier any way they wanted to" in the '60s!
Talk about head shots galore AND violent clothesline tackles!
Even grabbing the facemask as part of the tackle!
"Protect the QB?" What's that sez the 60s!
8-o
The NFL had two major, difficult work-stoppages in the 80's over essentially the right for limited, then unlimited free agency. The 1982 NFL player's strike wiped out half the season and eliminated divisions instead of a Super Bowl tournament. The stubborn, almost diehard resistance by NFL owners to grant even Plan B free agency was one reason why most players salaries didnt rise too high or expotentially from the late 70's-early 90's. Pro Bowl SB-winning QB's like Joe Montana or superstars like John Elway, Dan Marino, Eric Dickerson didn't earn anything close to the same monstrous salaries Drew Brees, Brady, Big Ben, Ray Lewis and now Mahomes demanded and received. Eric Dickerson mightve played his entire career in L.A. if it weren't for the fact he felt he deserved a new, bigger contract and the cash-light Rams FO and organization would rather trade him to a perennial loser like Indy was back then in a blockbuster trade then pay what was the NFL's best, most prolific RB of the 1980's a higher-quality, higher playing contract.