Scrap helmets and pads, improve safety and technique (1 Viewer)

[Sitch]

This must happen for the good of this great game which is eating itself from the inside, it is safer even though America is hesitant to act upon it instead of throwing countless dollars at lawsuits and phoney bounty scandals. Tackling technique will improve, we will no longer have helmet to helmet penalties, we will feel the hits when playing and will improve the spectacle, they will go into a tackle with more self preservation while trying to still legally hurt the other player, I would like to know why this isn't discussed in greater depth and often not even mentioned in the US media? For the sake of junior seau and countless others who have died as a result of post-encephalogical syndrome this needs to be brought into the spotlight.

Does the mighty who dat nation care about this issue?

Should we let America know that we are just a scapegoat due to the NFL's supreme inaction?

It is too far gone to be an apologist on this matter, the risk needs to be minimized....

 

[AceTW]

Why not just watch rugby?

 

[Sitch]

I love rugby and grid iron, I am not suggesting the rules change in any way, I am suggesting equipment that is used as a weapon be gotten rid of, it is unnecessary and has a negative impact on a sport that I thouroughly enjoy

 

[CantonLegend]

the media and the league would have you believe that helmets are the cause of injuries.....obviously helmets prevent more injuries than they cause

taking pads away from the game will not eliminate injuries.....it'll eliminate the game

 

[Sitch]

Do you really believe that? I for one call shenanigans on that claim, this is the problem is that in reality people actually believe it is making the game safer which is in my opinion complete and utter garbage, junior players wont decrease as it is such a massive game, it's clear to see many are blinded into believing there is only one solution to improved safety and that is to pile on more 'protectjve' equipment.... The body is a machine allow us to go back to basics and use it how it was designed

 

[CantonLegend]

Do you really believe that? I for one call shenanigans on that claim, this is the problem is that in reality people actually believe it is making the game safer which is in my opinion complete and utter garbage, junior players wont decrease as it is such a massive game, it's clear to see many are blinded into believing there is only one solution to improved safety and that is to pile on more 'protectjve' equipment.... The body is a machine allow us to go back to basics and use it how it was designed

injuries are caused by 270lb men running full speed into each other.....not by a piece of plastic strapped to their heads

 

[Sitch]

Yes that is very true, injuries are part and parcel of playing a collision sport but head trauma can be minimized not eliminated

 

[SaintsJunkie]

that is like saying bare handed fighting is safer than boxing, just not the case

 

[Sitch]

In fact I have heard that comparison used to prove exactly why it is the care as the puncher is able to inflict greater damage while feeling less themselves....it seems to me as saints fans we are more pre occupied with tearing goodell a new ******* than actually improving player safety

 

[CantonLegend]

that is like saying bare handed fighting is safer than boxing, just not the case

In fact I have heard that comparison used to prove exactly why it is the care as the puncher is able to inflict greater damage while feeling less themselves....it seems to me as saints fans we are more pre occupied with tearing goodell a new ******* than actually improving player safety

actually boxing gloves are more for protection for the boxers hands than they are for the guy they are fighting

believe me....when you get hit with a gloved hand....it really doesnt matter that its gloved

the difference in football is that pads are designed to protect from injuries sustained. if boxers wanted to protect themselves they would wear helmets and rib guards too

2 totally different sports

maybe they could start by making knee pads and thigh pads mandatory.....or mouth pieces......or maybe they could eliminate jewelry on the field

 

[Sitch]

Also, if a 270lb man adds 20lb to his weight hypothetically, and force = mass x acceleration, surely his force is increased upon colliding with the other man

 

[AceTW]

I understand the idea you have and the process behind it that leads you to your conclusions.


I'll just say that this tree you're barking up is the wrong one.


Football is violent, period. And it's not just the violence, it's the depth of it. Virtually every single move in the sport is fraught with violence. Not potential violence, but violence. I know people don't like the comparison with the gladiators but that's pretty much what we've got. Modernized coliseums and modernized gladiators battling for physical supremacy instead of death.
We don't LIKE to see injuries but we still know they're going to happen and so do the participants. It's an understood quantity.
Taking the pads off is not going to stop a 280lb DE from crashing into a 210lb QB at full tilt. It 'may' make him turn his head to the side before impact but the impact will be just as forceful and without the padding would be much more likely to produce some form of injury. So even if you get the head injuries down you're bound to see more broken bones, torn ligaments, contusions, lost teeth and bruised muscles than ever conceived.

What I can envision from your scenario is a season that might only last 8 or 10 games before there weren't enough players left to actually have a game.

 

[Shiloh]

injuries are caused by 270lb men running full speed into each other.....not by a piece of plastic strapped to their heads

i think the point of this argument, which i agree with, is that they wouldn't run full speed into each other if they didn't have the helmets. you'd see more arm tackles. i agree that it would probably reduce injury. the argument is the same with the minimalist running movement: with less padding under your feet when running, you're more careful how and where you land, and how hard. so less pounding, less joint damage. the same would probably be true with football, i guess. without helmets and shoulder pads, tacklers wouldn't make missiles out of their bodies. there would still be concussions, though, from incidental contact. but i bet if they just removed the facemask, you'd see concussions almost elimitated. you'd still have the helmet protecting the skull from contact, but the absence of the facemask would keep people from flying into people with abandon. it will never happen, of course, but i agree with the OP in theory.

 

[sam rey]

i don't think no helmets is the way to go, but emphasizing good tackling technique deserves more discussion. Guys don't tackle well anymore. They're always going for the big hit. We see it every week. Maybe better technique would improve the game, and lessen the severity of head injury. I dunno, but I sure would enjoy the seeing our guys wrap up on a ball carrier a little more often.

 

[Saints 4 life]

If I wanted to watch ballet, I'd watch me a Falcons' game.