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Devastating Hits in the NFL

Nearly all the "talking heads" studio shows that dominate contemporary sports coverage are a waste of time.

And then there's this.

posted by TSLP at 10/19/2010

Comments on "Devastating Hits in the NFL"

 

Blogger Michael Hess said ... (12:22 PM) : 

Prof. Standen,

I've been paying close attention to how the NFL is addressing how it can limit career and life-threatening injuries, particularly in light of research on concussions. I was discussing the issue with other fans at a recent Seattle Seahawks game, and we mostly agreed that if the NFL does not address the injury issue appropriately, football might be headed towards the same situation that boxing now finds itself--a irrelevant sport known more for savagery than athleticism.

We discussed many ways to address the issue. I believe that there needs to be a fundamental rule change to protect players. I suggest that the rules should prohibit "hitting" to bring a player down; no longer should a defender be able to lower a shoulder or leave the ground to bring another player down. Instead, a defender must wrap a player to bring him down or push the player out of bounds. While this might turn the game into "rugby with helmets," players would be better protected from "devastating hits" that lead to serious injury.

The best way to institute this rule, if accepted, would be at the youth level so that when these players age into the NFL there would not be the need to fundamentally change the way a player plays the game.

I stopped playing football as a teen after I was hit and suffered an injury that I--and my parents in this matter--was not willing to suffer again. However, I was fortunate enough to have found a youth rugby league in which to play. I found as much enjoyment in rugby as I did in football because I knew the risk of being hit was low and it was easier to get up after being wrapped up than after being hit, though I did miss the forward pass play.

There was also a discussion on Inside the NFL on Showtime that addressed protecting players from head injuries. In addition to former NFL players discussing the topic, there was also John McEnroe and a british gentleman I did not recognize (I think he might have been a golfer). The british gentleman suggested that helmets, rather than being used as protection, were being used as weapons. He believed that a helmet provides false protection and encourages players to lead with their head.

Perhaps the current helmet could be substituted with some other headgear that would discourage players from leading with their head. The first time I heard the idea of playing without a helmet was at the Seahawks game I referred to earlier. However, when the idea of playing without a helmet was raised on Around the Horn this past Monday, each of the panelists dismissed the idea without any further discussion.

Always enjoy the posts.

Michael Hess

 

Blogger TSLP said ... (12:45 PM) : 

Michael,

I've always wondered why football helmets have a such a hard shell. If the purpose of the helmet is to protect, wouldn't a device made entirely of hard, dense foam be better? I honestly don't know much about the physics of all of this, and I do see that lots of helmets (for biking, for ex.) have a hard shell. But from my years in automobile products litigation, I recall that the changes made to cars to improve safety (including notably head safety) involved eliminating hard surfaces (hard dashes, coat hooks, etc.) from the interior of the automobile and replacing them with soft, yielding plastics backed by foam cushions.

 

Blogger TSLP said ... (12:50 PM) : 

As to Michael's proposed rule change, I'll have to think more about it. Very thoughtful idea. To me, the current problem with the NFL product on the field is the utter subjectivity and borderline ridiculousness of the very numerous pass interference calls. Introducing yet another (seemingly very subjective) chance for referees to decide key plays and game outcomes is problematic. NFL offenses are already running plays designed to draw PI calls, and receivers are getting good at selling it. Would that happen with a rule designed to eliminate certain hits? As soon as the NFL becomes Italian League soccer, I'm changing the channel.

 

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