Heads Up

[woodchip]

"NFL owners passed a player safety rule Wednesday barring ball carriers from using the crown of their helmets to make forcible contact with a defender in the open field."

So wonder how long this pussification of America rule will last. Until, I suspect, one of the running backs get clothes lined and has his neck broken. I think they should really ban the all too violent sport of football as it just doesn't fit the kinder gentler image that the left wants.

[Foil]

Woodchip, you're way over-generalizing this to politics.

Remember:

• It's an NFL rule voted in by league owners (who are terrified of lawsuits), not a sample representative of the U.S population
• It's also been harshly criticized by U.S. fans, who overwhelmingly object to the rule change.

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Honestly, I'm waiting to see how it gets officiated. I'm personally skeptical of the league's claim that it will only get called in extreme open-field-outside-the-tackle-box situations. My guess is that there will be a couple of controversial calls early in the season, and the league will have to adjust the officiating, because it's such a hugely unpopular rule.

[Note: At least the NFL finally got rid of the god-awful "tuck rule". ]

[callmeslick]

agreed on the tuck rule, worried about the running back rule. How many times do we EXPECT the running back to dive toward the goal line? Now, they have to march in head up? As for linking this to politics, that's plain idiotic. It is all about lawsuits.

[woodchip]

Funny how they didn't worry about lawsuits for the last 80 years. As to politics, I didn't say anything other than the left was involved. All one need do is look back a couple of years ago and see who was reporting on brain injuries caused by playing football.

[Foil]

The reason the owners weren't worrying about lawsuits until a few years ago is the exact same reason the media didn't report on it until a few years ago:

The first major lawsuit by a significant group of players against the league started, you guessed it... a few years ago.

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Now, while I think the politics/NFL angle is weak, I think there's potential for some interesting discussion about whether the player lawsuits against the league/owners have merit. I didn't initially think so, but as the cases have gone on, some evidence has come out that the owners were informed about the risk, and didn't take action (until recently, after the lawsuits). Curious what you guys think.

[vision]

ITT woodchip takes everything he doesn't like and blames it on the commie leftist. Like yogurt instead of bacon and eggs for breakfast? You're a commie.

[Spidey]

Yea…and what was that supposed to be…some kind of revelation?

Your clever sarcasm is getting weak.

[Ferno]

I'd make a comment about the topic but after seeing the same old antics again, there's only one thing to say.

If I wanted to see these kind of juvenile antics, I'd go have lunch at the local high school.

[Top Gun]

Funny how they didn't worry about lawsuits for the last 80 years. As to politics, I didn't say anything other than the left was involved. All one need do is look back a couple of years ago and see who was reporting on brain injuries caused by playing football.

Who was reporting? You mean, like, neurosurgeons? Yeah mang, they have a total socialist agenda!

[woodchip]

Gee TG, football also causes broken arms and legs, knee damage, necks get broken and players even have died. It's a brutal sport and the players know it. So either ban the sport or let the game be played. I guess though, you'd rather have a running back with a snapped neck than a brain injury.

[Foil]

It's a brutal sport and the players know it. So either ban the sport or let the game be played.

Again, woodchip, look at who is making these rules!

Hint:
It's not politicians.
It's not the fans.
It's certainly not the players.

The fact is that people who watch the NFL are overwhelmingly against rule changes like this new helmet rule. But, unfortunately, the minority who have the power (owners) are driven more by $$ than by a love of the game.

[woodchip]

It's a brutal sport and the players know it. So either ban the sport or let the game be played.

Again, woodchip, look at who is making these rules!

Hint:
It's not politicians.
It's not the fans.
It's certainly not the players.

The fact is that people who watch the NFL are overwhelmingly against rule changes like this new helmet rule. But, unfortunately, the minority who have the power (owners) are driven more by $$ than by a love of the game.

And I can remember when SUV's were just automobiles.

[flip]

I think all these judgement call rules are just so they can control the over/under :p.