[Taltarzac725]

Bernard Pollard says NFL won't exist in 20-30 years - CBSSports

Too much money is involved in the NFL for this to happen any time soon. Probably not within 100 years or more.

[eweissenbach]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Bernard Pollard says NFL won't exist in 20-30 years - CBSSports

Too much money is involved in the NFL for this to happen any time soon. Probably not within 100 years or more.

It will undoubtedly require some revisions in rules and equipment to make it safer, but it will not cease to exist.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by eweissenbach

It will undoubtedly require some revisions in rules and equipment to make it safer, but it will not cease to exist.

I would love to see a safer game of NFL. Have they not tried this before with hockey but the violence still resurfaces? Playoff Violence is Proving NHL Punishment Regime Ineffectual | The Big Lead

[eweissenbach]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

I would love to see a safer game of NFL. Have they not tried this before with hockey but the violence still resurfaces? Playoff Violence is Proving NHL Punishment Regime Ineffectual | The Big Lead

The difference is, the violence in hockey is mostly ancillary to the game, while the violence in football is basically fundamental to the game. They have already enacted tougher rules over the years to control clipping, chop blocking, head hunting, blocking below the waist, clotheslining, etc. I see the rules, and penalties becoming tougher on illegal hits, I think better helmets, neck guards, faceguards, etc. will be developed. The equipment has evolved tremendously since I played, and the rules have become much more restrictive, but on the other side, when I played a 200 pounder was a large man and they didn't run as fast or do the intensive strength training (not to mention chemicals!) that they do today. For example, when I was a freshman at the University of Missouri, we were a nationally ranked power, our offensive line averaged 198 pounds, and our weightroom was minimal and seldom used. While the equipment is light years ahead of what we used, the humans have evolved and even taken advantage of the equipment to do things we would never have considered (using the head as a weapon for example).

[Mikeod]

The problem from my perspective is the attitude so clearly expressed in his comments, that it is not enough to complete the play, but to punish the ball carrier/receiver. When he says that a quarterback throwing an interception should either get off the field or get on the ground, he is saying he's not interested in doing what he can to enable his team to gain as much yardage as possible. He is going headhunting.

What he doesn't also understand is that, while football is a violent game, rewarding players for injuring another player is definitely uncalled for. Reward for good plays or good hits, but not for injuries. And that's what the bounty program was doing.