All sports have dangers; that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t play sports. It does mean we should identify & minimize the dangers. Football is finally realizing that and making progress. (I like Ravenswing’s suggestion on networks donating the fees to mitigation. :) )
A very very tiny part of “the media” is involved in broadcasting football games. (To be fair, local news channels do have stories about the local teams even if they don’t broadcast any of the games themselves.) As far as college football is concerned, the football tail’s been wagging the university dog for decades, and there’s probably no way to stop it.
“I don’t feel that my being part of covering the National Football League is perpetuating danger. If it’s not me, somebody else is going to do this." — Al Michaels (The New York Times: 2017-8-30)
Thanks to Millar & Hinds for keeping us thinking about this topic.
While the NFL gets all the attention, it isn’t the only sport whose participants are subject to concussion injury. Notably, both hockey and soccer players are susceptible to a concussive impact. However, these are sports where these impacts are either infrequent or unintended results of player collisions or contact with the playing surface.
In football, much more study is needed to determine the long-term impact of recurring sub-concussive impacts on the players. While we tend to focus on “the big hit” when a receiver and defender meet at full speed, there are many other jarring hits taking place away from the ball all over the field on each and every play. This is what differentiates football from the other sports.
Can a helmet technology be developed (similar to the work done by the FIA for auto-racer’s helmets and neck restraint systems) that will minimize the effect of impact to the wearer’s brain? Who knows…
Questions abound and the NFL needs to make every effort necessary to address this as the clear leader (and moneymaker) associated with this sport if it is to survive.
Ravenswing about 7 years ago
Yeah. Well said. Or are the networks going to donate their rights fees to mitigation?
No, I didn’t think so.
ACW1 about 7 years ago
Well-played, Mr. Average Football Fan, well-played.
archipelago Premium Member about 7 years ago
All sports have dangers; that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t play sports. It does mean we should identify & minimize the dangers. Football is finally realizing that and making progress. (I like Ravenswing’s suggestion on networks donating the fees to mitigation. :) )
jarvisloop about 7 years ago
Once again, Miller & Hinds think of a point that eluded me. Well done, boys.
CeeJay about 7 years ago
Touche’
BeniHanna6 Premium Member about 7 years ago
Sort of shows the hypocrisy of the media with their “concerns about the players”. Without the game they’re out of a job.
JoeMartinFan Premium Member about 7 years ago
GOTCHA!!!
Godfreydaniel about 7 years ago
A very very tiny part of “the media” is involved in broadcasting football games. (To be fair, local news channels do have stories about the local teams even if they don’t broadcast any of the games themselves.) As far as college football is concerned, the football tail’s been wagging the university dog for decades, and there’s probably no way to stop it.
Lolapoo Premium Member about 7 years ago
“I don’t feel that my being part of covering the National Football League is perpetuating danger. If it’s not me, somebody else is going to do this." — Al Michaels (The New York Times: 2017-8-30)
rmrwork about 7 years ago
Thanks to Millar & Hinds for keeping us thinking about this topic.
While the NFL gets all the attention, it isn’t the only sport whose participants are subject to concussion injury. Notably, both hockey and soccer players are susceptible to a concussive impact. However, these are sports where these impacts are either infrequent or unintended results of player collisions or contact with the playing surface.
In football, much more study is needed to determine the long-term impact of recurring sub-concussive impacts on the players. While we tend to focus on “the big hit” when a receiver and defender meet at full speed, there are many other jarring hits taking place away from the ball all over the field on each and every play. This is what differentiates football from the other sports.
Can a helmet technology be developed (similar to the work done by the FIA for auto-racer’s helmets and neck restraint systems) that will minimize the effect of impact to the wearer’s brain? Who knows…
Questions abound and the NFL needs to make every effort necessary to address this as the clear leader (and moneymaker) associated with this sport if it is to survive.
julie.mason1 Premium Member about 7 years ago
Have them play in Nerf Sumo suits. It would be a hoot to watch.