The National Footsie-Ball League?

[BigRedskinDaddy]

Author's Note: My apologies if this should have been put in Around the League; in truth it is less about the 'Skins than the league and state of the game in general. Move it to a more appropriate forum if that is the case, please. Thank you.

BRD

Let the reader beware: in my extended absence from this forum I have become so like a grouchy old man that I am now nearly indistinguishable from the real thing. This piece will therefore be chock-full of crochety, traditional, hidebound looks to the glorious past (when men were men and women were there for the men)...I kid, ladies. I kid.

But only a little.

I'm not sure when exactly it happened, this age thing...but suddenly one recent day I looked in the mirror and saw a person I didn't much recognize. Instead of me staring back there was this guy more than a little curmudgeonly. Some pseudo-AARP more than a little set in his ways, and that more than a little too soon.

I'm not happy about it, but such is life. Ever the opportunist, I intend to synergize what's left of my youthful enthusiasm and open-mindedness with my newly emerging, ever growing cynicism and irascibility. I don't know about any of you readers, but I'm more than a little afraid of what might come of this unlikely pairing -- but damn the torpedoes and full steam ahead, as my generation used to say...

Last warning: DANGER - NARROW-MINDS AHEAD. PROCEED WITH TACTFUL CAUTION. Let no readers who brave this entire piece later claim I did not give sufficient notice. While there may never be much of a rational explanation for these particular peeves of mine, as outlined below -- at least I can admit that much.

It's an exceedingly small victory, but I'll take them where I can get 'em.

Without further ado, here's what has my knickers in a knot. Roughly two-and-a-half weeks ago the NFL held it's annual spring meeting in Dana Point CA. While this particular gathering is less about actual business than it is about creating the preseason groundswell of excitement scant weeks before each season's draft and beyond, there are a couple of pretty significant items on the agenda every year. One of them is the meeting of the league's Rules Committee, which as it's name implies legislates all new rules or addendums to existing rules.

These are the guys who decide when and where the popcorn will fly. That is, they write the rule book; take that a step further and they more than anything else shape the game into not only what it is now but also what it will become. They do this by changing the rules, which subsequently changes the way the game is played.

Change is inevitable; it is, ironically, an unalterable fact of life. No matter who you are or what you do, you will face changes. Furthermore, each time you do, every time you adapt to your fluid circumstances...changes you. There is a saying that it is not the destination in Life but the journey that matters. We all experience that to some degree. Here endeth the cribbed version of Basic Life Philosophy 101, and my point is this: change is a necessary function of life. As such, I accept it because I must -- not necessarily because I want to. At times, when the pressure of mounting change and other factors becomes too heavy, I do what everybody does at some point. I look for an escape -- a brief respite from my daily reality.

That's where sports come in.



click link for rest of story
http://yourdaddysredskins.blogspot.com/

[crazyhorse1]

Author's Note: My apologies if this should have been put in Around the League; in truth it is less about the 'Skins than the league and state of the game in general. Move it to a more appropriate forum if that is the case, please. Thank you.

BRD

Let the reader beware: in my extended absence from this forum I have become so like a grouchy old man that I am now nearly indistinguishable from the real thing. This piece will therefore be chock-full of crochety, traditional, hidebound looks to the glorious past (when men were men and women were there for the men)...I kid, ladies. I kid.

But only a little.

I'm not sure when exactly it happened, this age thing...but suddenly one recent day I looked in the mirror and saw a person I didn't much recognize. Instead of me staring back there was this guy more than a little curmudgeonly. Some pseudo-AARP more than a little set in his ways, and that more than a little too soon.

I'm not happy about it, but such is life. Ever the opportunist, I intend to synergize what's left of my youthful enthusiasm and open-mindedness with my newly emerging, ever growing cynicism and irascibility. I don't know about any of you readers, but I'm more than a little afraid of what might come of this unlikely pairing -- but damn the torpedoes and full steam ahead, as my generation used to say...

Last warning: DANGER - NARROW-MINDS AHEAD. PROCEED WITH TACTFUL CAUTION. Let no readers who brave this entire piece later claim I did not give sufficient notice. While there may never be much of a rational explanation for these particular peeves of mine, as outlined below -- at least I can admit that much.

It's an exceedingly small victory, but I'll take them where I can get 'em.

Without further ado, here's what has my knickers in a knot. Roughly two-and-a-half weeks ago the NFL held it's annual spring meeting in Dana Point CA. While this particular gathering is less about actual business than it is about creating the preseason groundswell of excitement scant weeks before each season's draft and beyond, there are a couple of pretty significant items on the agenda every year. One of them is the meeting of the league's Rules Committee, which as it's name implies legislates all new rules or addendums to existing rules.

These are the guys who decide when and where the popcorn will fly. That is, they write the rule book; take that a step further and they more than anything else shape the game into not only what it is now but also what it will become. They do this by changing the rules, which subsequently changes the way the game is played.

Change is inevitable; it is, ironically, an unalterable fact of life. No matter who you are or what you do, you will face changes. Furthermore, each time you do, every time you adapt to your fluid circumstances...changes you. There is a saying that it is not the destination in Life but the journey that matters. We all experience that to some degree. Here endeth the cribbed version of Basic Life Philosophy 101, and my point is this: change is a necessary function of life. As such, I accept it because I must -- not necessarily because I want to. At times, when the pressure of mounting change and other factors becomes too heavy, I do what everybody does at some point. I look for an escape -- a brief respite from my daily reality.

That's where sports come in.



click link for rest of story
http://yourdaddysredskins.blogspot.com/

I agree with all of the changes-- players are bigger, faster, more psychotic, expensive, stronger, better trained, and obviously more dangerous to one another. 100% of players with five years or more of on-field combat suffer permanent neck and/or spine injuries and a reduction in life expectancy. Not cool. You old dudes got off easier because of a host of factors. Notably, you were small, weak, slow and didn't know anything about steroids. You always wouldn't let gifted elements of the population play with you. We have to make adjustments, not only in relation to the rules but also in regard to equipment.

[The Dancing Bear]

Author's Note: My apologies if this should have been put in Around the League; in truth it is less about the 'Skins than the league and state of the game in general. Move it to a more appropriate forum if that is the case, please. Thank you.

BRD

Let the reader beware: in my extended absence from this forum I have become so like a grouchy old man that I am now nearly indistinguishable from the real thing. This piece will therefore be chock-full of crochety, traditional, hidebound looks to the glorious past (when men were men and women were there for the men)...I kid, ladies. I kid.

But only a little.

I'm not sure when exactly it happened, this age thing...but suddenly one recent day I looked in the mirror and saw a person I didn't much recognize. Instead of me staring back there was this guy more than a little curmudgeonly. Some pseudo-AARP more than a little set in his ways, and that more than a little too soon.

I'm not happy about it, but such is life. Ever the opportunist, I intend to synergize what's left of my youthful enthusiasm and open-mindedness with my newly emerging, ever growing cynicism and irascibility. I don't know about any of you readers, but I'm more than a little afraid of what might come of this unlikely pairing -- but damn the torpedoes and full steam ahead, as my generation used to say...

Last warning: DANGER - NARROW-MINDS AHEAD. PROCEED WITH TACTFUL CAUTION. Let no readers who brave this entire piece later claim I did not give sufficient notice. While there may never be much of a rational explanation for these particular peeves of mine, as outlined below -- at least I can admit that much.

It's an exceedingly small victory, but I'll take them where I can get 'em.

Without further ado, here's what has my knickers in a knot. Roughly two-and-a-half weeks ago the NFL held it's annual spring meeting in Dana Point CA. While this particular gathering is less about actual business than it is about creating the preseason groundswell of excitement scant weeks before each season's draft and beyond, there are a couple of pretty significant items on the agenda every year. One of them is the meeting of the league's Rules Committee, which as it's name implies legislates all new rules or addendums to existing rules.

These are the guys who decide when and where the popcorn will fly. That is, they write the rule book; take that a step further and they more than anything else shape the game into not only what it is now but also what it will become. They do this by changing the rules, which subsequently changes the way the game is played.

Change is inevitable; it is, ironically, an unalterable fact of life. No matter who you are or what you do, you will face changes. Furthermore, each time you do, every time you adapt to your fluid circumstances...changes you. There is a saying that it is not the destination in Life but the journey that matters. We all experience that to some degree. Here endeth the cribbed version of Basic Life Philosophy 101, and my point is this: change is a necessary function of life. As such, I accept it because I must -- not necessarily because I want to. At times, when the pressure of mounting change and other factors becomes too heavy, I do what everybody does at some point. I look for an escape -- a brief respite from my daily reality.

That's where sports come in.



click link for rest of story
http://yourdaddysredskins.blogspot.com/

I thought your blog was very well written. As to the rule changes, I think that some have merit, while others are absolutely ridiculous. The rule that a player who is knocked to the ground can no longer go after the QB is idiotic. Are we to assume that the intention of the rule applies to a linebacker who is blitzing, jumps up to deflect a pass, gets knocked to the ground, is just supposed to lay there? What if the play continues, the QB scrambles like mad, and makes his way back to the area of the field that the LB is on. So is the LB supposed to stop, and not make an attempt to 'touch' the QB? This rule, known as "The Brady Rule" is supposed to protect QB's. Fine, but did'nt they already have a rule about hitting a QB at the knees or lower? Wait until some Offensive Genius comes up with a play where the front seven of a defense is knocked to the ground, and the QB waltzes through the quagmire for a huge gain/TD.


I understand the need to protect players from serious injury, etc., but this is one rule that has the potential for way more problems, ala, intent, interpretation, and so forth.

[BigRedskinDaddy]

I agree with all of the changes-- players are bigger, faster, more psychotic, expensive, stronger, better trained, and obviously more dangerous to one another. 100% of players with five years or more of on-field combat suffer permanent neck and/or spine injuries and a reduction in life expectancy. Not cool. You old dudes got off easier because of a host of factors. Notably, you were small, weak, slow and didn't know anything about steroids. You always wouldn't let gifted elements of the population play with you. We have to make adjustments, not only in relation to the rules but also in regard to equipment.

Hmmm.
I believe I may have just been called out.
Allow me to tune you up -
I played through junior college in the mid- to late '80's, NOT the turn of the century. Neither I nor any of my teammates in HS were juicing, to the best of my knowledge -- but that doesn't mean we hadn't heard of D-bol, Anavar, and stacking or cycling.
As far as 'gifted' goes, you are correct. In CIF Div VII there were just no provisions at that time for you and your developmentally challenged "short bus" brethren to be on the same field with us -- but we would have welcomed them if things had been different.

I don't know you, brother, so I'll chalk your post up as tongue-in-cheek and leave it at that. The alternative tels me your ignorance and no doubt unwarranted cocksure attitude are nearly record-setting in their inability to be explained by modern science.

One last thing: the last time I had an opportunity to lace 'em up with full gear was many years later, at age 31. I happened to be the 4th oldest guy on the field that day, most were in their mid 20's. You have no way to confirm or put paid to the lie on this one, but I MORE than held my own. In fact, I laid the wood to a few younger men. I'm 42, nearly 43 now -- but still in shape. You name the time and the place, get some gear...and I'll meet you for some nutcracker drills. Or aggressions. Doesn't matter.

You'll feel it either way.

[BigRedskinDaddy]

I thought your blog was very well written. As to the rule changes, I think that some have merit, while others are absolutely ridiculous. The rule that a player who is knocked to the ground can no longer go after the QB is idiotic. Are we to assume that the intention of the rule applies to a linebacker who is blitzing, jumps up to deflect a pass, gets knocked to the ground, is just supposed to lay there? What if the play continues, the QB scrambles like mad, and makes his way back to the area of the field that the LB is on. So is the LB supposed to stop, and not make an attempt to 'touch' the QB? This rule, known as "The Brady Rule" is supposed to protect QB's. Fine, but did'nt they already have a rule about hitting a QB at the knees or lower? Wait until some Offensive Genius comes up with a play where the front seven of a defense is knocked to the ground, and the QB waltzes through the quagmire for a huge gain/TD. I understand the need to protect players from serious injury, etc., but this is one rule that has the potential for way more problems, ala, intent, interpretation, and so forth.

Thanks for the kind words, DB. My apologies for the confusion: the correct wording on that rule is a defender on the ground may not LUNGE into the QB. If you recall that's exactly how Tom Terrific got hurt last year. Sorry about that.

[funbunch65]

I agree with all of the changes-- players are bigger, faster, more psychotic, expensive, stronger, better trained, and obviously more dangerous to one another. 100% of players with five years or more of on-field combat suffer permanent neck and/or spine injuries and a reduction in life expectancy. Not cool. You old dudes got off easier because of a host of factors. Notably, you were small, weak, slow and didn't know anything about steroids. You always wouldn't let gifted elements of the population play with you. We have to make adjustments, not only in relation to the rules but also in regard to equipment.

Hmmm.
I believe I may have just been called out.
Allow me to tune you up -
I played through junior college in the mid- to late '80's, NOT the turn of the century. Neither I nor any of my teammates in HS were juicing, to the best of my knowledge -- but that doesn't mean we hadn't heard of D-bol, Anavar, and stacking or cycling.
As far as 'gifted' goes, you are correct. In CIF Div VII there were just no provisions at that time for you and your developmentally challenged "short bus" brethren to be on the same field with us -- but we would have welcomed them if things had been different.

I don't know you, brother, so I'll chalk your post up as tongue-in-cheek and leave it at that. The alternative tels me your ignorance and no doubt unwarranted cocksure attitude are nearly record-setting in their inability to be explained by modern science.

One last thing: the last time I had an opportunity to lace 'em up with full gear was many years later, at age 31. I happened to be the 4th oldest guy on the field that day, most were in their mid 20's. You have no way to confirm or put paid to the lie on this one, but I MORE than held my own. In fact, I laid the wood to a few younger men. I'm 42, nearly 43 now -- but still in shape. You name the time and the place, get some gear...and I'll meet you for some nutcracker drills. Or aggressions. Doesn't matter.

You'll feel it either way.

I completely agree with what you are saying about the rule changes BRD. In a few years it seems that that the NFL will be playing two hand touch. The league is walking a thin line right now because people want to see and hear some pads popping. You just can't eliminate physicality from the game of football because it then becomes just not interesting(arena football). By the way you are so cool Big Skins Daddy. I want to be just like you someday

[BigRedskinDaddy]

I completely agree with what you are saying about the rule changes BRD. In a few years it seems that that the NFL will be playing two hand touch. The league is walking a thin line right now because people want to see and hear some pads popping. You just can't eliminate physicality from the game of football because it then becomes just not interesting(arena football). By the way you are so cool Big Skins Daddy. I want to be just like you someday

If that's true I suggest you get a CAT scan and other physical exams set up right away. Something must be seriously amiss...

[(d)oink]

I agree with all of the changes-- players are bigger, faster, more psychotic, expensive, stronger, better trained, and obviously more dangerous to one another. 100% of players with five years or more of on-field combat suffer permanent neck and/or spine injuries and a reduction in life expectancy. Not cool. You old dudes got off easier because of a host of factors. Notably, you were small, weak, slow and didn't know anything about steroids. You always wouldn't let gifted elements of the population play with you. We have to make adjustments, not only in relation to the rules but also in regard to equipment.

Hmmm.
I believe I may have just been called out.
Allow me to tune you up -

You name the time and the place, get some gear...and I'll meet you for some nutcracker drills. Or aggressions. Doesn't matter.

You'll feel it either way.

I'd like to see that. My moneys on the old grumpy guy. (No offense--much respect to you Big Daddy)

[BigRedskinDaddy]

I'd like to see that. My moneys on the old grumpy guy. (No offense--much respect to you Big Daddy)

No offense taken, brother. If you've seen the film Rudy you might remember early on when he runs through the pads at his final senior practice, then walks off the field saying "I can't believe it's over."

That's been my attitude since MY last day as part of a team. For as long as I could remember I'd been playing the game -- and just like that it was all over. It seemed to go by so damn quickly too. It just wasn't fair.

Ever since then I've been casting about for some excuse, some WAY to get back into some shoulder pads. Probably won't ever happen again, but that doesn't mean I quit scheming. Cheers.

[crazyhorse1]

I agree with all of the changes-- players are bigger, faster, more psychotic, expensive, stronger, better trained, and obviously more dangerous to one another. 100% of players with five years or more of on-field combat suffer permanent neck and/or spine injuries and a reduction in life expectancy. Not cool. You old dudes got off easier because of a host of factors. Notably, you were small, weak, slow and didn't know anything about steroids. You always wouldn't let gifted elements of the population play with you. We have to make adjustments, not only in relation to the rules but also in regard to equipment.

Hmmm.
I believe I may have just been called out.
Allow me to tune you up -
I played through junior college in the mid- to late '80's, NOT the turn of the century. Neither I nor any of my teammates in HS were juicing, to the best of my knowledge -- but that doesn't mean we hadn't heard of D-bol, Anavar, and stacking or cycling.
As far as 'gifted' goes, you are correct. In CIF Div VII there were just no provisions at that time for you and your developmentally challenged "short bus" brethren to be on the same field with us -- but we would have welcomed them if things had been different.

I don't know you, brother, so I'll chalk your post up as tongue-in-cheek and leave it at that. The alternative tels me your ignorance and no doubt unwarranted cocksure attitude are nearly record-setting in their inability to be explained by modern science.

One last thing: the last time I had an opportunity to lace 'em up with full gear was many years later, at age 31. I happened to be the 4th oldest guy on the field that day, most were in their mid 20's. You have no way to confirm or put paid to the lie on this one, but I MORE than held my own. In fact, I laid the wood to a few younger men. I'm 42, nearly 43 now -- but still in shape. You name the time and the place, get some gear...and I'll meet you for some nutcracker drills. Or aggressions. Doesn't matter.

You'll feel it either way.

I played major college ball in the very early sixties, Grandpa , and because of it can't put on my socks, much less gear. Six back fractures, two concussions, a broken neck, can't feel anything below my waist or lift my left arm. I don't talk about my fingers. Fortunately, I can walk a little, if not get up from a chair by myself, because of steroids. which I take by needle in the spine.

I do have sense enough to know, thought, that I'd be much worse off today if I had played against today's monsters. Even little Percy Harvin would have scored about ten touchdowns a game against us. The old films are downright embarrassing, Your notion that you know what tough is from playing in a junior college in the eighties is cute, but nuts.

No one in the NFL today who has a non-kicking job can expect to wind up without roaring everyday pain by the age of fifty or a normal life expectancy. The game and players have evolved, safety rules have to evolve with it. The rules you complain about have been put there to prevent crippling injures, paralysis, etc. The rule makers aren't idiots. They have to act... things are getting out of hand and fans are getting sick of seeing so many second and third stringers in starting lineups.

[BigRedskinDaddy]

I played major college ball in the very early sixties, Grandpa , and because of it can't put on my socks, much less gear. Six back fractures, two concussions, a broken neck, can't feel anything below my waist or lift my left arm. I don't talk about my fingers. Fortunately, I can walk a little, if not get up from a chair by myself, because of steroids. which I take by needle in the spine...

I respect the high level you reached playing the game, just one step removed from the Big Show. Furthermore, I am sorry you have so much lingering physical difficulty from those days. You may be part of a majority of former players who now suffer the debilitating aftereffects of trauma, but you make it sound as if EVERY player at the CFA or NFL level is guaranteed to wind up in horrible, racking pain the rest of their days for their trouble. That simply isn't true.

I never got close to the big time, but I did what I could with what I had. I make no claims to being tough or on a par with today's elite athletes. Still, I played all out and with abandon on every down from Day One to Day Last, and with the exception of a hit that left me temporarily paralyzed -- a very short time only -- and the assorted bumps, bruises and sprains that go with the territory, I've not accumulated anywhere near the laundry list of chronic conditions you listed. In fact, I've been injured far more often and far worse during my years as a construction tradesman than I ever was on a football field.

Yes, with every generation athletes get bigger, faster, and stronger. The equipment they play in has also evolved, however -- though it is consistently behind the curve concerning the abilities of the players who use it, and is not 100% sufficient to it's task. It wasn't exactly adequate when you or I played either, but it was what we had, and we went with it. Reducing or even outright preventing the serious health issues many former players will face down the road is not going to be accomplished by safety rules, be there one or 10,000 of them. It will happen when the equipment manufacturers increase the tolerances of their products, introduce new items as they did in the past with the compression sleeve and flak jacket, and in that way lessen the potential damage our current freaks of nature can inflict on themselves and each other.

That was the original point of my piece, and I stand by it: new rules will not come close to insuring that most if not all players walk away from the game physically intact. Only advances in equipment tech has any hope of doing that.

[tcwest10]

I severely injured my thumb playing Madden when it first came out. To this day, it barks. My receiver was running a crossing route, and I tried to move the already-thrown football through sheer will and by standing up with the controller and turning it the way I wanted the ball to go. Consequently, I tripped and hit my thumb on the wall. Had a purple welt on it for, like, three days. Where were the rules that day? Who was looking out for me back then? Nobody. Know why? Because back then, men were men. We played the game with reckless abandon...not "wreckless".
I feel your pain.
University of Richmond is Division 1, right?

[VetSkinsFan]

I severely injured my thumb playing Madden when it first came out. To this day, it barks. My receiver was running a crossing route, and I tried to move the already-thrown football through sheer will and by standing up with the controller and turning it the way I wanted the ball to go. Consequently, I tripped and hit my thumb on the wall. Had a purple welt on it for, like, three days. Where were the rules that day? Who was looking out for me back then? Nobody. Know why? Because back then, men were men. We played the game with reckless abandon...not "wreckless".
I feel your pain.
University of Richmond is Division 1, right?

[langleyparkjoe]

I severely injured my thumb playing Madden when it first came out. To this day, it barks. My receiver was running a crossing route, and I tried to move the already-thrown football through sheer will and by standing up with the controller and turning it the way I wanted the ball to go. Consequently, I tripped and hit my thumb on the wall. Had a purple welt on it for, like, three days. Where were the rules that day? Who was looking out for me back then? Nobody. Know why? Because back then, men were men. We played the game with reckless abandon...not "wreckless".
I feel your pain.
University of Richmond is Division 1, right?

Oh man, I totally feel you on that man.. how many x's I've turned my body around trying something with that controller. Awesome TC

[tcwest10]

Right now, it's killing me. I couldn't hitch a ride with that hand to save my life. And the Fonzie thing? Forget about it.

[Countertrey]

I severely injured my thumb playing Madden when it first came out. To this day, it barks. My receiver was running a crossing route, and I tried to move the already-thrown football through sheer will and by standing up with the controller and turning it the way I wanted the ball to go. Consequently, I tripped and hit my thumb on the wall. Had a purple welt on it for, like, three days. Where were the rules that day? Who was looking out for me back then? Nobody. Know why? Because back then, men were men. We played the game with reckless abandon...not "wreckless".
I feel your pain.
University of Richmond is Division 1, right?

Real men played Tecmo Bowl.


Wuss.

[tcwest10]

I got cut.

[Bob 0119]

I severely injured my thumb playing Madden when it first came out. To this day, it barks. My receiver was running a crossing route, and I tried to move the already-thrown football through sheer will and by standing up with the controller and turning it the way I wanted the ball to go. Consequently, I tripped and hit my thumb on the wall. Had a purple welt on it for, like, three days. Where were the rules that day? Who was looking out for me back then? Nobody. Know why? Because back then, men were men. We played the game with reckless abandon...not "wreckless".
I feel your pain.
University of Richmond is Division 1, right?

Real men played Tecmo Bowl.



Wuss.

No, no, no...

REAL men played this!

[crazyhorse1]

I severely injured my thumb playing Madden when it first came out. To this day, it barks. My receiver was running a crossing route, and I tried to move the already-thrown football through sheer will and by standing up with the controller and turning it the way I wanted the ball to go. Consequently, I tripped and hit my thumb on the wall. Had a purple welt on it for, like, three days. Where were the rules that day? Who was looking out for me back then? Nobody. Know why? Because back then, men were men. We played the game with reckless abandon...not "wreckless".
I feel your pain.
University of Richmond is Division 1, right?

It was then. Southern Conference. We played West Virginia, Alabama, Virginia Tech. Three players on my team were later tops players in the NFL, a number played. Two of the little known were hurt and out of the league by the end of the first year. Of the stars, only BG made it to retirement intact. You haven't told me whether or not you played at a certain high school

[crazyhorse1]

I played major college ball in the very early sixties, Grandpa , and because of it can't put on my socks, much less gear. Six back fractures, two concussions, a broken neck, can't feel anything below my waist or lift my left arm. I don't talk about my fingers. Fortunately, I can walk a little, if not get up from a chair by myself, because of steroids. which I take by needle in the spine...

I respect the high level you reached playing the game, just one step removed from the Big Show. Furthermore, I am sorry you have so much lingering physical difficulty from those days. You may be part of a majority of former players who now suffer the debilitating aftereffects of trauma, but you make it sound as if EVERY player at the CFA or NFL level is guaranteed to wind up in horrible, racking pain the rest of their days for their trouble. That simply isn't true.

I never got close to the big time, but I did what I could with what I had. I make no claims to being tough or on a par with today's elite athletes. Still, I played all out and with abandon on every down from Day One to Day Last, and with the exception of a hit that left me temporarily paralyzed -- a very short time only -- and the assorted bumps, bruises and sprains that go with the territory, I've not accumulated anywhere near the laundry list of chronic conditions you listed. In fact, I've been injured far more often and far worse during my years as a construction tradesman than I ever was on a football field.

Yes, with every generation athletes get bigger, faster, and stronger. The equipment they play in has also evolved, however -- though it is consistently behind the curve concerning the abilities of the players who use it, and is not 100% sufficient to it's task. It wasn't exactly adequate when you or I played either, but it was what we had, and we went with it. Reducing or even outright preventing the serious health issues many former players will face down the road is not going to be accomplished by safety rules, be there one or 10,000 of them. It will happen when the equipment manufacturers increase the tolerances of their products, introduce new items as they did in the past with the compression sleeve and flak jacket, and in that way lessen the potential damage our current freaks of nature can inflict on themselves and each other.

That was the original point of my piece, and I stand by it: new rules will not come close to insuring that most if not all players walk away from the game physically intact. Only advances in equipment tech has any hope of doing that.

I agree with your remarks about the need for better equipment. I don't challenge your toughness or courage, only your opinion about the need for new rules.

[BigRedskinDaddy]

I agree with your remarks about the need for better equipment. I don't challenge your toughness or courage, only your opinion about the need for new rules.

This is surely a first (for ME at least): what started out poorly RE: our first posts to each other HASN'T degenerated even further but instead has become a debate centered on a key issue that we may never see eye to eye on but wil most llkely argue respectfully and on point minus the usual personal attacks that always seem to appear early and often on the 'Net message boards these days.

That's a refreshing change, to be sure.

The safety rules are surely in place to try to lessen the season-ending injuries that can careers and severely impact lives years later, but I honestly feel like the owners are going about this problem ass-backwards. They're looking for the solution in the wrong place, and iconcerned they might somehow legislate the game into something fundamentally different from the game I fell in love with as a young boy -- a game that I believe has stayed more true to its roots, and has more of a historical sense of itself, than all of the other major sports -- at least the ones I've always followed.

If I am proved wrong on this one, however...it will by no means be the first time.

Nor will it be the first thousandth, if my count is at all accurate.

[tcwest10]

You haven't told me whether or not you played at a certain high school

You never asked.