The NFL wants to make an example of Miles Garrett's Assault on Rudolph...all well and good. However, the league has a Bigger problem of players getting scraped off the field with In-Play Injuries that are absolutely frightening. Smith Shoo Probabloy wishes that sopmeone had swung a Hemet at him....as bad as that was.
The League needs to explore broad changes to the way the game is played, recognizing that the Equipment being worn is Weaponizable...sometimes even without intent. It is easily observable that players would be safer player in Shorts and Tees, "Rough Tackle" style...without "Pads".
UnWrapped "Bearded Missile" Tackles and Separation Hits have a long heritage within the Jacked Up Collision of the Game. The League will need to decise whether the game can survive and Thrive with or without those thrilling and frightful collisions. Otherwise, the Legal/Liability and Politics will conspire to Rule the Game.
Just how do you propose to correct these issues and still have a semblance of the game we watch?
Just how do you propose to correct these issues and still have a semblance of the game we watch?
The League has intervened on Kick Offs, Onside Kicks, Helmet to Helmet Hits, Head Slaps, Blind Side Hits, Tackles of QB Below The Waist, Horse Collar Tackles..... I expect that they will further diminish the value of Open Field Collisions, as naturally follows their other revisions. Part of that can be remedied by a Rule insisting that defenders absolutely play for the ball in the air, eliminating Separation Hits. A Further change would be tightening the rules on Tackling that would call for Wrapping The Arms, eliminating low boddy roll tackles.
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played by very large, strong, people. Injuries will occur no matter the equipment used. Players trip over their own feet or the turf and tear up ACLs. Players tear hamstrings, biceps, pectoral muscles in practice or training.
Just how do you propose to correct these issues and still have a semblance of the game we watch?
The League has intervened on Kick Offs, Onside Kicks, Helmet to Helmet Hits, Head Slaps, Blind Side Hits, Tackles of QB Below The Waist, Horse Collar Tackles..... I expect that they will further diminish the value of Open Field Collisions, as naturally follows their other revisions. Part of that can be remedied by a Rule insisting that defenders absolutely play for the ball in the air, eliminating Separation Hits. A Further change would be tightening the rules on Tackling that would call for Wrapping The Arms, eliminating low body roll tackles.
Great, just keep those officials guessing at their next call. The more rules changes made the more likelihood of blown calls by officials, which is destroying the game. How the heck are they going to enforce wrapping up tackles? They can't get holding and PI correct.
Don't care what Rudolph did- a kick, a punch, don't care. Nothing warrants getting pulled from the ground by your facemask then hit over the head with your own helmet.
Hope Garrett gets suspended for the remainder of the season and loses all endorsements.
2 - leather helmets and shoulder pads.
The NFL of the 70s and 80s was hard hitting, but sound tackling. The NFL had to eradicate the overt violence of earlier generations.
And crazy enough, when the game becomes more about skill and precision, the game flourishes.
Of course there were teams and examples peppered through history. Guys used to clothes line, trip, and club. And the NFL has, historically eradicated dangerous behavior. The NFL has actually been quite good about addressing it.
There was definitely a time in the late 70s and 80s where the game was cleaned up. That was a really great time in the NFL. There were bad characters, but it wasn't as outlandish.
Don't care what Rudolph did- a kick, a punch, don't care. Nothing warrants getting pulled from the ground by your facemask then hit over the head with your own helmet.
Hope Garrett gets suspended for the remainder of the season and loses all endorsements.
Agree 100% that entire incident makes me not even watch
football anymore . There just is no excuse for it .
the shots these guys are taking are bad enough this was
assault with a deadly weapon .