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Endangered Species
Published: 10/19/2010 5:17 PM
Last Modified: 10/19/2010 5:17 PM

How about that NFL.

It has declared a crisis situation when it comes to the obliteration of offensive players, as more are being assisted to neutral corners than ever before.

And in the same breath, it wants to expand to 18 games.

Talk about dirty money.

The only quarterbacks who are apt to be around at the end of a season are the ones who are hurt in the first game and are out of action and are healed by the last game.

The hits are the same as always. The equipment is better. The players are simply bigger and stronger -- 220-pound safeties and 270-pound linebackers running 75 miles an hour at stretched-out receivers.

Running quarterbacks are on the endangered list, pro and college.

The wildly-hyped Auburn quarterback is one side-swipe away from the infirmary.

Why can't running quarterbacks pass? Shell shock.





Reader Comments 12 Total
Kenmore (2 years ago)
Has there really been an increase in helmet to helment hits over the past 20 years? Or, as is more likely, how quickly the highlights are seen from those hits on NFL Red Zone and other outlets.

Other than going back to leather helmets, which would definately reduce helmet to helmet hits, though other issues would arise. Making the helmet "concussion proof" is impossible. And even if you do train all defenders NOT to lead with their helmets (that will take a generation or two) there are still plenty of ways a player will suffer a concussion.

As for the Auburn QB, he's going to take out a few defenders first before going down. Though if he does get injured, it'll probably be a "freak" injurly like Vince Young suffered last night.
Ignatz (2 years ago)
In high school 45 years ago I learned helmet to helmet hurt. Our coaches told us not to do it. Somewhere along the way things got off track. As Picker said, with 18 games ( I predict 20 in ten years and our grandkids will see 24 game seasons beginning in July and extending to March with 20 teams eligible for play-offs) all kinds of injuries will escalate. It's all about cash. Stop buying Bud Lite, team jersies and game tickets. Then, and only then, will the craziness slow down.
LaffALot (2 years ago)
Gee a violent sport, a violent game & now we are wanting these defensive folk’s who go 75 mph @ an offensive player, have been trained to do that all their high school & f-ball playing days, to all of a sudden @ the last second, don’t lower the helmet, ease up & not tackle or hit the player very hard?

If you have ever played organized f-ball, guess what you get hurt. You just hope you don’t sustain a life changing injury.

Better protective gear is one solution, the other is for the NFL to offer long term medical care for the players. Any “woosification” of the game, lessens the game itself & eventually the ‘fans will look elsewhere.
tulsandn (2 years ago)
Football is a violent sport & the people who play it know that & accept it....

I remember the head slap, it was fun to do but it sucked when it was used on you, I kinda remember when Leroy the defensive end/boxer decided he wanted to knock me out.... It's partially why I am the way I am today....
MexiMike (2 years ago)
This is simply absurd. Big hits are a part of the game. Every player knows it when they sign on to play. They aren't forced into this profession--they chose it.

Heavily enforce the consequence for helmet to helmet hits. I understand that. But the rest of this is just watering down the game. This sport teaches players to hit as hard as you can. Now it wants to penalize the players for doing so.

Put some flags on the players' hips next. What a joke.
BLA (2 years ago)
Of all the hits this weekend, only the Brandon Merriweather one warranted the fine levied. Harrison in Pittsburgh and the DB in Atlanta laid out guys with hard hits, but they went in with shoulders. How are they supposed to not hit a receiver in the head if the receiver is crumpling to the ground to try and avoid being hit. Also, defensive players are wearing more pads while offensive skill players are trimming down their equipment to maintain their speed advantage. If the NFL wussifies the game any further they will lose their fan base.

Tom Jackson mentioned on the MNF show the other evening that 20 years ago, QBs didn't throw the ball between the hashes knowing it would get a receiver hurt. Teams are also throwing the ball 25% more times per game than that era.

Players who use correct tackling technique (i.e. shoulder pad into sternum) should not be penalized.
MH71711 (2 years ago)
I haven't seen anyone hit Newton harder than he's hit them. Too big to get hurt in college - at least that way. Now pro - another story.
MH71711 (2 years ago)
I haven't seen anyone hit Newton harder than he's hit them. Too big to get hurt in college - at least that way. Now pro - another story.
But What Do I Know? (2 years ago)
My 10 yr old grandson plays FB, center. A couple of weeks ago, after watching his game on Saturday morning, I told him that it looked like he chop blocked one of the defensive lineman. I didn't expect him to know what that meant, but he replied that his coach taught him how to do it but told him not to get caught.
Glenn616 (2 years ago)
Why can't running quarterbacks pass? Here's my take. They put too much emphasis on running the football. Therefore, it hurts their ability to throw the football.
MexiMike (2 years ago)
Were Steve Young or John Elway not considered running QBs?
signalbob (2 years ago)
What's the big deal about "expanding" to 18 games?? They would simply play two less "pre-season" games, and two more "real" games. Same number of total games, but more of them count.
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Out Pick The Picker

The Picker began entertaining – and infuriating – sports fans in 1993. Each week during football season, he writes about his picks of college and NFL games in his Thursday Sports column. He's never afraid of sharing his opinions about the game and the personalities who play it. Readers have a chance to go against him each season in the Outpick the Picker contest. He welcomes the competition.

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