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Egriz and brain injuries...
- Thread starter Ursa Major
- Start date
They should dump the facemask all together. There has to be a technology these day of a full clear facemask that would provide clear vision and at the same time protect as good or better than the current version. But then I guess you would run into breathing issues.
Zootown Rox
Well-known member
Hammer said:
I like this idea, as well. The analogy would be to boxing - when it switched from bare knuckle to gloved boxing fatalities went up by orders of magnitude. The gloves allowed the boxers to hit harder and longer. The thinking is that helmets allow players to use their heads as weapons, or just not worry about where they stick their heads on contact. Without helmets they would be more apt to avoid contact to the head.
HighLineGRIZ
Well-known member
Equipment, especially what is supplied at the HS level, has improved dramatically over the past 10 years. I expect that it will keep improving with an emphasis in concussion reducing helmets and neck collars (btw, if you have a kid playing, buy them a collar, looks kind of badass as well as preventing whiplash).
I agree about awareness from a liability stand point, but as I said earlier, most players know about the long term affects of concussions and choose to play with them anyways. When you're in the heat of competition, it's very tough to take yourself out of a game. Many guys don't report that they are concussed and keep on playing. You really aren't thinking logically after you get your bell rung either... At the NFL level, where your livelihood and millions of dollars are on the line, you can bet that guys aren't going to be taking themselves out of games.
I agree about awareness from a liability stand point, but as I said earlier, most players know about the long term affects of concussions and choose to play with them anyways. When you're in the heat of competition, it's very tough to take yourself out of a game. Many guys don't report that they are concussed and keep on playing. You really aren't thinking logically after you get your bell rung either... At the NFL level, where your livelihood and millions of dollars are on the line, you can bet that guys aren't going to be taking themselves out of games.
GrizMusician
Well-known member
I recently read an interesting article that compared the occurrence of concussions in rugby versus football. Per capita, football had a higher incidence of concussions. It was speculated that by wearing helmets, players use the helmet as a "weapon" which increased the chances of a concussion occurring. The writer suggested that ditching the helmets would decrease the occurrence of concussions in football.
Interesting. It definitely makes sense.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
Interesting. It definitely makes sense.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
How many guys would lead with their head, tackling, running through the line, etc if they didn't have a helmet? Very few, if any.
I remember vomiting on the back of a Beachliner riding back from Billings once. Oddly, was in a GREAT mood..a combination of being high on Salvia and a temporarily relocated cerebral cortex..definitely didn't go to a doctor..should have..not even my best concussion..I reserve that for 4th grade tackle football and a swing set..would not be the man I am today without said brain traumas..
In all honesty, it is a serious issue, specifically with players at a younger age. I was always SUPER cautious when coaching youth football. I have a little different opinion with NFL players. To me, they know the risk, and are compensated for taking that risk.
In all honesty, it is a serious issue, specifically with players at a younger age. I was always SUPER cautious when coaching youth football. I have a little different opinion with NFL players. To me, they know the risk, and are compensated for taking that risk.
As the parent of an 8 year old boy it makes it hard to put him in football in 2 years when they move to pads and helmets because of what we are learning about head injuries and long term effects. He has played every sport he could since the age of 4 (wrestling, flag football, baseball, etc...) and I consider him to be one of the best athletes in each sport he participates in. I know he will want to play tackle football in 5th grade and I know I would love to watch him...but...as a parent I feel like I need to protect his still developing brain from potential injury.
...mtgrizrule
Well-known member
I honestly don't where to side on this issue. I have no doubt, I am sick of this subject. NFL players know damn well of the risk playing the game, and compensated very well. I do think the guys playing prior to the 80's may have known much less. I also believe the NFL did know much more than they revealed.
Football is by far my favorite sport to watch as a whole. Basketball is my favorite sport in terms of my knowledge, and understanding of the game. I pray football is not ruined by all this. I pray it survives. My hope is, the guys that continue to play the sport for whatever reason are willing to sign off about the risk of the game. Also why in the hell aren't the risks of boxing and MMA a bigger deal too? Those guys take brutal beatings on their bodies, and heads.
If you want to pursue football, and be rewarded well for it, accept the danger and consequences of it! If not, stop pursuing, or don't pursue it!
Football is by far my favorite sport to watch as a whole. Basketball is my favorite sport in terms of my knowledge, and understanding of the game. I pray football is not ruined by all this. I pray it survives. My hope is, the guys that continue to play the sport for whatever reason are willing to sign off about the risk of the game. Also why in the hell aren't the risks of boxing and MMA a bigger deal too? Those guys take brutal beatings on their bodies, and heads.
If you want to pursue football, and be rewarded well for it, accept the danger and consequences of it! If not, stop pursuing, or don't pursue it!
I just want to thank everyone that has read and posted on this thread! I figured this would be a one page shit storm that would be a debate about being a pussy. I'm rarely serious when I post but I appreciate those (especially with kids) that have seriously discussrd the issue at hand. I love football, we all do, but this is troubling, . I didn't think we had it in us to have a serious discusion about this. My hat is off to you, ladies!!
bigforkgriz said:
I plan to look at it. However, I have watched and read a ton of stuff on brain injuries from sports over the years. I am also friends with one of the former NFL guys involved in the litigation and talk with him. And remember that my two points are: why don't I know anyone from the 100's and 100's I've played with or been around and who had multiple concussion, who now have had problems; and I believe the protocols are too conservative.
Do you look at the protocol link I posted?
grizaremoregooder
Well-known member
I think baseball will make a comeback because of the concussion issue. Parents aren't going to allow their kids to play if they think it is dangerous. No injuries in baseball and not a lot of world class athletes play anymore.
Has there been any studies on guys that keep walking into their wife's stupid van hatchbacks?
That's a head injury that counts - and no helmet...
That's a head injury that counts - and no helmet...
HighLineGRIZ
Well-known member
When my son get's old enough to play, I will have absolutely no problem letting him play. Football teaches work ethic, discipline, toughness, and team work better than any other sport. It's a great game and I wouldn't be the same person without it. If you teach your kids how to play the game right, get them the right gear, and make sure any concussion is treated properly, it is very unlikely they'll have any long term effects even if they happen to get a concussion. Of course shit happens, but it could happen in any sport. The benefits of learning and playing football far outweigh the potential hazards. Just play the game right.
HighLineGRIZ
Well-known member
Also, taking the helmet out of the game will not solve anything. It might decrease people playing with their head, but you'd still have issues. Rugby and football are very different sports. It isn't a good comparison to say that Rugby players have fewer concussions because of the equipment. Football collisions are much more violent and would be with or without the helmet and pads.
This is what I've been thinking for some time. Why don't we do away with the helmets and pads? Rugby players don't have them. I can see helmets & pads for hockey players, mainly because of the sticks. Same w/ lacrosse.Hammer said:
You aren't going to spear someone w/ your head if it's your head, not a helmet, doing the hitting. All these helmets, pads, etc., do is make one more careless of what happens to his body & that of others, by believing it's safe to go full tilt. And the more protective the gear becomes, the more daring the motivation. It's ironic that protective gear increases disregard for either one's safety or that of others. You aren't going to smash into someone if your body is just as likely to get injured as the other guy.
Consider: football players in full suit (armor?) don't look like human beings. They look like robots. The humanity is taken out of the sport. It's just a bunch of helmets and pads smacking into each other. Nobody is concerned about the other player until he's injured and the helmet is taken off and we see a suffering human being.
I fear football is an endangered sport because of this issue, and the only way to preserve it is to eliminate the helmets and pads. Could it be, "Real men don't need helmets and pads?"
You are a wise and caring parent.aCatsFan said:
I can't understand organized youth football. Just can't. The pads, the helmets, the coaches, the plays, the parents, etc. When I was 10 years old, we played sandlot tackle football, no helmets, no pads, no coaches, no parents, just us kids. Plays were drawn in the dirt. Many a time I came home bloody & dirty, but had fun.
