NFL: RIP Junior Seau

[nativefalcon]

Sad news RIP JR. Its Sad, the Number one sport in American that makes more money then all the others put together and they can't make a good football helmet, or force and pay the companies to come out with one to stop head injuries. If you saw this thing on 60 minutes theres a woman on this article Im pretty sure below, she gets football players, young, college and NFL, but their all dead. She scans their brains compared to normal ones and they said the NFL ones are the worst, its like a boxers, they later in life get in a deep depression and alot kill themselves.

I know what some of you would say, like I have, hey they get paid millions, its part of the game, the NFL makes BILLIONS, they can fork out some cash for some research to help.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist...54709254/1

[RockHoward]

(05-02-2012 11:46 PM)nativefalcon Wrote:  Sad news RIP JR. Its Sad, the Number one sport in American that makes more money then all the others put together and they can't make a good football helmet, or force and pay the companies to come out with one to stop head injuries.

The problem is the brain hitting the skull from the inside out. How can a helmet fix that? Implanting a lining within the skull might be a better solutuon, but that seems impossible. One problem here is that F = M * A meaning that as players get bigger and faster the force of the hits multiply.

Even soccer has a problem as a career's worth of headers can take their toll to the brain. In fact headers in youth soccer leagues probably need to be banned completely. Rugby, of course, is also very problematic.

Of course professional players need to make up their own minds about the risks they face and fans must decide if they want to watch a sport that clearly harms the participants.

It is college football that is really in the catbird seat. How can these schools ask their student athletes take these risks for no compensation? Somehow I think it will survive even though it may eventually evolve into 7 on 7 style football (which is not too different than watching an ultimate frisbee match.)

[phocis850]

People in car crashes suffer injury as well. You can't stop the brain from moving around in the skull. Its not the helmet.

[Jesus]

We don't know why he killed himself. It could be for any reason. Apparently he left no note so we can't be sure.

If it is because of head injuries lets remember that every time Dunta gets fined this place goes nuts. Everyone starts whining about how the league is turning to touch and Goodell is an idiot, blah blah blah. Then when a player dies the sentiment changes.

Also he was 43 years old. He quit playing within the last decade. If these issues are hitting faster than they used to (Easterling was 62) then it is just a matter of time before a current player does the same thing.

It's time now for James Harrison to STFU. Also the NLFPA who for some reason did not want the Saints players fined.

[ggp]

I believe that there are still ways to improve helmets. The obvious problem is that the upgrades will probably cost a lot more money and the players tend to resist changes to uniforms that may feel more restrictive.

The most bang for the buck will be with rule changes. Slow the game down a bit. Let OL's hang onto defenders and let DB's pull and grab WR's for ten yards. That will help OL's protect their QB longer and slow pass rushers' impact hits. If DB's are allowed to man handle WR's within ten yards of the LOS, we will see more man2man coverages and fewer DB's acting like missiles trying to cover their zone.

[Drathdon]

They have made a better helmet. Most players just wont wear it because they think it looks foolish.

[NZFalcon]

Is that the helmet that eli manning wears?

If his death is related to his concussion history it is time for the NFL to start thinking about changing the tackling rules more to a rugby union style.

RIP Jr Seau

[Radical]

One thing they absolutely should do is enforce the best quality helmet in terms of protection on the market, and look to improve upon the design to reduce the chance for concussions in the future. A lot of players wear different helmets in the league, and some are known to provide inferior protection, but they don't wear it do to their "rule of cool." That needs to stop, now.

[Beef]

I dunno. I can't help but think this is akin to a pro-life vs. pro-choice mind numbing as fuck debate.

IMO, these guys know it's a violent as hell sport with huge risks for immediate, long term, and degenerating injuries. They can either choose to play and accept the risks and get paid well for it or they can choose to feel the risks are not worth the reward and not play the game.

What is unacceptable to me is coming back AFTER the fact and blaming somebody else because they chose to play and didn't come out on the healthy side. Blaming the quality of the equipment is bullshit IMO too. You're brain isn't going to go to mush from 1 single concussion. And 1 single concussion is all anyone needs to show themselves that the equipment can't prevent all concussions. Yet they still strap back on that same helmet and go back out there again and again and again rather than quiting, knowing full well the equipment obviously isn't enough protection.

Then, years later, after knowing the equipment wasn't enough protection, yet subjecting themselves over and over to concussions, NOW they come back and blame the equipment??? No. That's bullshit. You either demand a helmet be made that prevents concussions or you stop playing. It's your choice. You don't keep playing, knowing your equipment is inadequate, and then come back later and sue for inadequate equipment.

And you can replace "inadequate equipment" with "hard hits" or "unprotected hits" or "lack of rules protecting against injuries". If you know none of these exists and yet you still chose to play, you don't get to blame somebody else when you end up fucked up down the road.