All Things Roger Goodell/Rules Changes/Player Safety

[RiotPunch]

Goodell is so bad. This idea is dumber than Stern years ago wanting to move NBA teams to other countrys.

Goodell wants a Euro division too.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

Interesting read about the NFL and GE partnership to protect players from head injuries. It includes lighter helmets that have built in sensors and tests to determine if a player should switch positions or not be allowed to play football.

NEW YORK (AP) -- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell imagines a day in the not-too-distant future when players could be checked to determine whether their genetic makeup leaves them more likely to develop brain disease.

They then might be told to switch to a less dangerous position - or give up football entirely.

"In talking to the medical experts over several years, I think there's a predisposition to most injuries, particularly to the brain, or to brain disease," Goodell said in an interview with The Associated Press on Monday. "So we do want to know what those biomarkers are."

Goodell also envisions players being required - with the union's OK, of course - to wear helmets containing sensors to detect hits that cause concussions. Those helmets might be lighter and "less of a weapon" than today's, he said.

Those are the kinds of advances the NFL and General Electric are hoping to produce in a partnership that could funnel up to $60 million over four years to research on head injuries and possible improvements to helmets.

"Imaging of the brain, studying the brain, is still pretty far behind the study of cancer, heart disease, things like that," GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt said. "I look at this as a catalyst in terms of where the technology will go. ... I would say you're going to start seeing really strong activities almost immediately."

Goodell, who spoke to the AP after a news conference at a GE office building, agreed about the importance of quick progress.

"We weren't looking at a long timetable," he said. "We wanted to see results quickly."

Not long after Goodell was forced to defend the league's concussion policies at a congressional hearing in October 2009, the NFL began making changes. Among them: new return-to-play guidelines; changing the co-chairmen of the NFL's committee on concussions; and, expected for next season, putting independent neurological experts on sidelines during games.

Thousands of former players are suing the league and its teams, saying that for years the NFL did not do enough to protect players from concussions. Next month, a federal judge is scheduled to hear oral arguments on the league's motion to dismiss.

Such scrutiny "has no impact" on projects like the one with GE, Goodell said.

"This is about looking forward," he said. "This is about the future. This is about changing the way all of our lives are led, whether it's riding a bicycle or playing football or being a member of the military."

In September, the NFL announced a donation of $30 million for medical research to the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, the NIH's fundraising arm.

One influential NFL owner, Robert Kraft of the New England Patriots, is pleased to see these kinds of projects now.

"I wish it had happened sooner. The evolution, the issue has been coming to the forefront and ... a lot of times we didn't talk about it, or talk about it enough. But we need to talk about it and do something about it," Kraft said.

"Everyone has been spending money in bits and pieces, but now it will be concentrated and this will become a tremendous resource," he added. "I don't think anyone has the answers, how to treat it, whether to continue to play - there haven't been answers, and we need to find the answers."

The Head Health Initiative described Monday, which also includes sports apparel and equipment maker Under Armour, involves a four-year, $40 million research and development program to find ways to detect and diagnose brain injuries, and a two-year "innovation challenge" that would put up to $20 million toward research to protect against those injuries.

Goodell thinks helmets can be improved.

"The better protection the helmet provides, sometimes the more likely (players) are to use their head, and that's a dilemma that we have to change, in part through rules," Goodell said. "But I also see that we could potentially change the helmet by making it lighter. (That) would make it less of a weapon."

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

More rules changes:

Keep your head up.

That's the message the NFL's rules-making competition committee wants to get across to players -- especially running backs in the open field -- as it continues to try to make the game safer.

Among the six rules changes that will be proposed to NFL owners at league meetings next week, the committee recommends banning players from using the crown of their helmet to initiate contact. At least 24 votes from 32 owners are required for passage.

Using the crown always has been a no-no for defenders, especially in cases where they could be flagged for spearing. Now the competition committee is looking for extra protection for defenders -- not to mention an offensive player who may put himself more at risk.

"It has to be the obvious call," said Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay, chairman of the committee, during a conference call on Thursday. "You can't make that choice of delivering a forcible blow with your helmet."

Coaches have urged players for years: See what you hit. Now it's likely the rule will say it, too.

"We feel that we can avoid some dangerous situations on the field," said St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher, the committee's former co-chair.

Other proposed changes:

Eliminate the tuck rule: A fumble will be a fumble. If a quarterback decides not to throw the ball and pulls it back, if he drops it, it'll be a fumble.

Ban peel-back blocks inside the tackle box: Currently, peel-backs -- in which an offensive player turns back toward his goal line to cut down an unsuspecting defender -- are allowed outside the tackle zone. Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing, who had his season ended and his ACL torn on a peel-back block by Matt Slauson of the New York Jets, has been a leading proponent of the rule change.

Fix challenge flag rule: Throwing it at the wrong time won't prevent officials from getting a call right on instant replay. Last season, the technicality of a coach challenging a play when he didn't need to -- such as after a TD or turnover -- nullified a replay review.

That might have cost the Detroit Lions a game, when a long Houston Texans TD run stood, even though replays showed the runner's knee touched the turf at the start of the play.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

Tuck rule and the controversial RB lowering the head rule have passed.

[BigDee]

Don Banks ‏@DonBanks 13m
Crown of helmet hit rule did pass, 31-1. Only the Bengals voted against it. Get used to it, running backs.
Retweeted by PackersNews.com

[vegaspacker]

This is really getting interesting... Surely football is dangerous, and there have been some notably debilitating injuries.

My argument is that there are inherent risks everywhere. I do not have statistics, but there are more dangerous professions.

HBO's Real Sports did a story about the MTV X-games. There was an expose regarding snow-mobile jumping, I think something like three of the contestants were medically flighted to a Trauma facility during the competition.

I also live in Las Vegas, and work at the Trauma Center there. It seems like nearly every weekend we treat boxers and mma fighters. It gets really crazy when the UFC has an event in the city. Not too mention... car accidents, auto vs.pedestrians, motorcycle/scooter/bicycle crashes, stabbings, shootings, domestic violence, child abuse, atv accidents, gang violence, auto-racing, cliff diving accidents, burn victims, plane crashes, assaults, and anything 'more' absurd that you can imagine... are day to day in my occupation.

Some of 'us' take risks... either physical, or psychological... The stress levels can be very high, but yet we press on. To 'coddle' a certain sector, should diminish the risk reward quotient. If, you want to be a "rock star" you must assume the risk.

Maybe the NFL players could consider utilizing inflatable "sumo suits" to completely buffering them from potential injuries. They get an opportunity that most of us do not have, a chance to cash in on physical abilities that a very few possess.

Also, I served in the military, initially as an infantryman... Fort Benning and Fort Bragg, talk about dangerous... Luckily, I was promoted as an instructor... those who can't do... teach! For the record, I can do... and could do, just glad I didn't have to.

These guys have a chance to really capitalize financially on an amazing opportunity, much more-so than most ever will see. My two cents are this... If it seems like too much to take on, let someone else take your place... and do something less dangerous. Sell cars, bag groceries... heck, get an education become an accountant, software engineer, or become a real estate agent. If that does not work out, join the military and see how that works out.........

[Bucksfans1and2]

This is really getting interesting... Surely football is dangerous, and there have been some notably debilitating injuries.

My argument is that there are inherent risks everywhere. I do not have statistics, but there are more dangerous professions.

HBO's Real Sports did a story about the MTV X-games. There was an expose regarding snow-mobile jumping, I think something like three of the contestants were medically flighted to a Trauma facility during the competition.

I also live in Las Vegas, and work at the Trauma Center there. It seems like nearly every weekend we treat boxers and mma fighters. It gets really crazy when the UFC has an event in the city. Not too mention... car accidents, auto vs.pedestrians, motorcycle/scooter/bicycle crashes, stabbings, shootings, domestic violence, child abuse, atv accidents, gang violence, auto-racing, cliff diving accidents, burn victims, plane crashes, assaults, and anything 'more' absurd that you can imagine... are day to day in my occupation.

Some of 'us' take risks... either physical, or psychological... The stress levels can be very high, but yet we press on. To 'coddle' a certain sector, should diminish the risk reward quotient. If, you want to be a "rock star" you must assume the risk.

Maybe the NFL players could consider utilizing inflatable "sumo suits" to completely buffering them from potential injuries. They get an opportunity that most of us do not have, a chance to cash in on physical abilities that a very few possess.

Also, I served in the military, initially as an infantryman... Fort Benning and Fort Bragg, talk about dangerous... Luckily, I was promoted as an instructor... those who can't do... teach! For the record, I can do... and could do, just glad I didn't have to.

These guys have a chance to really capitalize financially on an amazing opportunity, much more-so than most ever will see. My two cents are this... If it seems like too much to take on, let someone else take your place... and do something less dangerous. Sell cars, bag groceries... heck, get an education become an accountant, software engineer, or become a real estate agent. If that does not work out, join the military and see how that works out.........

Problem is that legally an employer has to do everything in his power to protect his workers from harm. And allowing players to ram each other with their helmets is bad for their long term health.

That said, this will never get called.

[emunney]

I do wonder sometimes if just eliminating facemasks wouldn't clear up a lot of this stuff (but also probably teeth).

[Bucksfans1and2]

I do wonder sometimes if just eliminating facemasks wouldn't clear up a lot of this stuff (but also probably teeth).

It would be impossible to block.

[emunney]

Why?

[Bucksfans1and2]

Why?

Because facemasks smash all the time while blocking, it's pretty much not possible to block a bull rush without having helmets bumping.

My facemask was always wrecked by the end of a season, and that was 9 games in high school. 16+ in the pros and I understand why they swap helmets after every game.

[emunney]

My guess is if guys' faces were smashing into each other both of them would be motivated to find a new way.

[MVP2110]

I know I am a little late but man the new helmet rule really ticks me. There is making the game safer and then there is over the top, they have been over the top for awhile

[trwi7]

I do wonder sometimes if just eliminating facemasks wouldn't clear up a lot of this stuff (but also probably teeth).

Joe Montana suggested this. At the very least it would make players think twice about lowering their heads and hitting with the crown.

[midranger]

I find rugby to be a captivating game. Huge guys. Hard hits. No helmets. No shoulder pads.

Guy's get bloodied, but seemingly there are few life/career threatening injuries.

[midranger]

The unfortunate part of all the "safety" measures over the years, is that the game has become notably less safe.

Watch that NFL commercial where they show the evolution of padding over the decades. When you strap enough padding to guys who run like rockets, they'll eventually rocket into someone's head or knee, because they aren't concerned about the impact themselves.

[Bucksfans1and2]

The unfortunate part of all the "safety" measures over the years, is that the game has become notably less safe.

Watch that NFL commercial where they show the evolution of padding over the decades. When you strap enough padding to guys who run like rockets, they'll eventually rocket into someone's head or knee, because they aren't concerned about the impact themselves.

Yes and no, the reason people started wearing helmets is because skull fractures were becoming a serious problem. By padding the skull, instead of the skull breaking, the brain gets rattled around inside and gets concussions.

Football is inherently a violent game and I firmly believe you stand a much greater chance of getting injured if you're playing not to get injured. Playing at a slower speed than everybody else is a recipe for disaster.

[emunney]

Just throwing it out there with the facemask thing.

Ultimately I support these efforts to make the game less dangerous. They may not get it all right immediately, but it's a process I respect, and I think they'll eventually strike a balance if they keep striving for it.

Equally important and probably less controversial, I think the league needs to do a lot more to take care of retired players.

[Buck You]

They're doing their best to make sure the players don't sue the nfl after they retire.