*new posts 6Oct4*
Head Injury Reverberates Beyond Field at Michigan - NYTimes.com
30Sept14
1. Brain Trauma Extends Reach Into Soccer - NYTimes.com
Head Injury Reverberates Beyond Field at Michigan - NYTimes.com
30Sept14
1. Brain Trauma Extends Reach Into Soccer - NYTimes.com
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/09/24/sports/soccer/soccer-star-bellini-is-found-to-have-had-brain-trauma.html?referrer=
2. The statements are the league’s most unvarnished
admission yet that the sport’s professional participants sustain severe brain
injuries at far higher rates than the general population.
1. NFL says a quarter of players will end up with brain problems - Chicago Tribune
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-nfl-quarter-brain-problems-20140913-story.html
2. new rule changes in the NFL, and how they are changing the game completely.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81990bdf/article/new-nfl-rules-designed-to-limit-head-injuries
Phil's question for you guys is: "do you think this is due to an ethical issue of the players, or if its more for the owners protecting their business investments from being ruined?"
3. Frontline's investigative report "League of Denial"
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/league-of-denial/
I think the NFL is changing the rules because the owners want to protect their business investments from being ruined. I think the owners only care about the players that help their franchise. If the owners actually cared about the players then they wouldn't trade the players and cut them from the team. they don't care about their players, they only care about their money and the "business" that they own.
ReplyDeleteI agree here with Sydney, the NFL is a business. The sole goal and purpose of a business is to make money. So to the point that Syd said about the owners wanting to protect their business investments is 100% true.
DeleteI think it is both. From my standpoint of playing football for most of my life the injuries start to add up and can take a toll, especially from good hits. Now don't get me wrong I love a great hit but at the same time if its out of nowhere it will get ya every time. The owners would love this due to the fact that it will help protect their investments, as sydney stated above. I really don't care for this rule but it will help prevent a) nasty hits and b) saves the NFL from numerous lawsuits...
ReplyDeleteI think it has to do with both but it is mostly involves protecting their investments because they are spending so much money on them and they do not want it to go to waste because of multiple concussions. They also care about the players because without them there would not be a game to watch. They have to protect the player's safety by creating rules that protect their investments in the first place.
ReplyDeleteIt is actually kind of hard to base it off of one side to the other because in a way it is both. From the article it is a smart investment to help protect the players from getting hurt where ti would benefit the owners when it comes to lawsuits from past NFL players and it will greatly benefit the future of the game for players to prevent them from having to face some of the troubles that are going on now for the players that are still playing and mainly for those that have retired going through bad symptoms and circumstances. The more lawsuits, the more money the NFL business will lose and the less players will likely play and the safer the rule changes, the less money that they will have to pay up and the possible chance that more players will continue to play.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ronnie it is a little bit of both sides that led them to this conclusion. The owners have to look out for their investments so their money does not go to waste but they also need to protect themselves for being sued from players who have already retired.
DeleteI think the rules have changed because of the owners. They do not want to spend more money later on down the road then what they already have on the players. Also, I think they do care about the players but only to a certain extent because the players are the ones making the money.
ReplyDeleteWhile the new rules put in place have taken much away from the game, i believe they are put in place for the player's safety. Helmet to helmet hits are unsafe and with new concussion testing technology and with ex-nfl players coming forward with new brain damage due to the hits they took back in their day the situation is now the focus. At the same time owners love this because who doesnt want to protect their most prized investments?
ReplyDeleteI believe that mostly the rules have been changed for safety reasons, but the only reason I actually think that they were changed were due the lawsuits that came up against the league. I think that owners care about there players to a certain degree, caring enough to keep them healthy to produce on the field. If lawsuits had never been filed against the league by former players I do not believe there would have ever been a rule change. All in all I think its past players warning current players on how dangerous head to head collisions are.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there could potentially be ulterior motives in these decisions – in that these changes may have reflected an intent on behalf of owners to “protect their investment”, but at the same time I think that it is too easy to make a blanket statement that all owners are only interested in finances and are unconcerned about the safety of the players.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the driving factor in this decision was likely the lawsuit against the NFL and the attention that has consequently been paid to the injuries associated with football. Quite simply, the statistics regarding the number of concussions and other injuries was tarnishing the reputation of the NFL as excessively brutal. The contact is inherent in football and to do away with it completely would diminish the sport, but the opposite extreme of unreasonable brutality seemed to be becoming a reality. Perhaps in addition to financial interests (which I will grant probably played a considerable role in this decision for some involved in the chance), I think these factors should be considered as also contributing to the decision.
I honestly believe that the rule may have been created for both sides. Not only are the players in better care safety wise, but the owners/companies are also safer lawsuit wise as well. Do I think that the owners care about their players? I can't honestly say I have enough information to answer. But I think they are saving their own butts by putting this rule into effect. For example, the owners aren't at risk of being sued, or being financially in trouble or having to play for the players later. As for the player, I only see a positive result from this rule. The players are getting better care, and won't have as much damage physically in the long run. Concussions and head trauma are serious, and they need to be treated as such. I see a good stance for change from both sides, whether their reasoning be just or not.
ReplyDeletepay not play*
DeleteI think the NFL is changing the rule to prevent from a massive brain injury that could seriously affect the player. Although, these new set of rules will also benefit the teams owners because it is protecting the investments more, which is the players. The only down side of this would come from the fans point of view and them saying that they are taking away the contact from a contact sport. But to me they are just taking the cheap shots out instead of the contact.You can still have a hard hitting game without illegal hits to the head.
ReplyDeleteI think a big reason the NFL has changed the rules about head to head contact is because of the recent law suit it was in. They had retired players who were suing claiming they were suffering from brain damages due to concussions in their years at the NFL. Obviously the players safety is everyone best interest but I believe this played a bug part in the rule change.
ReplyDeleteThe NFL is changing up the game completely. I feel like this is due to the teams trying to protect their investments, but also that the rules are changing for offenses to have more power over the defense. The offense is the most exciting part of the game, so owners are putting all the power in the offense to make a great offensive showing for the game.
ReplyDeleteThe fan of the NFL is getting very frustrated by all the new rules that are being created but let them go out there and get a couple of head to head shots and see how that feels. Today's athletes are bigger and faster and stronger and the safety of the players have to be protected! The fan may be upset because all off the big hits are starting to diminish but player's safety is all that matters, who cares about the drunk fan he is not getting hit and risking his safety day in and day out!
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone else. I believe the new rules are to prevent head traumas at such a high rate. I also agree with Blake. Especially being a quarterback, I am hit quite a few times in the head throughout the season. I think the rules are beneficial for everyone. Players are more protected and owners feel better about the safety of their investments.
ReplyDeleteI think the NFL is changing the rules because the owners want to protect their business and themselves. I think the owners see there players as investments not people. It all a business to them. Its all about as much money as possible.
ReplyDelete