The NFL has started suspending players for helmet to helmet collision due to concussions. Half of the players within the NFL hate this sudden change in the rules because its taking most of the fun out of the sport, along with players some fans are upset as well.
As Americans we feel as if its our duty to stay loyal to the NFL. No matter what punches the league throw at us we love it like it was one of our own, but is the league getting soft on us? The rules were changed in 2010 after Eric LeGrand, a former NCAA Rutgers football player was paralyzed from the neck down, from making a tackle against the opposing team leading with his helmet. After the devastating news broke out, the NFL didn’t hesitate to show their concern for their own players and immediately banned the players from using helmet to helmet contact. No one in the NFL has been paralyzed from a head on collision yet, but the league has had its share of concussions.
In 2010, the concussion rate was fairly high, having 9.5% players being treated for concussions every week. The defensive side of the NFL often got it the worst. At practice and on game day, the defense ended the season with an on average of 51.5% of the players having a concussion, but the offense took a pretty big slice out of the “concussion pie” their self having an average of 48.5% concussions for the season. With this many injuries a week and there being 52 players on a team, that means theres a 72% chance that on any giving sunday a player from all 32 teams will suffer from a concussion.
Despite what the fans think of the new rule, the NFL has to look out for their self, because the number of lawsuits or in the 100s. The NFL is currently being sued by retired NFL players who have had a fair number of concussions while playing. The retirees claim is that the NFL didn’t tell them the consequences and effects of concussions because surely had they had known that they would have short term memory loss, headaches, and more severe illness they would have cut their career short after the first blow to the head. So is the NFL protecting the players or just saving themselves from increasing lawsuits? Who knows, but what I do know is that we the fans are upset, but respect the players minds “literally”, we just hate that we can’t have our cake and eat too.
I'm all for player safety. But I do believe the NFL and college football as well have gone a little to far with the helmet rule. Yes, there are some flagrant hits that need to be punished accordingly. But don't punish everyone. Football is a very physical contact sport. That is what makes it so excited. I would like to see if these new rules have made a difference. Maybe a comparison between concussion levels before and after.
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