Hunting the headhunters
Well, what do you know. The NFL has decided to talk about blows to the head to their players.
It has become the annual convesation and talk radio point in sports these days. It’s in the category of “Should college athletes be paid?” This can be heard at designated times of the year only to fall on deaf ears by the decision makers until the next year when we do it all over again.
In this case, the NFL wants to show that they care about their players. The only reason why they have spoken up is because the networks show the replays over and over to the point that the weak of heart feel that something should be done and the hard-liners say, “It’s football, get over it.”
Football is a tough game. Someone is gonna get hurt. It comes with the territory. The problem here is that players who lead with their heads. That is not how the game was meant to be played.
This is not an NFL issue of players, it’s a coaching issue on the lower levels. On most teams, NFL coaches do not have time to teach someone the proper way or the lethal ways to tackle. You apparently know how to tackle, because if you didn’t, you would not be in the NFL in the first place.
It starts on the junior level and up. Coaches who get so worked up at watching 10-year-olds load up and make the bone-crushing plays have begun to live vicariously through these players. It gets worse as the players ascend. It leads to the poor tackling you see on Sunday these days.
Remember, this is the NFL, which means Not For Long when it comes to a player’s shelf life. The hard part is life after the game when the pain gets worse. For those who are trying to curb the blows, it may be too little too late. Sure, there will be fines and maybe even a suspension or two, but it will take more than just developing better equipment to survive the blow or a fine that can now be a tax writeoff.
NCAA lip service
Here is the latest edition of lip service at its best. The NCAA and the NFL are talking about taking steps to punish players that have been caught cheating while in college. We’re talking about the taking of money from an agent or other egregious violations set forth by the NCAA.
Both parties have floated the idea that a player found in violation and would move on to the pros would be subjected to a fine and or suspensions. Nice idea.
One problem. Who is going to pay for such an elaborate measure in bringing these rulebreakers to justice? Most of the ones that get caught have been ratted out. The NCAA investigators have no subpenea power and many investigations would not hold up in a court of law, which is where it would eventually end up.
The idea is a good one, and while it will not eliminate the problem it may slow it down. The player would just as soon pay the fine and move on. The owners of the team are not gung-ho about sitting a player out due to some college shennanigans, especially after recently paying him a large signing bonus in his rookie year.
The NFL will have to be all in. If they are not, then the colleges should ban pro scouts and coaches from campus. That would get everyone’s attention when it comes to evaluating players.
For now, it’s just talk until a high-profile player from a high-profile school gets on the wrong side of a potentially damaging situation. At that time, words may turn into action.
No. 80
This Sunday, Rams fans and just plain football fans should turn out in droves to the Edward Jones Dome. While the Rams will be playing the Carolina Panthers, the real reason is to be on hand for the retirement of the number 80, which was worn by the greatest receiver in the history of pro football in St. Louis, Issac Bruce.
A future Hall of Famer, Bruce will always be remembered for “The Catch” which resulted in the game-winning touchdown for the only Rams Super Bowl victory. We should also remember him for being one of the greatest professionals on and off the field St. Louis has ever seen. Yes, he is in the Brock, Ozzie, MacInnis, and Musial category.
The game has fewer Issac Bruces these days, and St. Louis was fortunate to have one in him. If there were ever a reason to show appreciation to what a pro would be and what he meant to a community, it would be this Sunday at the Dome. See you there.
