Bernard Pollard: American Football Will Not Exist In 20-30 Years

[display name]

[url="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d828e2f90/comments/ravens-pollard-football-wont-exist-in-20-30-years"]http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d828e2f90/comments/ravens-pollard-football-wont-exist-in-20-30-years[/url]
I don't like that. Bernard Pollard needs to shut up; he's giving us a bad name. That's not playing like a Baltimore Raven.

[berad]

I don't care for his comments, he sounds whiney like James Harrison but I have no issue with it. He's a good player and (outside of that ridiculous penalty in the Jax game) didn't run into any trouble with the league or officials, if I recall.

[FerrariFan87]

The NFL isn't going anywhere... it will adapt and change like other sports leagues. Major League Baseball is still way behind the times, so I don't think the NFL has anything to worry about.

[GrimCoconut]

I'm not upset because I'm not sure if he knows what he's talking about here. I like Pollard as a player, but I think his comment is a little stupid if it is taken at face value. Granted, perhaps there is more to his comment than we have seen, but as it stands it doesn't make sense. Perhaps he meant that American football as we KNOW it will be gone in 20-30 years, not that the NFL will cease to exist.

Regardless, I can see there come a time when American football has changed beyond what we know it to be today. If that is his point, then it makes a lot of sense and I actually agree.

[MKdave]

I don't know how far wrong he is. I think we all know that when they examine Seau's brain they are going to see extensive, extensive damage, and I don't think the outlawing of football as we know it, in the time-frame given by Pollard, is out of the question. If it becomes too expensive for the NFL to deal with players suing them because they've amassed countless concussions, they'll take out the hitting element. And I don't think any of us would really be prepared to call that football.

[da#1ravensfan]

Hewas just stating how soft the league has become again!!!!

[Medications]

I don't agree with him in that I think football will be around forever regardless of how it evolves, but I see no reason to get upset at him either, it's just his opinion he's allowed to have one

[cursona pirate]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1336255200' post='1072621']
I'm not upset because I'm not sure if he knows what he's talking about here. I like Pollard as a player, but I think his comment is a little stupid if it is taken at face value. Granted, perhaps there is more to his comment than we have seen, but as it stands it doesn't make sense. Perhaps he meant that American football as we KNOW it will be gone in 20-30 years, not that the NFL will cease to exist.

Regardless, I can see there come a time when American football has changed beyond what we know it to be today. If that is his point, then it makes a lot of sense and I actually agree.
[/quote]
Yeah what he said!
The game of football might change but there will still be an NFL. Unless he is talking about the end of the world.

[raybaby]

His comments don't affect me either way but maybe he should stay away from the media. He should be allowed to voice his opinion but he is making repeated comments about it. It didn't help the Steelers players' case and it's not going to help his. No need to cause Goodell to keep an extra eye on him.

[Ed_Reed20]

I have no issue with Pollard's comments; I actually like them. Especially the ones about the Nike uniforms and hitting QBs after they throw picks.

High-profile QBs bring in the money, so it's obvious the league would try to protect their biggest investments. But the kind of protection the league affords [i]some[/i] of them is just ridiculous.

[hawkprey]

At least he's thought this through and not blurted out some stupid passing thought (like some Steelers I could mention). He makes a good point. But when the time comes that something REALLY has to be done about the injuries, something will. And it's hard to believe that that solution is the end of football.

[JO_75]

Am I the only one who thinks it's hypocritical of him to say how your going to hit because it's football but then doesn't want his son to play football due to concussion problems? How can he say that it's football and your going to get hit no matter what but at the same time doesn't want his son to play football because he could be hit? I may have misunderstood that part but that's what I got from it.

[hawkprey]

[quote name='display name' timestamp='1336253618' post='1072613']
[url="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d828e2f90/comments/ravens-pollard-football-wont-exist-in-20-30-years"]http://www.nfl.com/n...-in-20-30-years[/url]
I don't like that. Bernard Pollard needs to shut up; he's giving us a bad name. That's not playing like a Baltimore Raven.
[/quote]
Yeah, he's making us look like a team that hits hard that league doesn't like! Oh wait...

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1336259240' post='1072640']
Am I the only one who thinks it's hypocritical of him to say how your going to hit because it's football but then doesn't want his son to play football due to concussion problems? How can he say that it's football and your going to get hit no matter what but at the same time doesn't want his son to play football because he could be hit? I may have misunderstood that part but that's what I got from it.
[/quote]

It's not hypocritical at all.

The article clearly states Pollard doesn't want his son to play football because he doesn't want to see him with a concussion. With the way he plays, I'm guessing Pollard has had more than a fair share of concussions for as long as he's played the game. Considering all that we know about concussions and the affects they can have on people, I'm not surprised Pollard wouldn't want his young son playing the game. He probably doesn't want him to have to experience that kind of pain.

[Irish Raven]

Sports adapt over time

After Aryton Senna died there was a huge push on safety for one example

Taking it to football and I'm no engineer but I'd imagine helmet technology still has lots of room for improvement and we will see developments regularly over the next few years.

[Dubs]

While I may not agree with his statement that it will be gone, I do agree fully that the style of play and love for physicality/domination needs to be revisited in all sports not just football.

I do not think there is anything wrong with him saying this - honestly i think it is good for football and sport because we all need to rethink the sports we watch, play or coach and stop putting them on a platform that allows us to disengage/segregate them from the negative aspects they have on society.

[Alexir]

Suggs on Bayless, Pollard talking, joe saying he is the best, Harb talkin bout pats. When did we become the jets?


hahaha just kidding but seriously, let's stay away from the media guys

[Alexir]

Might as well just go on Hard Knocks.

[Blex64]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1336257747' post='1072635']
I have no issue with Pollard's comments; I actually like them. Especially the ones about the Nike uniforms and hitting QBs after they throw picks.

High-profile QBs bring in the money, so it's obvious the league would try to protect their biggest investments. But the kind of protection the league affords [i]some[/i] of them is just ridiculous.
[/quote]

My issue isn't with the rules in place to protect QB's, its the consistency with which those rules are enforced.

Queue Tom Lady brand band-aid picture.

[cobrajet]

It is his opinion. This is America and his comments don't hurt anyone.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Blex64' timestamp='1336262093' post='1072656']
My issue isn't with the rules in place to protect QB's, its the consistency with which those rules are enforced.

Queue Tom Lady brand band-aid picture.
[/quote]

So true.

Flacco, Sanchez, Vick, Newton and even Super Bowl-winning like Roethlisberger and Rodgers rarely get the calls Brady and Peyton do.

I still can't believe Fletcher got flagged for [url="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d824ef07c/Fair-penalty"]this[/url].

[ravensdfan]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1336257747' post='1072635']
I have no issue with Pollard's comments; I actually like them. Especially the ones about the Nike uniforms and hitting QBs after they throw picks.

High-profile QBs bring in the money, so it's obvious the league would try to protect their biggest investments. But the kind of protection the league affords [i]some[/i] of them is just ridiculous.
[/quote]

Yeah what you said lol

I came to the thread first....saw that everyone was upset and was like...okay, better go check out this entire article.

Perhaps some posters here have misconstrued what Pollard actually said. He wasn't saying he is out to hurt people, only that it is a physical, violent sport and you have to make those split second decisions. I think he meant football as we know it, not football entirely. There is too much money tied up in it for them to allow it to disappear.

I have no issue with his comments and as for the OP thinking he's making us look bad....all the comments on nfl.com are agreeing with him.

[Yatagarasu]

Well, I can already say that the players are evolving.

We're seeing players who are bigger, stronger, and faster than their past players.

I wonder when it will be when we see 300 pound players running 4.4 speed.

I hope when that time comes, NFL produce some technological body armors to withstand all those energy.

Also, if Goodell wants a longer season, he might have to compromise in allowing in human growth hormone and other performance enchancing drugs for the athletes to make them healthy for such a long season.

Also, I think the concussion research will help the league find a lot of ways to reduce concussion through superior helmets, stem cell research, and maybe preventive measures.

[Y2J]

[quote name='Alexir' timestamp='1336260997' post='1072649']
Suggs on Bayless, Pollard talking, joe saying he is the best, Harb talkin bout pats. When did we become the jets?


hahaha just kidding but seriously, let's stay away from the media guys
[/quote]

No you're right. This has been a weird offseason. Idk why but the Ravens have been doing a lot of chirping this offseason. Lol

[AsianRice]

[quote name='Y2J' timestamp='1336276408' post='1072697']
No you're right. This has been a weird offseason. Idk why but the Ravens have been doing a lot of chirping this offseason. Lol
[/quote]
Making 4 straight playoffs including 2 conference championships sometimes create some attention; if it was 5yr ago, people don't even listen to anything with the word Ravens in it.

I have no problem with Pollard; he's just stating his opinion and it's not like stupid opinions like Mendenhall or Clark.

[RavensDE]

So...whats the issue?

Pollard says the game is violent and won't be around in 20-30 years. Well the game IS violent and it is changing right now to protect players. I doubt anyone lets a cash cow like the NFL die off on purpose. I'm pretty sure boxing causes brain damage but we still have boxing (even though no one cares anymore). Same goes for MMA (except people watch it). The NFL will adapt and will keep its big hits because thats where the money is. It's more likely people sign a waiver and the minimum salary goes up or insurance is granted for life or some other measure takes place before it ceases to become football. The real danger to fottball is what happens in high school football. Once schools get sued and they start to drop programs then we will see a damaged game.

As far as what he says about his kids that just makes sense. No one wants their kids to get hurt or do the dangerous things they did. I don't want my kids to drink, have unprotected sex, drive cars fast, get in fights or any of the stupid things I used to do. I'll parent that out as best I can but the kids will still make their own choices. Who wants their kids to get hurt? Not me, you or Pollard.

[Crabcakes&Football]

I thought the same thing when I read about John Mara saying he thinks kickoffs will be eliminated in the future. It will still always boil down to money. Player safety is nice, good PR and all that, but if the big dogs see a drop in revenue then so much for that.

[Tiz]

Not sure why people are upset or how people think he is wrong.
He said exactly what we all have said. The continual changes would kill a sport that in inherently violent.

guys are getting bigger, faster, stronger. Rules calling for them to slow down and ease up in certain situations. The players are going in one direction the league in another.

To say pollard doesn't know what he is talking about ignores the rule changes he has seen in his career. during his time we saw the way qbs are involved changed. Cannot hit a qb below the waist or facemask to facemask if he is in the pocket. cannot hit a qb on a quick change of possession unless he is trying for a tackle.

Those are just changes made in the last 5 yrs and thats not even all the changes to eliminate contact in certain cases.

[arnie_uk]

how does this upset anyone? did it make you teary eyed? explain how this was upsetting, im at a loss

[Tiz]

Oh. I am upset with his comments. Not because they are ”ignorant” but because I fear them to be true