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

[arnie_uk]

[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]on the contrary i think its excatly playing like a raven. We play hard, fast, strong, and hes saying thats being taken out of the game and isnt happy about it.

If he wasnt playing like a raven, hed be glad of the changes

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='Tiz' timestamp='1336310455' post='1072735']
Oh. I am upset with his comments. Not because they are ”ignorant” but because I fear them to be true
[/quote]is that what upsets the people that voted for yes?

[arnie_uk]

[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]i think you might be.... he knows how dangerous the game is, hes seen the injuries, hes had them, hes gave them, and as a parent he has a right to protect his son from getting hurt. He knows first hand how dangerous this game can be and is doing his "job" as a parent protecting his child.

I think a lot of NFL players would agree with him, look at warner, because they know first hand how dangerous it is, while non nfl parents, may not actually realise how violent a sport it is, so take no issue with their child playing it.

I do however think, that when his child is grown up and teenager, if he wants to really play, these guys will let the child make a educated choice while knowing all the risks involved

[Guest RBates]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1336264430' post='1072669']
So true.

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

I still can't believe Fletcher got flagged for [url="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d824ef07c/Fair-penalty"]this[/url].
[/quote] How are they the greatest to play the game? When they are not playing the same one everyone else is playing.

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='RBates' timestamp='1336315033' post='1072749']
How are they the greatest to play the game? When they are not playing the same one everyone else is playing.
[/quote]what???

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1336264430' post='1072669']
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].
[/quote]that was a joke of a flag, i was livid when i seen that. No way any of the QBs you mentioned there would have got that penalty. The Ref said something like he hit him on the head... he was no where near it

[The Raven]

[quote name='Tiz' timestamp='1336310455' post='1072735']
Oh. I am upset with his comments. Not because they are ”ignorant” but because I fear them to be true
[/quote]

Exactly this.

American football is not even the same as it was 20 years ago. Would guys like Deacon Jones and LT fit in today's NFL? Probably not. Back then, they were praised and celebrated for their violent play. But if they played today, they'd probably be considered in the class of James Harrison. They would be penalty machines. They'd get fines often. If the game has changed that much since LT's days, imagine what could happen in the next 20.

[Guest RBates]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1336315364' post='1072751']
what???
[/quote]Tom and Peyton. All those B.S calls they get. Hard to be considered the best at a physical game, when you make the game less physical, for certain players.

Pollard should just let his son be a QB. Oh wait, that wont work either.

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='RBates' timestamp='1336315755' post='1072755']
Tom and Peyton. All those B.S calls they get. Hard to be considered the best at a physical game, when you make the game less physical, for certain players.

Pollard should just let his son be a QB. Oh wait, that wont work either.
[/quote]while i get what your saying, the calls the get cant really take away from what either has done in their careers. I hate Brady, with a burning passion, but i cant say he isnt 1a or 1b of modern era QBs just because hes a pansy that gets special treatmeant

[Guest RBates]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1336315958' post='1072756']
while i get what your saying, the calls the get cant really take away from what either has done in their careers. I hate Brady, with a burning passion, but i cant say he isnt 1a or 1b of modern era QBs just because hes a pansy that gets special treatmeant
[/quote]We can agree to disagree then. Because while there accomplishments are great in there own right. The question is raised, how good would you have been, if you played the same game as everyone else?

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='RBates' timestamp='1336318647' post='1072765']
We can agree to disagree then. Because while there accomplishments are great in there own right. The question is raised, how good would you have been, if you played the same game as everyone else?
[/quote]getting a flag for a late hit doesnt make them any better so thats a stupid arguement

[The Raven]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1336318790' post='1072766']
getting a flag for a late hit doesnt make them any better so thats a stupid arguement
[/quote]

It doesn't make them better per se, but it can put them in a better position to succeed, which could give fans the perception that they are better.

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1336319204' post='1072769']
It doesn't make them better per se, but it can put them in a better position to succeed, which could give fans the perception that they are better.
[/quote]so brady and mannings dominance is a lie based on favouritism from officials

[POE]

Clearly this whole topic is an exageration. Some of the changes the NFL has made seem to be a bit of a stretch but other seem necessary to keep players safe. Nobody is going to like it all, but there is no way that the NFL will ever be non-existent. Too much money involved, the ratings are sky rocketing, and the competition is just as good as it ever has been. Too much is said about the rules and how things have changed.

[The Raven]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1336319265' post='1072770']
so brady and mannings dominance is a lie based on favouritism from officials
[/quote]

Not at all! I'm just justifying what he is trying to say. Their dominance is based on their elite talent. I would agree that they are dominant. I agree with what you're saying. But it's also true that penalties can make them [i]appear[/i] even better.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1336319939' post='1072774']
Not at all! I'm just justifying what he is trying to say. Their dominance is based on their elite talent. I would agree that they are dominant. I agree with what you're saying. But it's also true that penalties can make them [i]appear[/i] even better.
[/quote]

Just to further illustrate this, Ty Law dominating Marvin Harrison in an '04 play-off game led to the league putting more emphasis on the Mel Blount rule. The rule made passing easier for most teams, it helped the top QBs even more.

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1336320989' post='1072780']
Just to further illustrate this, Ty Law dominating Marvin Harrison in an '04 play-off game led to the league putting more emphasis on the Mel Blount rule. The rule made passing easier for most teams, it helped the top QBs even more.
[/quote]were not talking about rule changes, we were talking about brady getting flags that other QBs dont get

[Hjulmann]

It's not gonna end as drastically as what he describes. I do agree, though, the league is getting so soft. I like that someone is finally sticking up for himself.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1336321097' post='1072781']
were not talking about rule changes, we were talking about brady getting flags that other QBs dont get
[/quote]

The flags are a function of rule changes, are they not?

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1336322408' post='1072788']
The flags are a function of rule changes, are they not?
[/quote]we were talking about brady getting a flag for a late hit, while flacco would not... ie that london fletcher one, how does that take away from what brady has done in any way?

Rule changes, yes have helped modern era QBs, but thats not the issue Rbates started.

[The Raven]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1336321097' post='1072781']
were not talking about rule changes, we were talking about brady getting flags that other QBs dont get
[/quote]

either way it's special treatment that comes from incidents involving these premiere players. So, I would argue that it's relevant to the discussion.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1336322598' post='1072790']
we were talking about brady getting a flag for a late hit, while flacco would not... ie that london fletcher one, how does that take away from what brady has done in any way?

Rule changes, yes have helped modern era QBs, but thats not the issue Rbates started.
[/quote]

I quoted The Raven. His last sentence about penalties helping make QB even better was what I was alluding to when I mentioned the "Ty Law rule".

The flag on the Fletcher hit is a call some QBs don't get. Flags like that extend drives. Going back further, would the "Tuck Rule" have been called in favor of a QB not named Brady or Manning? The playing field not being even in terms of rules and when flags are thrown is how one could say some of Brady's accomplishments are less impressive.

[Ravenslifer]

I see where he's coming from - the idea that the constant rule changing to protect the players will eventually turn football into some sort of flag-football or two-hand-touch version. He could be right, but I think eventually the tug of war between playing the game and protecting the players will reach a balance and there won't be this kind of stuff happening on a regular basis in the future.

[GrimCoconut]

I think Goodell primarily wants to end head injuries that can result in repetitive concussions causing long-term neurological problems such as dementia, Parkinson's, etc. I think once they figure out a way to limit those, then we will see a drop-off in this problem. One such way is the evolution of the helmet, which has safer variations to prevent concussions. If this helmet is mandatory, then that right there could cut 50% of concussions and result in safer play thereby eliminating excessive rules to prevent them.

Why the NFL has overlooked something as simple as a new helmet baffles me. As for other injuries on the body, well, that's just football and it's too damn bad. Players in other sports get injured all the time. The only injury that occurs a lot in football is concussions (unless we are talking about MMA or boxing or other, similar sports).

Hopefully the NFL decides to add the safer helmets as part of their mandatory uniform.

[The Raven]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1336330416' post='1072836']
I think Goodell primarily wants to end head injuries that can result in repetitive concussions causing long-term neurological problems such as dementia, Parkinson's, etc. I think once they figure out a way to limit those, then we will see a drop-off in this problem. One such way is the evolution of the helmet, which has safer variations to prevent concussions. If this helmet is mandatory, then that right there could cut 50% of concussions and result in safer play thereby eliminating excessive rules to prevent them.

[b]Why the NFL has overlooked something as simple as a new helmet baffles me[/b]. As for other injuries on the body, well, that's just football and it's too damn bad. Players in other sports get injured all the time. The only injury that occurs a lot in football is concussions (unless we are talking about MMA or boxing or other, similar sports).

Hopefully the NFL decides to add the safer helmets as part of their mandatory uniform.
[/quote]

Why people think that a new helmet will end concussions baffles me.

First, wouldn't you think that the NFL is already using the most advanced and safest helmets available?

And second, there isn't a whole lot a helmet can do to eliminate concussions. Unless the helmet can magically stop your brain from crashing into your skull when you make contact, concussions will not disappear.

[display name]

His comments were just very inappropriate. Not a fan. Also, since when were the Baltimore Ravens the chirping team? We haven't done that a lot in the past, but we've been talking more than usual this offseason.

[The Raven]

[quote name='display name' timestamp='1336332633' post='1072853']
His comments were just very inappropriate. Not a fan. Also, since when were the Baltimore Ravens the chirping team? We haven't done that a lot in the past, but we've been talking more than usual this offseason.
[/quote]

We haven't been talking. Rice has been talking, and Flacco has answered questions from interviews. I don't know what you're talking about..

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1336331879' post='1072843']
Why people think that a new helmet will end concussions baffles me.

First, wouldn't you think that the NFL is already using the most advanced and safest helmets available?

And second, there isn't a whole lot a helmet can do to eliminate concussions. Unless the helmet can magically stop your brain from crashing into your skull when you make contact, concussions will not disappear.
[/quote]
I hope you're joking if you can't understand how an improved helmet can help prevent concussions. If not, perhaps you should actually do some research before you post about things you don't know.

As for your comment about if there was an improved helmet that the NFL would be using it, that is just not true. Off the top of my head, I can remember Aaron Rodgers buying a helmet to help prevent concussions. Guess what? He hasn't had a concussion since.

Furthermore, if you actually read my post you would know I said reduce concussions and not eliminate concussions.

I know I am coming off as abrasive, but a helmet can make a big difference. You just can't discredit how an improved helmet can impact injuries. I can't post references right now because I am on my mobile browser, but I would if I could.

[display name]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1336334444' post='1072865']
[b]We haven't been talking. Rice has been talking,[/b] and Flacco has answered questions from interviews. I don't know what you're talking about..
[/quote]
Kind of contradictory, don't you think? Oh yeah, Mr. Best QB in the NFL!

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='display name' timestamp='1336338127' post='1072897']
Kind of contradictory, don't you think? Oh yeah, Mr. Best QB in the NFL!
[/quote]flacco answered a question, harbugh answered a question; get over [i]<it>[/i]