Troy Polamalu Says Players Should Vote On Rules

[BALTIMOREFLACCO]

First time in my life I agree with a Steeler. I think TP is completely right here. Players are getting paid millions of dollars, they know the risks of playing this game. Obviously there are certain things they can do to make it safer, but once you're interfering with the way the game is played it becomes a problem.



[quote][color=#000000][font=Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif][size=4]We’re professional athletes, so we can adjust, but we grow up understanding instinctively how to play the game of football, and it’s really hard to say, ‘OK, eventually I’m not going to be able to use my head, or wrap with my arms’ or whatever it may be,” Polamalu said. “I think you can only do so much to the game before you really start to change the essence of our sport. Our sport is not made for anybody to be able to play it, especially at the NFL level, so there’s obviously some risk that we all take knowingly.[/size][/font][/color][size=4][/quote][/size]


[quote][color=#000000][font=Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif][size=4]“Football is a very physical sport, and a lot of what separates the good from the great [is] the ability to receive contact, to give contact, to overcome the mental block of injury when you have contact,” Polamalu said. “I understand that they want the sport to be safer but eventually you’re going to start to take away from the essence of this game and it’s not really going to be the football that we all love and have a passion for.”[/size][/font][/color][size=4][/quote][/size]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/03/29/polamalu-says-players-should-have-a-vote-in-rule-changes/

[Gordo52]

I totally forgot all about him lol.

But yeah, he makes some sense here.

[RavensAllTheWay]

I like his idea, but the problem is that players across the league play football under these new rules anyway, whether they like them (or follow them) or not. So the NFL isn't going to allow for a vote as long as the NFLPA and players across the league don't take drastic action.

[hawkprey]

The players aren't the ones who have to pay lawsuits. It's not about who wants it to be a physical game and who doesn't. Football is changing because the legal world is changing. Rule changes are business decisions, not football ones.

[display name]

I'm with you Troy.
Let's see their opinions on the helmet stuff.

[arnie_uk]

If one person voted for The safety rules the NFL would have no case to defend themselves against future law suits.

[berad]

They can vote as long as no former players will turn around and sue the league...

That's the ultimate motive behind these safety rules, along with the public hesitation about 'allowing their sons to play'

[K-Dog]

Its interesting.
I kinda agree, but not completely.

My thought process is significantly different now at age 43 than it was at 23.
I have a heaping case if "If I knew then what I do now "

Not all, but many 23 year olds feel like they are indestructible, and to an extent they really are. I can see the voting being significantly different with the older players who are dealing with lingering issues as opposed to younger players who bounce right back hit after hit, not realizing despite no immediate issues, damage could be done long term.

[Moderator 2]

[quote name='K-Dog' timestamp='1364605134' post='1419906']
Its interesting.
I kinda agree, but not completely.

My thought process is significantly different now at age 43 than it was at 23.
I have a heaping case if "If I knew then what I do now "

Not all, but many 23 year olds feel like they are indestructible, and to an extent they really are. I can see the voting being significantly different with the older players who are dealing with lingering issues as opposed to younger players who bounce right back hit after hit, not realizing despite no immediate issues, damage could be done long term.
[/quote]I totally agree-- I would not need a knee replacement lol The pop some advil and tape it up mentality catches up with you.

[marylandmike12]

sounds interesting but will not happen with goddell.