The more we learn about the long term effects of even "mild" concussions the harder it is to see just how football can effectively deal with this problem.
First of all I think deliberate helmet to helmet hits need to be banned period, not just against "defenseless" players. Secondly, better protective gear needs to be developed. Thirdly, NFL programs need to stop showing us these plays continuously, eliminating the incentive to make the highlights by crippling someone.
I remember hearing an interview with one of the doctors who worked on a long term study of head injuries for the NFL. He said he used to be a huge football fan, but now, after seeing how much damage is done over years of hits, he can't even watch the game anymore. With the size, speed and power of today's players the NFL needs to step up it's game or we'll find ourselves back in the very early days of leather and no-helmet football when fatalities on the field were common enough to give players the reputation of thugs.

How is it different from boxing? I say let them hit each other. It's not guaranteed that you'll get contact like that, but it's a risk you take when you sign to get the big bucks. A lot of these guys had the opportunity to graduate from good schools they might not have had the chance to attend. The parents should line up their kids to make the right choices, and schools should complement or even facilitate those types of discussions. Let's not get carried away and think that we should regulate too many aspects of society. I read an article yesterday that mentioned a provision in the new health care bill that requires small businesses to have a separate area for nursing mothers to breastfeed their children.

Pay me the minimum $430,000 salary and beat the crap out of me! I will take that risk! Pampered millionaires!

If ice hockey can take steps to take the goons out, the NFL can certainly take similar action.

This is very different from boxing. Boxing is one-on-one. If you get blindsided in a ring, you probably didn't have too many marbles in the first place.

If your notion is player's health doesn't matter because of the money they make (or any other questionable reasoning), then let them get 'roided-up as well. Allow face-masking and clipping, too. And horse collars, too. And no more of all this fuss about things happening after the whistle blows. If the players want to duke it out rather than return to their huddle, let 'em.

Bring back the arm bar. Heck, let the receivers and corner backs gouge either other's eyes out as the ball is descending upon them. If you're gonna double-team a receiver, really double-team them. Don't just let them hover in the area.

Where's the bloodshed with that silly fair catch nonsense? And what's with wearing all that equipment, too? Pads are for women.

Maybe we can bulldoze the corpses into one mass grave in Canton.

On the other hand, this is very easy to regulate. Blindside somebody who doesn't have the ball -- we've got something yellow for you. Or a pink slip. Want to launch yourself? Yellow and pink. Helmet to helmet? Yellow. Maybe pink.

Yeah, that "Jacked-up!" segment ESPN had a couple years ago brought in the "Jack Ass" element into football. "America's Funniest Videos" with a side order of paramedics. Oh, that's more fun than Peyton Manning throwing or Larry Fitzgerald receiving or Ed Reed intercepting or Chris Johnson breaking free.

Right. In a pig's eye.

One would have thought the hit on Darryl Stingley, in a pre-season game, would have been sufficient to come up with such a policy more than 30 years ago.

Liquor in the morning is rarely a good thing.

"I like a good beer buzz early in the morning" C Crow. Inge resigns with tigers, thank goodness!

ON THE ORIOLES:

here is a nice blog from baseball reference explaining how Cesar Izturis was quite possibly the least valuable player in all of baseball in 2010.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/8798

Pete,

Welcome to my bandwagon, you were invited some two years ago, but as they say better late than never.

Signing free agents, is more than just deciding today you want to spend some money. You have to convince the player you are in the game for the long-term and you can offer the player a winning environment. Money is great but any decent player can get good money from 7-8 teams.

So even if we don't land Lee, or Crawford, we can land Konerko, Dunn and Pavano and get into the hunt. PA spent money on Joey "Albert" Bell and then lost his wallet. Then several years later he sign MIggy, Raffy and Javy and then lost his wallet again.

Consistent Committment is the signal we need to send.

Most on the mark article written in some time. Great job Pete!

Go O's

The truth will set you free!