Football (american football to those across the pond!)

[Parson]

Cul,

I agree. I think way too much emphasis is put on winning the Super Bowl. Some of the best QB's ever did not/have not won it, while some who were mediocre or just a little better than that have won it. (Dan Marino in the first category and Terry Bradshaw in the second.) I think a lot more emphasis should be placed on career numbers, and a lot less on "winning the big games."

[Wiggum]

Well, this sucks.

Anyone in the know want to clarify my understanding that has been gleaned from soundbites and partisans?

The decertification, lockout and pending judicial decision make sense to me, but the stance of the NFLPA doesn't.

The financials that the owners offered for the previous 5 years...are those just for selective clubs, or all 32 teams?

If it's all 32, then I don't understand the problem with the owners not giving up the 10 that the NFLPA is asking for.

The 18 game season was never even presented by owners.

The split of the financial pot would even to 50% in four years, with a $20mil/team increase per year in salary cap.

A rookie wage scale benefits both parties.

I feel weird saying this, but from all I can tell, the owner's actually ponied up a decent offer.

Am I missing something?

[pyan]

For what it's worth, I'm a subscriber to the official NFL website, and here's an email I received yesterday from Commissioner Goodell :

Dear NFL Fan,

When I wrote to you last on behalf of the NFL, we promised you that we would work tirelessly to find a collectively bargained solution to our differences with the players' union. Subsequent to that letter to you, we agreed that the fastest way to a fair agreement was for everyone to work together through a mediation process. For the last three weeks I have personally attended every session of mediation, which is a process our clubs sincerely believe in.

Unfortunately, I have to tell you that earlier today the players' union walked away from mediation and collective bargaining and has initiated litigation against the clubs. In an effort to get a fair agreement now, our clubs offered a deal today that was, among other things, designed to have no adverse financial impact on veteran players in the early years, and would have met the players’ financial demands in the latter years of the agreement.

The proposal we made included an offer to narrow the player compensation gap that existed in the negotiations by splitting the difference; guarantee a reallocation of savings from first-round rookies to veterans and retirees without negatively affecting compensation for rounds 2-7; no compensation reduction for veterans; implement new year-round health and safety rules; retain the current 16-4 season format for at least two years with any subsequent changes subject to the approval of the league and union; and establish a new legacy fund for retired players ($82 million contributed by the owners over the next two years).

It was a deal that offered compromise, and would have ensured the well-being of our players and guaranteed the long-term future for the fans of the great game we all love so much. It was a deal where everyone would prosper.

We remain committed to collective bargaining and the federal mediation process until an agreement is reached, and call on the union to return to negotiations immediately. NFL players, clubs, and fans want an agreement. The only place it can be reached is at the bargaining table.

While we are disappointed with the union's actions, we remain steadfastly committed to reaching an agreement that serves the best interest of NFL players, clubs and fans, and thank you for your continued support of our League. First and foremost it is your passion for the game that drives us all, and we will not lose sight of this as we continue to work for a deal that works for everyone.


Yours,
Roger Goodell

[Culhwch]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/67...e=NFLHeadlines

Finally!

[Parson]

Hooray! Hooray!!

[reiver33]

I'm hanging by the phone, waiting for that call...

Hey, I picked up all the injuries over the years to be a veteran QB! Bad knees, torn ligaments in both ankles, broken elbow, broken collarbone, cracked ribs, torn shoulder muscles, concussed a couple of times and electrocuted twice. OK so maybe that last bit doesn't count, but I figure some players must have been struck by lightning at some point...

Go Jets!

[Parson]

I think the Farve watch will soon be supplanted by the Reiver 33 watch. --- But 33 is a running back number, perhaps an O.J. watch?

[reiver33]

Hey, I don't mind running! I grew up playing rugby, without all them fancy pads and helmet (hence one concussion)...

[Parson]

There are those who say that a lot of the fancy equipment, especially the helmets create more injuries than they cause. (I'm not one of them though I see the logic of what they are trying to say.)

It is beginning to look like the whole area of concussions has been seriously underestimated at all levels of football, and they are coming to be seen as more and more serious instead of just a minor "He got his bell rung." as coaches often refer to them.

[J-Sun]

Originally Posted by Parson

There are those who say that a lot of the fancy equipment, especially the helmets create more injuries than they cause. (I'm not one of them though I see the logic of what they are trying to say.)

I also see it, but also don't buy it.

What I think it is is (1) the inappropriate use (or poor design) of the equipment. The helmet doesn't do any good if it's worn so loosely (or so poorly designed) that it pops off at the slightest provocation - what's it doing even when it stays on? In the last few years I've seen more players lose their hats than in my entire life of football watching before. And (2) poor coaching and poor technique. Almost nobody knows how to tackle anymore (or demonstrates that they do), even at (or especially at?) the professional level. Poor technique == poor body position == injuries. Helmets in the air and not on heads (or wobbling around on heads if they stay on - or being on so tight there's no shock absorption) == concussions.

And really, no decent people want other humans being hurt and owners definitely don't want multi-million dollar investments damaged but injuries have been, are, and always will be part of the game as long as it's still truly football. I hope we don't end up doing the equivalent of putting a 35 MPH speed limit on Charlotte Motor Speedway to limit accidents. Though we do want to limit accidents, that wouldn't make much sense.

-- Just realized what I said might not seem to make much sense: when you said you didn't buy helmets as a cause of injury and I said I agreed and then proceeded to talk about helmets being a cause of injury. I assumed you meant the 'helmet as a weapon' logic and then I was discussing the 'modern helmet as a faulty defense' theory.

[Parson]

[QUOTE=J-Sun;1518274
-- Just realized what I said might not seem to make much sense: when you said you didn't buy helmets as a cause of injury and I said I agreed and then proceeded to talk about helmets being a cause of injury. I assumed you meant the 'helmet as a weapon' logic and then I was discussing the 'modern helmet as a faulty defense' theory.[/QUOTE]

Your assumption was correct, and I understood your direction from the beginning.

[Culhwch]

Well, it's been a frantic start to free agency. How are everyone's team going?

My Saints have made some interesting moves. Trading Bush wasn't really a surprise, though I did think he might stay. In the end, although he played a very specialised and relatively important role in the offense, the price tag never matched the production. I see we've just picked up Darren Sproles, who is pretty much a Reggie Bush Lite, and I figure he'll take on the returning duties and act as a pass-catching back, although Pierre Thomas is also more than capable filling the latter role. I still think Thomas is amongst the best in the NFL at taking a screen pass out of the backfield and making something big happen.

I'd have liked the Saints to add a high-end LB, but it doesn't look like they're going down that path. Still need to add a DT as well.

I was surprised to see Haynesworth and Ocho Cinco go to the Pats, and I really hope Kolb tears it up in Arizona. More than anything I just can't wait for games to start!!

[Cayal]

We signed Hasselbeck, happy with that. He'll be good for Jake Locker.

[Parson]

Donavan McNabb to the Vikes? What's this? ---- I'd like to think a sage move, but am more inclined to think that it means another year of mediocre or worse results. Especially with Sidney Rice signing with the Seattle --- to join Tavaris Jackson???? Now the Vikings find the cupboard Barrien.

[Grimward]

Have to think my Skins will have a defense this year. Now if they can only get a first down once in a while.....