Life of the SportsGuy

Youthful exuberance and intelligence don’t necessarily go hand in hand.
Football might be the best example of that.
Back in my younger days, those grade school years on through high school, any surface would do when it came to football.
We played games in the middle of the street, and, although we tried to keep those games limited to two-hand touch below the waist, there were times we played tackle football.
Playing tackle football on concrete? Not very smart.
We just wanted to play.
And no matter how long athletes play a sport, the desire to play the game trumps everything.
Even sound reasoning.
Right now, the football world is at quite the crossroads.
There are two camps of thinking on the violence that pervades the sport of football in the modern era.
Football players retired from a career where they experienced numerous concussive blows and those who understand what effect concussive blows have on the future health of athletes are standing on one side.
On the other side, players who will compete, regardless of circumstance, out of love for the game and monetary gain, join members of the NFL hierarchy, which despite its protests, is usually guilty of protecting the football machine rather than looking out for the athlete.
The solution is to introduce actual tackle football principles.
What’s being played these days does not qualify as tackle football.
The modern game could be called impact ball, collision ball, knock out ball or demolition derby.
Tackle football is a term that no longer applies.
Sadly, that state of affairs is not limited to the pro game.
Tackle football doesn’t seem to apply to college, or even high school, football.
Evidence of this condition can be found in many aspects of the game.
Since defenders are supposed to be doing the “tackling,” let’s take a look at that side of the ball.
Offensive players are often seen gaining yards after contact, not because of a broken tackle, but because the defender went for a big hit and came up empty.
Defenders seem to be looking to collide with someone. Tackling doesn’t enter the equasion.
When the big hit works, the offensive player, defensive player, or both, are often times worse for the wear.
When the big hit doesn’t work, a big play usually happens for the offense.
In addition to losing sight of actual tackle football skills, players are also making up for mistakes by using concussive force.
When covering a receiver, if a defender is beaten, instead of giving up the catch and making a tackle, that defender makes up for his mistake by trying to knock the receiver senseless in the hopes that he will drop the ball.
Some call this technique separating the ball from the receiver.
I call it cowardice.
Hitting a receiver whose eyes are focused on the ball is no different than taking out the punter while his leg is still in the air.
The latter is a penalty. Shouldn’t the former be illegal as well?
In addition, there are unnecessary hits or concussive blows delivered with the sole intent of intimidation or injury.
Players are often hit when they are not involved in the play.
Why is it necessary to hit someone who can not impact the final result of the play?
Quarterbacks receive crippling blind side hits.
What is to be gained from blindside blasting the quarterback when the defender could just as easily come under control and make a tackle?
In both instances, the answer is simple.
Those kinds of hits are meant to intimidate and injure.
Get back to the basics of tackle football.
Actually tackle people.
Actually defend receivers.
The NFL can lead the way in this area. They can make demands on players through the rule book.
It’s already happened.
At one time, it was considered a good technique for a defensive lineman to slap the head of an offensive lineman on every play in the hopes that repeated concussive impact would make it easier for the defender to beat his man and get to the ball.
That move is illegal.
Rule 12, section 2, article 1 of the NFL rule book, states that striking or clubbing to the head, neck, or face with the heel, back, or side of the hand, wrist, arm, elbow, or clasped hands is illegal.
We know that rules can be developed which severly punish players who engage in gladiator tactics to win battles on the gridiron.
And these rules must be adopted soon.
We have reached the point where the pads and helmets players use in games are intended to lesson the chance of injury because of what is going to happen.
Pads and helmets should be protecting players from what might happen.
Football is a rugged enough game already without introducing non-football skills and unnecessary concussive impacts to the game.
The equipment even encourages players to use caution by reminding them that helmets and pads can not prevent injuries.
It is up to football coaches, colleges and pro institutions to make sure that, while football will always be dangerous, is must cease to be a blood sport.