4 ms·

Also, the NFL uses College and High School Football as free development leagues. If HS and CFB didn't exist, where would the NFL get their players?

imglorp 9y ago
This point is critically important because TBI in developing brains is especially disastrous with lifetime implications. This isn't a risk/reward discussion because TBI's are basically everyone if they're playing hard. So there's guaranteed downsides. Children should not be doing this, ever. http://www.biausa.org/brain-injury-children.htm#recovery http://www.biausa.org/brain-injury-children.htm#recovery
Brendinooo 9y ago
This...doesn't quite compute to me. Professional football was born out of amateur athletic clubs and college clubs. The lack of a development league for the NFL is lamentable for a few reasons, but I don't think it's insidious that people play for free then get the attention of the NFL, if only because most people play football because they enjoy the sport. If HS and CFB didn't exist, there would be no NFL, because it would mean that everyone stopped caring about football. (Disclosure: I live near Pittsburgh; even though I never played, the sport runs deep in the roots of the area!)
- dhimes 9y ago
  They need to get the college sports off of national TV and set up a farm team system. But that's a debate for another time probably.
  - PacketPaul 9y ago
    College football is more popular than the NFL. Every game is critically important in college which adds to the excitement. Pro's you can lose a few and still make the SuperBowl. The RedSkins can't fill their stadium in a major market. Try to get Alabama tickets ... or NotreDame ... or Penn State all in minuscule markets.
    - dhimes 9y ago
      I don't know about data on popularity, but now college football has a playoff system too so they can bounce back from a loss (but probably only one). Years ago the Redskins always filled- they've just sucked for so long people find better things to do with their Sundays (disclaimer-am a fan from long time back). The Patriots on the other hand now fill their stadium (I live in the Boston area now). They didn't use to do that. So it may depend on how well the team is doing. EDIT: Except for Tennessee. Those fans are crazy.
    - Touche 9y ago
      NFL tv ratings dwarf college though.

imglorp 9y ago

This point is critically important because TBI in developing brains is especially disastrous with lifetime implications. This isn't a risk/reward discussion because TBI's are basically everyone if they're playing hard. So there's guaranteed downsides. Children should not be doing this, ever. http://www.biausa.org/brain-injury-children.htm#recovery http://www.biausa.org/brain-injury-children.htm#recovery

Brendinooo 9y ago

This...doesn't quite compute to me. Professional football was born out of amateur athletic clubs and college clubs. The lack of a development league for the NFL is lamentable for a few reasons, but I don't think it's insidious that people play for free then get the attention of the NFL, if only because most people play football because they enjoy the sport. If HS and CFB didn't exist, there would be no NFL, because it would mean that everyone stopped caring about football. (Disclosure: I live near Pittsburgh; even though I never played, the sport runs deep in the roots of the area!)

dhimes 9y ago
They need to get the college sports off of national TV and set up a farm team system. But that's a debate for another time probably.
- PacketPaul 9y ago
  College football is more popular than the NFL. Every game is critically important in college which adds to the excitement. Pro's you can lose a few and still make the SuperBowl. The RedSkins can't fill their stadium in a major market. Try to get Alabama tickets ... or NotreDame ... or Penn State all in minuscule markets.
  - dhimes 9y ago
    I don't know about data on popularity, but now college football has a playoff system too so they can bounce back from a loss (but probably only one). Years ago the Redskins always filled- they've just sucked for so long people find better things to do with their Sundays (disclaimer-am a fan from long time back). The Patriots on the other hand now fill their stadium (I live in the Boston area now). They didn't use to do that. So it may depend on how well the team is doing. EDIT: Except for Tennessee. Those fans are crazy.
  - Touche 9y ago
    NFL tv ratings dwarf college though.