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Football's core problem is still denial that this is an issue. Until that happens, real, concrete steps won't be taken to address it. Here are a few suggestions

Football's core problem is still denial that this is an issue. Until that happens, real, concrete steps won't be taken to address it. Here are a few suggestions: 1) No tackle football before a certain age (to be determined by scientists based on brain development and how damaging a concussion would be). You can learn a ton about football, running routes, learning plays, getting in shape, etc. without hitting people. 2) Ban hitting. Everything should be a wrap around tackle. No more players running full speed and launching themselves into other players. Look at how few players actually try to tackle people. 3). Put padding on the outside of helmets and maybe shoulder pads. Current helmets are not doing nearly a good enough job of slowing down energy. They are designed to protect against fractures, but future football equipment should be designed to slow down impacts. 4) Make neutral zone a few yards long. Much of the worst blows happen to linemen who fire off into each other, particularly on running plays. While big hits get the most notice, it is actually those who are suffering routine head blows that are at the most risk. 5) Ban the quarterback sneak and any other similar play where linemen dive into each other in short yardage situations. 6) Ban players for unsafe hits. 15-yard penalties are not nearly enough for something that could cause someone to die very young. 7) Ban players for PEDs. Steroids and HGH permanently alter your physiology. PEDs are making players unnaturally big, strong and fast. Suspensions are not enough, because even if a player stops doing them, he may have made himself unnaturally big, strong and fast. 8) Allow defensive backs to hand check and other ways of playing defense that don't revolve around big hits. The passing game has exploded in the NFL, partly because it's so hard to defend against receivers. Receivers get more separation these days. Allowing hand checking closes separation and would limit the amount of passing.

cratermoon 9y ago
> Ban players for PEDs .... Suspensions are not enough, because even if a player stops doing them, he may have made himself unnaturally big, strong and fast. This is really insightful. I don't know much about HGH but I know steroid use is something that a guy can do for a while, gain muscle and size, and stop, and yes, some of that size will go away, but there's a base that will never go away. That's a fact a lot of folks don't know, that steroids have permanent effects. The sport may catch a guy cycling and suspend him for a few games or a season, but it doesn't matter. He's already gotten growth that he can then build on without PEDs, and gotten an advantage over guys who never use steroids.
- hkmurakami 9y ago
  The problem is that you'll still be paid before getting banned. This is the problem cycling and other PED rampant sports face. You can take away the medals but you can't take away their money and you can't take away the fact that they've enjoyed their fame while it lasted
  - Bartweiss 9y ago
    Sure, but you can probably make the sport a bit safer. In cycling or tennis, the lasting effect of PED use (after stopping) is being more competitive. In football, the lasting effect is being more dangerous to other players on the field. That's a huge distinction.
    - hkmurakami 9y ago
      But even if you make the penalty a ban, players are still incentivizing to try to cheat the system because they'll get paid. You have to take away both the financial and glory rewards of PEDs
      - differentView 9y ago
        They lose money when they're banned.
        hkmurakami 9y ago
        More often than not, they wouldn't be able to make the first batch of money without the aid of PEDs. This is pressure that even MLB minor league players face.
        Bartweiss 9y ago
        This seems like an almost irreducible problem. For existing players, the risk of consequences is a deterrent. For prospective players, the risk is worthwhile for anyone who wouldn't be drafted without PEDs.
ksenzee 9y ago
> 15-year penalties are not nearly enough A 15-year penalty seems like it would be plenty... oh, you meant 15-yard. Yes. Agreed.
- pwthornton 9y ago
  15-year might be more fitting! Fixed.
koolba 9y ago
> 1) No tackle football before a certain age (to be determined by scientists based on brain development and how damaging a concussion would be). You can learn a ton about football, running routes, learning plays, getting in shape, etc. without hitting people. Good luck enforcing this with kids. We played flag football in school but full tackle with zero supervision after school in the park. > 2) Ban hitting. Everything should be a wrap around tackle. No more players running full speed and launching themselves into other players. Look at how few players actually try to tackle people. I get what you're going after but it's tricky when you're dealing with the boundaries. How do you push a guy out of bounds without "hitting" him? > 3). Put padding on the outside of helmets and maybe shoulder pads. Current helmets are not doing nearly a good enough job of slowing down energy. They are designed to protect against fractures, but future football equipment should be designed to slow down impacts. I see no issue with this. If it's proven to be safer than I'm sure people would switch to it. Maybe pitch it to Riddell. > 4) Make neutral zone a few yards long. Much of the worst blows happen to linemen who fire off into each other, particularly on running plays. While big hits get the most notice, it is actually those who are suffering routine head blows that are at the most risk. This would substantially change the mechanics of the game. I'm not sure if it would be more or less fun but it's be a wildly different game. Imagine the difference a speed player would have if there's an added 3-5 yard gap between the starting lines. > 5) Ban the quarterback sneak and any other similar play where linemen dive into each other in short yardage situations. The end zone plays would be different indeed. Also, no more superman shots of Cam. > 6) Ban players for unsafe hits. 15-yard penalties are not nearly enough for something that could cause someone to die very young. +1 It should be immediate and permanent if it's intentional. Accidental unsafe hits should result in an ejection . Bonus points if the crowd boos the player who committed the hit. > 7) Ban players for PEDs. Steroids and HGH permanently alter your physiology. PEDs are making players unnaturally big, strong and fast. Suspensions are not enough, because even if a player stops doing them, he may have made himself unnaturally big, strong and fast. +1 I find it hilarious that doping doesn't result in permanent bans. > 8) Allow defensive backs to hand check and other ways of playing defense that don't revolve around big hits. The passing game has exploded in the NFL, partly because it's so hard to defend against receivers. Receivers get more separation these days. Allowing hand checking closes separation and would limit the amount of passing. I have to think this one through further. It's hard to imagine a situation where you can take down a power running back that doesn't involve something like a hit. The truly power RBs are like tanks and the site of one dragging multiple defense players into the end zone is an amazing site.
hondo77 9y ago
> 7) Ban players for PEDs. Interesting that Americans do not care about PED use in their sports. Oh, they'll feign horror when a cyclist or an Olympic athlete tests positive but have no problem with the unnatural size and strength gains in the NFL or that drug testing in the major sports like baseball and football is a joke or that PED use has long-term bad health effects (including suicide). But concussions! That's not safe! Not sure why, just an observation.
- Consultant32452 9y ago
  In my opinion we'd be far better off just accepting that virtually every player at the top level of every sport is using PEDs. Chess players even use PEDs. And it's not just in the US. We acknowledge prohibition doesn't work for pot, why in the world do we pretend it will work when fame and fortune are at stake? Give up that ghost and act accordingly with the other rules of sports.

cratermoon 9y ago

> Ban players for PEDs .... Suspensions are not enough, because even if a player stops doing them, he may have made himself unnaturally big, strong and fast. This is really insightful. I don't know much about HGH but I know steroid use is something that a guy can do for a while, gain muscle and size, and stop, and yes, some of that size will go away, but there's a base that will never go away. That's a fact a lot of folks don't know, that steroids have permanent effects. The sport may catch a guy cycling and suspend him for a few games or a season, but it doesn't matter. He's already gotten growth that he can then build on without PEDs, and gotten an advantage over guys who never use steroids.

hkmurakami 9y ago
The problem is that you'll still be paid before getting banned. This is the problem cycling and other PED rampant sports face. You can take away the medals but you can't take away their money and you can't take away the fact that they've enjoyed their fame while it lasted
- Bartweiss 9y ago
  Sure, but you can probably make the sport a bit safer. In cycling or tennis, the lasting effect of PED use (after stopping) is being more competitive. In football, the lasting effect is being more dangerous to other players on the field. That's a huge distinction.
  - hkmurakami 9y ago
    But even if you make the penalty a ban, players are still incentivizing to try to cheat the system because they'll get paid. You have to take away both the financial and glory rewards of PEDs
    - differentView 9y ago
      They lose money when they're banned.
      - hkmurakami 9y ago
        More often than not, they wouldn't be able to make the first batch of money without the aid of PEDs. This is pressure that even MLB minor league players face.
        Bartweiss 9y ago
        This seems like an almost irreducible problem. For existing players, the risk of consequences is a deterrent. For prospective players, the risk is worthwhile for anyone who wouldn't be drafted without PEDs.

ksenzee 9y ago

> 15-year penalties are not nearly enough A 15-year penalty seems like it would be plenty... oh, you meant 15-yard. Yes. Agreed.

pwthornton 9y ago
15-year might be more fitting! Fixed.

koolba 9y ago

> 1) No tackle football before a certain age (to be determined by scientists based on brain development and how damaging a concussion would be). You can learn a ton about football, running routes, learning plays, getting in shape, etc. without hitting people. Good luck enforcing this with kids. We played flag football in school but full tackle with zero supervision after school in the park. > 2) Ban hitting. Everything should be a wrap around tackle. No more players running full speed and launching themselves into other players. Look at how few players actually try to tackle people. I get what you're going after but it's tricky when you're dealing with the boundaries. How do you push a guy out of bounds without "hitting" him? > 3). Put padding on the outside of helmets and maybe shoulder pads. Current helmets are not doing nearly a good enough job of slowing down energy. They are designed to protect against fractures, but future football equipment should be designed to slow down impacts. I see no issue with this. If it's proven to be safer than I'm sure people would switch to it. Maybe pitch it to Riddell. > 4) Make neutral zone a few yards long. Much of the worst blows happen to linemen who fire off into each other, particularly on running plays. While big hits get the most notice, it is actually those who are suffering routine head blows that are at the most risk. This would substantially change the mechanics of the game. I'm not sure if it would be more or less fun but it's be a wildly different game. Imagine the difference a speed player would have if there's an added 3-5 yard gap between the starting lines. > 5) Ban the quarterback sneak and any other similar play where linemen dive into each other in short yardage situations. The end zone plays would be different indeed. Also, no more superman shots of Cam. > 6) Ban players for unsafe hits. 15-yard penalties are not nearly enough for something that could cause someone to die very young. +1 It should be immediate and permanent if it's intentional. Accidental unsafe hits should result in an ejection . Bonus points if the crowd boos the player who committed the hit. > 7) Ban players for PEDs. Steroids and HGH permanently alter your physiology. PEDs are making players unnaturally big, strong and fast. Suspensions are not enough, because even if a player stops doing them, he may have made himself unnaturally big, strong and fast. +1 I find it hilarious that doping doesn't result in permanent bans. > 8) Allow defensive backs to hand check and other ways of playing defense that don't revolve around big hits. The passing game has exploded in the NFL, partly because it's so hard to defend against receivers. Receivers get more separation these days. Allowing hand checking closes separation and would limit the amount of passing. I have to think this one through further. It's hard to imagine a situation where you can take down a power running back that doesn't involve something like a hit. The truly power RBs are like tanks and the site of one dragging multiple defense players into the end zone is an amazing site.

hondo77 9y ago

> 7) Ban players for PEDs. Interesting that Americans do not care about PED use in their sports. Oh, they'll feign horror when a cyclist or an Olympic athlete tests positive but have no problem with the unnatural size and strength gains in the NFL or that drug testing in the major sports like baseball and football is a joke or that PED use has long-term bad health effects (including suicide). But concussions! That's not safe! Not sure why, just an observation.

Consultant32452 9y ago
In my opinion we'd be far better off just accepting that virtually every player at the top level of every sport is using PEDs. Chess players even use PEDs. And it's not just in the US. We acknowledge prohibition doesn't work for pot, why in the world do we pretend it will work when fame and fortune are at stake? Give up that ghost and act accordingly with the other rules of sports.