I post very infrequently, but check in almost every single day.

I think most of us who have been Steeler fans through the years have a nostalgia for physical football. A lot of us feel that the rule changes are taking away the basics of a game we all love. The NFL is a cash cow that from a fan's perspective doesn't much altering. But how do you deal with the current and impending lawsuits from concussions that could threaten the game years down the road?

I guess my question to you all is:
If you were in charge with balancing the present and future of the game, what would you do differently/same than Goodell?

(Someone on the board had a great insight on the NFL Network not showing old games..... that he is trying to erase the history of the game ... very Orwellian)

For starters....I wouldn't have pussified it.

For all the pussifying, I don't see a drop in fans...either here or elsewhere.

The people have spoken with their wallets.

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Crescat scientia; vita excolatur

Always continue to look at equipment, and maybe even harder than ever before. I'd also toy with the idea of going the other direction on helmets (and possibly removing the face masks) - players are far less likely to lead with and use the helmet as a weapon if they don't feel like they have a tank around their noggin.

And to me the #1 contributing factor is bigger, stronger, faster brought on by the use of 'roids, HgH and other ped's. The testing is kind of a joke, and the penalties are an even bigger joke. The NFL wants it's players on the field and they know bigger, strong, faster sells...so they ignore the obvious. Yep, the CBA is going to resist, but I'd implement the absolute best tests and most stringent/invasive testing out there. Ideally it'd be a 1-strike and you're out policy, but realistically it would be 1yr and second offense is a lifetime ban.

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Sorry my life is so much more bitchin' than yours. I planned it that way.

Been on this wagon for 3 years. Removing facemasks will eliminate the leading with the head as players tend to not like getting their faces bashed in.



Funny how segregation was pretty damn popular back in the day. I guess since everyone is cool with it, we should just continue down the same path

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I'm sick of hearing 'bout the have and have-not's
Have some personal accountability
The biggest problem with the way that we are doing things is
The more we let you have, the less that I'll be keeping for me

For the older, retired players who gave their bodies for the sport but can't get health coverage now...take care of them for building the foundation that today's success is built upon. The NFL isn't hurting for money, do what's right. What is not right is to make a big dog and pony show once it's found out that you're covering up the effects of concussions and creating a bunch of arbitrary, inconsistently applied rules as a pre-emptive strike against lawsuits.



You want to reduce concussions, how about making wearing your freaking mouthpiece mandatory? You've got a whole bunch of guys running around not wearing one because it doesn't look good then wonder why their brains are scrambled when they get blasted coming over the middle.

That's too easy, instead punish defensive players for not hitting offensive players perfectly enough and get higher scoring games as a by product. Most casual fans don't know anything about the sport but they understand points being scored.

Legislate that players wear the newer helmets designed to guard against concussion instead of the old style one that's less effective. But nooooo

Sterling Sharpe talked a couple of years back about WR running through their zones into contact instead of learning to sit down in the open spaces. The penalty for that is getting lit the fuck up. Leave it alone.

How about penalizing QBs for jeopardizing the safety of their wide receivers by throwing high or off target passes instead of penalizing defenders for doing their jobs in trying to prevent receptions. The penalty for that is also getting lit the fuck up and then going back and telling your QB that if you want me to help you out, don't get me killed.

In short do away with most of these penalties. There was already inherent punishment for ball carriers who duck their head into contact, QBs who can't avoid the rush or can't be on target or can't read their defense, and WR who run shitty routes.

Penalties for tackling too hard or putting your full weight on a QB are utter and complete bullshit.

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The only things that matter to me are: Wins, Losses, Rings - FC

Since the start of the 2008 season, the Steelers percentage of designed rush plays has declined from a high of 46.4 percent of their plays in 2010 to 39.6 last season. - Chris Mortensen

I just started the slow clap.

Well said.

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Post of the year potential right there!

Jaxboro....thanks for a great post.
Kodiak, you mentioned drugs, and I think that is huge influencing factor in some of the brain injuries. The size and speed these guys move at is incredible.

When I posed this question, I hadn't found out about Jr Seau, but was more influenced by the bounty gate penalties that came down. Sometimes it's easy to forget the guys that play this game are human, and the entertainment we pay for, is paid by them years later. I don't think this is a matter of pussifying the sport, rather what's ethically right

There is hypocrisy of the NFLPA and NFL.... I'd ask you guys:
Do you think Goodell/NFLPA should make stiffer drug penalties?
------Do you think the modern game can be played without HGH?
Why aren't they creating rules that enhance the safety of the players?

With all of this in mind, Brees got a free 15-yards for an incomplete pass on third down because Aaron Smith fell by his feet and happened to brush a shoe.

Ben got a 6-game suspension (lowered to 4 for PR reasons only), for being accused and not convicted of a personal public perception of allegations that had no meat, and not even made by the supposed victim but by her friends to a website. Yet people think Goodell rules have any justifications in any activities other than media announcements.

Shut the front door and get a fucking cup of coffee before you think everything Goodell has anything to do with the crime. Jesus Christ he's so transparent.!!!