NFL Injuries. How about weight limits? | FerrariChat
Buy

NFL Injuries. How about weight limits?

Discussion in 'Sports' started by tundraphile, Jan 30, 2013.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. tundraphile

    tundraphile F1 Veteran

    May 16, 2007
    5,083
    Missouri
    #1 tundraphile, Jan 30, 2013
    As it is now, NFL players have to balance their ability to maintain speed while also becoming as big and strong as they can. Different positions require a different balance. A free safety must be more speed while a center has to be as big as possible.

    Serious injuries are now more prevalent. Not just the Joe Theisman broken leg type, but also the lifelong brain injuries, not to mention the toll 20 years of trying to maintain huge muscle mass takes on your cardio system. It is a known fact that NFL players have an average lifespan much shorter than a normal man.

    Everyone but heavyweight wrestlers have to maintain weight. Effectively, the NFL players are all heavyweight wrestlers. We are reaching a point where they are so big, and so fast, conventional pads will not protect them. Encase the players in padding and they slow down and the game suffers. Or leave them as now and the stars are hurt all the time and the game suffers.

    Imagine what would amount to a major shift in thinking within the NFL, players have weight limits by position.
    For example:
    Linemen: 300#
    RB: 250#
    LB: 250#
    CB & Safety: 200#
    QB: 250#
    WR: 200#
    TE: 250#

    Just a thought I had.
     
  2. Whisky

    Whisky Three Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jan 27, 2006
    31,911
    In the flight path to Offutt
    Full Name:
    The original Fernando
    #2 Whisky, Jan 30, 2013
    Sorry, but not a good idea.
    In wrestling you have several weight classes - including 'unlimited', IIRC.

    First off, discriminatory as hell - I'd sue - and win.

    I still like the idea of no helmets, but that will never happen.

    One thing I was thinking was that
    A) all (defensive) players need to lineup within 5 yards (deep) of the line of scrimmage, and along with that:

    B) all players on defense must line up within 5 yards (either on or laterally) of a player on offense if that player is on the line of scrimmage. That would mean you could not have a defensive guy on the line of scrimmage in the slot with nobody near him.
    The one exception is if the offense has a RB 7 yards in the backfield then the defense can have one guy 7 yards back, etc.

    That would end the running starts defensive players have on guys running slants and posts.

    It would also kill or end the careers of the Safeties such as Ed Reed...
     
  3. Face76

    Face76 F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Aug 21, 2006
    13,497
    The Other Oz
    Full Name:
    M Wilborn
    #3 Face76, Jan 31, 2013
    Bad idea....

    Kinda like NASCAR with front and rear radar. Defeats the purpose.
     
  4. rdefabri

    rdefabri Three Time F1 World Champ

    Jun 4, 2008
    33,571
    NJ
    Full Name:
    Rich
    #4 rdefabri, Jan 31, 2013
    Weight limits would never fly with the players union. I think the answer is something like the energy absorbent helmets, but that only mitigates the concussive effects, nothing else.

    I have to agree with the player that said Football is in trouble - it is. As players get bigger and faster (and they will - whether "clean" or otherwise) - physics will take over. Before too long, injuries will become career threatening - or - someone will get killed.

    It's amazing it hasn't happened yet, but I see that future coming.
     

Share This Page