Would You Watch Football if it were Flag instead of Tackle?

[SF Dolphin Fan]

Talking head injuries on sports radio. Never fun to hear about what many of these players are going through after they retire. More and more, I think we are going to see shorter careers as players opt to retire rather than risk injury down the road....especially with the money the players make today.

There's only so much the NFL can do in terms of uniform safety. I think advancements can be made, but players are simply bigger, faster and stronger. There are 300 pound men running 4.8 40's, which seemed like science fiction in the 1970's. Most major rules have been with the safety of players in mind and, honestly, many of those have seemed to water down the sport IMO.

I have to admit, I love the physical side of the NFL. There's nothing more exciting than a big hit. But, I pose the question that was asked on the radio. Would you watch the NFL if it were the NFFL (National Flag Football League)? How far with rules changes could the league go and still retain you as a fan?

 

[Sons Of Shula]

If you can't play defense, it's not football; nor will I pay any attention.

 

[DuderinoN703]

If NFL flag football was the only football that existed then yes.

 

['Deep]

If NFL flag football was the only football that existed then yes.

Just hope it doesn't come to that if I'm still alive.

 

[Pandarilla]

If it's a 5 billion dollar flag football league...

 

[Sons Of Shula]

I fully understand that it is possible in the future that this will come to fruition but it would be a mockery of the sport for it to continue on in any other fashion. Especially in a realm where the physical aspect of it is removed.

I mean do you really want to watch an elite player like Suh stand there and count to 3 Mississippi before he can rush the passer? GTFO

Or worse, an era where players like Cameron Wake, Von Miller, Kalil Mack, etc. are no longer needed or a part of the sport. No thanks. A professional flag football league would be worthless and a sham.

 

[sunworshipper]

Tackle football with leather helmets. Any blow to any player's head is a severe penalty.

 

[DuderinoN703]

Just hope it doesn't come to that if I'm still alive.

It's a weird predicament. We love the game so much but it's debilitating to tons of men who play it. Yeah they play out of their own free will but that's besides the point.

 

['Deep]

It's a weird predicament. We love the game so much but it's debilitating to tons of men who play it. Yeah they play out of their own free will but that's besides the point.

Saw something on NBC Nightly News tonight about Brian Price, the ex Bucs DL who's got CTE. There were autopsies done on the brains of 111 deceased NFL players. 110 had CTE. The video of Price is crazy!

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/...-disease-most-former-football-players-n786386

 

[BobDole]

I see something along those lines as an eventuality but would want absolutely nothing to do with watching grown men play flag football.

 

[phish]

No

 

[MiZFiT]

There is a bunch the NFL could to do reduce serious injuries while still maintinf viewership... switching to flag/non-tackle football is not how.

I'm one of those who believes taking off helmets and wearing padded caps, similar to rugby, would do the NFL a great service.

It would essentially eliminate head-to-head collisions and force players to learn how to actually wrap each other up when going for a tackle.

 

[Fin Thirteen]

Tackle football with leather helmets. Any blow to any player's head is a severe penalty.

Agree. They need to get rid of the helmets, which cause more injuries than they prevent. Far more. Keep the physicality, just not physicality involving the cranium.

 

[thevegasphinfan]

Agree. They need to get rid of the helmets, which cause more injuries than they prevent. Far more. Keep the physicality, just not physicality involving the cranium.

Disagree, one knee to the nose or head on a missed tackle and you're still talking concussion, head injuries, black eyes, and the like.

And no, I would not watch flag football.

 

[uk_dolfan]

no way in hell.

It is a psychical sport and you can only do so much in the name of safety. If you don't want to take the risk (perfectly understandable and I wouldnt let my kids play beyond a certain age) don't play.