@ghoolie said:

Indeed. But a much less lethal helmet can be designed for that kind of protection. 

ok...have at it.

I'll agree that something needs to be done to insure the future of the game.  It cannot keep going on it's current trajectory.  

Hardest will be making the switch to the 'new' brand of football, whatever/whenever that will be, with players already in the pipeline.  And the pipeline starts with Pee-pee football (as you like to call it).

You'll be wanting a smaller, leather-like helmet (while still having face protection), and an increase of rules against leading with your head (which will have to go for offense as well as defense).  You'd have to eliminate diving forward, like lunging for the first down or goal line.  You'll have to run into the endzone.  No more QB sneaks with everyone getting low and trying to push your head through the pile.

And of course the culture shock of the iconic helmet being more of a boxing style thing.

I agree that change has to be 'thunk up'.  So, good luck with that.  Hurts my head to think that much.

@orion said:

Although true, the 'need' for the helmet comes from the nature of the game.  Tackle football.  When you land your head can hit the ground, someone else's knee, shoulder, head, etc.

Indeed. But a much less lethal helmet can be designed for that kind of protection. 

@mohican said:

Ghoolie is still suffering from those vicious helmet to helmet hits he took while in High School Marching Band.....

The only thing I "suffer" are you jackoffs on this board.

@orion said:

Although true, the 'need' for the helmet comes from the nature of the game.  Tackle football.  When you land your head can hit the ground, someone else's knee, shoulder, head, etc.

Oh yeah, with no helmets a ton of teeth knocked out, broken noses and jaws galore, serious eye injuries more concussions not less in a 22 man high speed high contact game, on and on.

Even hockey players were finally required to wear helmets with eye protection in a 10 man game, two being highly protected goalies.

This is one of the biggest bulls*it threads ever on this board......no surprise there.

@ghoolie said:

It isn't an opinion. Helmets cause behavior that increases the incidence of not only concussions but many other impact related injuries.. Football is a high-impact sport so no amount of science or engineering is going to make it a safe sport. The only thing that can change injury outcomes is a change in behavior.

Today's automobiles are far safer than those of my youth, yet the incidence of accidents and fatalities is higher today than back then. People drive faster and carelessly because the vehicle makes them feel invincible.

Take away the helmet, and the incidence of head-to-head collisions will drop immediately. No helmet will ever have the results of players who no longer use their heads to tackle. I promise you, without a helmet, the spearing, and leading with the head tackle will stop immediately. No technology can do that.

What makes you think we care if they bang their heads 

@ghoolie said:

I promise you, without a helmet, the spearing, and leading with the head tackle will stop immediately. No technology can do that.

Although true, the 'need' for the helmet comes from the nature of the game.  Tackle football.  When you land your head can hit the ground, someone else's knee, shoulder, head, etc.

American Footballers of any level of any generation know that.

@ghoolie said:

It isn't an opinion. Helmets cause behavior that increases the incidence of not only concussions but many other impact related injuries.. Football is a high-impact sport so no amount of science or engineering is going to make it a safe sport. The only thing that can change injury outcomes is a change in behavior.

Today's automobiles are far safer than those of my youth, yet the incidence of accidents and fatalities is higher today than back then. People drive faster and carelessly because the vehicle makes them feel invincible.

Take away the helmet, and the incidence of head-to-head collisions will drop immediately. No helmet will ever have the results of players who no longer use their heads to tackle. I promise you, without a helmet, the spearing, and leading with the head tackle will stop immediately. No technology can do that.

a compromise of sorts so we can still have logo's of lack there of ,, go back to leather helmets

@gunz41 said:

So it's your opinion that helmets cause concussions?

It isn't an opinion. Helmets cause behavior that increases the incidence of not only concussions but many other impact related injuries.. Football is a high-impact sport so no amount of science or engineering is going to make it a safe sport. The only thing that can change injury outcomes is a change in behavior.

Today's automobiles are far safer than those of my youth, yet the incidence of accidents and fatalities is higher today than back then. People drive faster and carelessly because the vehicle makes them feel invincible.

Take away the helmet, and the incidence of head-to-head collisions will drop immediately. No helmet will ever have the results of players who no longer use their heads to tackle. I promise you, without a helmet, the spearing, and leading with the head tackle will stop immediately. No technology can do that.

@ghoolie said:

Time to get rid of the football helmet. There is absolutely no reason for it. Each year the helmet is lighter, and more capable of punishing hits. Take the helmet away and players have to learn how to tackle again. 

@ghoolie said:

Time to get rid of the football helmet. There is absolutely no reason for it. Each year the helmet is lighter, and more capable of punishing hits. Take the helmet away and players have to learn how to tackle again. 

So it's your opinion that helmets cause concussions?

@ghoolie said:

EXACTLY................... these assholes would have to learn to tackle instead of spear. No need at all for a helmet.

but then what would sportscenter show replay after replay over and over again concussions = t.v ratings 

@ghoolie said:

EXACTLY................... these assholes would have to learn to tackle instead of spear. No need at all for a helmet.

And then they could have more fake knee injuries too just like fotbol, a.k.a. soccer.

@syd said:

then that would be a mans sport called Rugby

EXACTLY................... these assholes would have to learn to tackle instead of spear. No need at all for a helmet.