change in the future coming...

[Huskers57]

thigh and knee pads???

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/79...knee-pads-2013

ATLANTA -- The NFL has made thigh and knee pads mandatory equipment for the 2013 season, something the players' union could oppose because the move was not collectively bargained.

Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay, chairman of the competition committee, says Tuesday at an owners meeting that because this is a playing rule, the league can implement it unilaterally.

I like it.

[FLA4NEB]

They need to go back to leather helmets. More protection leads to harder hits more devastating hits.

[Huskers57]

They need to go back to leather helmets. More protection leads to harder hits more devastating hits.

how about no pads at all....Aussie Rules Football Rock!

[utsker]

They need to go back to leather helmets. More protection leads to harder hits more devastating hits.

Yep...all their efforts to make it safer has made it more dangerous

[Formo]

I like this move, 100%. Always thought it stupid to see NFLers play in tighty-whiteys instead of football pants (including pads).

[CornfieldCounty]

Of course the Union would be against this!!

Dickerson is suing because they did not "tell him" of the long term affects of concussions, but yet when a safety issue is injected like this, the Union has to use it as a bargaining chip? Please....

[Porkchopexpress]

Of course the Union would be against this!!

Dickerson is suing because they did not "tell him" of the long term affects of concussions, but yet when a safety issue is injected like this, the Union has to use it as a bargaining chip? Please....

That's what I think also. You can't sound off on "safety concerns" and then be against what the NFL is trying to implement. It comes across as very hypocritical, and gives the game a bad image. Sure the players are for safety improvements, until they think those improvements make them look silly on TV.

[FLA4NEB]

At some point I fear that football will become virtual. You will have 22 players controlling a player in some video game. Even then they will find some way to ruin the game...

[RedBlack&Blue]

At some point I fear that football will become virtual. You will have 22 players controlling a player in some video game. Even then they will find some way to ruin the game...

I hadn't thought of this. You might be right. I sort of think that mamas aren't going to let their babies play football, which will lead to a talent drop off. Maybe what you suggest is what it will turn into.

[SWVAHusker]

At some point I fear that football will become virtual. You will have 22 players controlling a player in some video game. Even then they will find some way to ruin the game...

If you watched The Jetsons as a kid their version of the future (the year 2062) didn't include human football players at all. They used robots. As long as those robots look like real humans and act like Data from Star Trek I'd be okay with that.

[SWVAHusker]

I hadn't thought of this. You might be right. I sort of think that mamas aren't going to let their babies play football, which will lead to a talent drop off. Maybe what you suggest is what it will turn into.

Bart Scott of the Jets says he plays football "so his son won't have to." Got absolutely killed by certain media members but I can see the sentiment behind the statement. Like all parents aspire to, Scott just wants to make enough money that his kid will be taken care of in the future.

[The Big Red Lebowski]

At some point I fear that football will become virtual. You will have 22 players controlling a player in some video game. Even then they will find some way to ruin the game...

If you watched The Jetsons as a kid their version of the future (the year 2062) didn't include human football players at all. They used robots. As long as those robots look like real humans and act like Data from Star Trek I'd be okay with that.

That's also basically the premise of the movie "Real Steel" just with boxing instead of football. I honestly don't think it's all that far-fetched. A huge part of the appeal of football is the violence. You can't really remove the hard hits without fundamentally changing the game. It's a sticky problem for the NFL...how do you remove the violence from a game in which one of the primary draws is violence? One day, the answer may indeed be virtual football.