OT: Philadelphia Eagles (NFL): When You're Up, It's Never As Good As It Seems, And When You're Down, You Never Think You'll Be Up Again

[philly_28]

Dude is a millionaire asking twitter to borrow a jersey

Meh, also a rookie. Sauce seems like a pretty based dude. Takes some time to adjust to being a millionaire and an NFL player. He probably could have also just called someone from the Jets to help him out.

 

[BrindamoursNose]

Meh, also a rookie. Sauce seems like a pretty based dude. Takes some time to adjust to being a millionaire and an NFL player. He probably could have also just called someone from the Jets to help him out.

This is what I'm saying basically. He's on his way to being a top star in the league and he definitely could've just picked up the phone to ask his org.

I mean he’s also a millionaire that got Michael Rubin to respond and get him one.

The point was more that fanatics sucks.

Doesn't change my point there too too much. I think it was low key shade at Fanatics, but it also seems he legit just needed one fast so he was a little desperate.

Also I hate that Fanatics controls everything, so I'm on his side throwing some low key shade. Only positive is that they sell WWE title replicas now and I can use gift cards on those now!

 

[JojoTheWhale]

Football isn't that violent anymore is one of the nuttiest things I've ever heard. The game is based on physically moving people against their will. Watch something other than the ball. I'm begging you.

 

[DancingPanther]

I feel sorry for Higgins. I collided with someone by accident and I felt bad for a while. He missed the rest of the season. Can't imagine what Higgins feels in comparison

 

[deadhead]

Football isn't that violent anymore is one of the nuttiest things I've ever heard. The game is based on physically moving people against their will. Watch something other than the ball. I'm begging you.

How old are you? Because the game was definitely more violent a few decades ago, spearing was common, body slams on QBs was SOP, clothesline tackles, smashing receivers as they went up for the ball and so on. They've also cut out a lot of blocks that were dangerous to protect defensive players.

The pads are better, the helmets are better, and the really dirty stuff has been reduced substantially (instant replay and HD TV means even if you don't get a penalty, you'll get a call from the league office the next day).

 

[Bigtimefeed]

I think the NFL could get away with a tie or NC even if Chiefs finish with the number one seed. However I would add an addendum to that by having the Chiefs play on the road IF they should meet either the Bills or Bengals based on them losing to both teams head to head. As far as Bengals possibly losing the division to the Ravens, I would wait on the results of that match before making a decision.

 

[Kermit the Prog]

I can appreciate others' prognostications on what should be done or what they think might be done, all in the sake of equitability, but, for me, it doesn't matter, because it won't have any impact on what is actually done about it.

I'm not as cold-blooded and hard-hearted a person as I am frequently perceived. I feel for the young man and hope he not only pulls through, but can also resume a normal, healthy life, perhaps even including playing the game he loves again (see Pronger, Chris). I also, however, feel for those players who have fought and endured an entire season of physical and mental exhaustion to have a sudden event and a subsequent decision outside their control possibly determine their fates, including the potential of detouring their chances at a championship.

My primary concern is for the health and welfare of this young man, but, I cannot turn a blind eye to the wider view, either. It's an unenviable position for all involved.

 

[JojoTheWhale]

I usually don’t get worked up about HoFs anymore, but if Zach Thomas gets in over Patrick Willis, I may combust.

How old are you? Because the game was definitely more violent a few decades ago, spearing was common, body slams on QBs was SOP, clothesline tackles, smashing receivers as they went up for the ball and so on. They've also cut out a lot of blocks that were dangerous to protect defensive players.

The pads are better, the helmets are better, and the really dirty stuff has been reduced substantially (instant replay and HD TV means even if you don't get a penalty, you'll get a call from the league office the next day).

Buddy Ryan is the pro most responsible for me being a huge sports fan. My most prized piece of memorabilia is a 1991 Eagles (RIP Bud) defensive playbook from a starting Safety. You don’t need to sell me on the game changing. It’s still over the top violent.

Most of the passing game rule changes just stopped receivers from getting mugged at the LoS and nipped off corner cases like QB hits. If you want to go all the way back to the 50s and 60s, when the NFL wasn’t the most popular sport in the country, sure. In the span of Dick Lane’s career, he managed to get face mask tackles to be made illegal and was a big influence on removing his patented clothesline tackles. Banning Deacon Jones’ head slap in 1977 was a big one and should be mentioned, but that’s still 45 years ago.

What we all tend to do is remember the big hits and highlights and ignore the Down to Down car crashes. I’ve watched games from the decades before I was born. The biggest difference to me is how players weren’t going as hard on every play. That’s not even a knock on them, just a change that came about via changes in substitution patterns.

I also don’t think tv gives you any appreciation for the fury with which players are flinging themselves around these days. Doubly so for trench play. We all know Trent Williams buries players when he gets into space, but there are so many players like recent Jets first rounder Jermaine Johnson that have hands so strong and violent that he tosses linemen off of their feet or yanks them to their knees. We’ve got LBs in the 230 range like Denzel Perryman who fly around with such force that they can de-cleat a pulling Mekhi Becton at 6’7” 365 lbs.

 

[Chinatown88]

I usually don’t get worked up about HoFs anymore, but if Zach Thomas gets in over Patrick Willis, I may combust.

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

Ah, so this is all based on a “back in my day!” thing.

Makes sense.

 

[JXC]

How old are you? Because the game was definitely more violent a few decades ago, spearing was common, body slams on QBs was SOP, clothesline tackles, smashing receivers as they went up for the ball and so on. They've also cut out a lot of blocks that were dangerous to protect defensive players.

The pads are better, the helmets are better, and the really dirty stuff has been reduced substantially (instant replay and HD TV means even if you don't get a penalty, you'll get a call from the league office the next day).

100% on target

Hockey and Basketball are also far less violent than they were 25 years ago.

 

[Jack Straw]

How old are you? Because the game was definitely more violent a few decades ago, spearing was common, body slams on QBs was SOP, clothesline tackles, smashing receivers as they went up for the ball and so on. They've also cut out a lot of blocks that were dangerous to protect defensive players.

The pads are better, the helmets are better, and the really dirty stuff has been reduced substantially (instant replay and HD TV means even if you don't get a penalty, you'll get a call from the league office the next day).

Just because it was more violent a few years ago doesn't mean that it's not a fundamentally violent game. Easily more violent, by the nature of the game itself, than any other team sport short of "team gladiatorial combat" (which I think the Romans don't do anymore).

Ironically, the improvements in protective gear you cite are responsible for a large part of the increase in violence compared to back when say, Jim Thorpe was playing. Those pads protect the hitter more than the hittee allowing players to use themselves as weapons. And no amount of padding, none, can protect the brain from the whiplash type of injuries that are so associated with CTE.

Bigger, stronger, faster platers + improved protective gear = more brain injuries.

I remember seeing an interview with Harry Carson a few years ago, he said that he wouldn't let his kids play the sport and that there was no way to make the game "safe" (referring to brain trauma).

The only way to make the game safe (ish) would be to reduce the protective gear and make the game more like rugby. And that will never happen.

 

[JojoTheWhale]

I'm not even a tiny bit kidding when I say that a big factor in perception is that most people's modern exposure to old NFL games is via NFL Films rather than broadcasts. You're thinking of slow motion highlights. Most plays didn't have the shots that got taken out of the game.

Hell, the biggest change in number of collisions with a head of steam is the decline of the lead blocking Fullback. I don't think it's a coincidence that hasn't been mentioned.

 

[dragonoffrost]

I love this the pads are better making games safer. Hockey and Football mainly. Sometimes I think the fact that the pads are made as they are today contributes to the violent collisions. These guys don't fear what happens to them when they hit someone anymore. They are almost walking around in a set of plate mail armor.

 

[Jack Straw]

I love this the pads are better making games safer. Hockey and Football mainly. Sometimes I think the fact that the pads are made as they are today contributes to the violent collisions. These guys don't fear what happens to them when they hit someone anymore. They are almost walking around in a set of plate mail armor.

This is exactly the case. Anyone who has worn pads certainly knows this. My first set of hockey pads back in the '70s were these flimsy leather things with some plastic. When I made my beer league "comeback" in the '90s the pads were amazing. Lighter, more protective, and like you say- felt like a suit of armor.

 

[Ironmanrulez]

Here’s a palette cleanser…

I got this one in the mail today.

Game worn DeVonta Smith jersey from the 10/9 game against the Cardinals where he set a career high in receptions with ten and recorded 87 receiving yards.

I’ve been working on getting one of these for the last two years and finally was able to.

The jersey was washed in some capacity so some of the wear is gone but a lot of it still remains. It’s photo matched to the shoulder pad strap marks, mesh holes, and a few other things.

View attachment 629933View attachment 629934View attachment 629939

How rich are you?

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

How rich are you?

 

[Starat327]

Something that fails to get mentioned in these "the game was more violent before" debates is how far the average player has grown, and how advanced sports nutrition has come to seemingly higher the floor of said average player.

I dont know if theres been studies done or not, but it certainly feels like, while the players are 'better protetced' a lot of that has been necessitated by how much more dangerous the player have become since then. Where there linebackers in the 70s pushing 250 and running 4.4's? Im not sayin athletes in the 70s were slobs, but just going off the eye test, everyone appears to be in better shape, more fit, and much more able to deliver harder blows than weve seen in the past.

This feels like something @JojoTheWhale would have seen/posted before but i didnt see it (but admittedly didnt look hard,either).

How rich are you?

I've been trying to make my way up his driveway for the past two years to retrieve my PS5 from him, if that gives you any indication. We had to settle into basecamp for this winter though.

 

[JojoTheWhale]

Something that fails to get mentioned in these "the game was more violent before" debates is how far the average player has grown, and how advanced sports nutrition has come to seemingly higher the floor of said average player.

I dont know if theres been studies done or not, but it certainly feels like, while the players are 'better protetced' a lot of that has been necessitated by how much more dangerous the player have become since then. Where there linebackers in the 70s pushing 250 and running 4.4's? Im not sayin athletes in the 70s were slobs, but just going off the eye test, everyone appears to be in better shape, more fit, and much more able to deliver harder blows than weve seen in the past.

This feels like something @JojoTheWhale would have seen/posted before but i didnt see it (but admittedly didnt look hard,either).

Way back in the anything goes days, there was a famous Offensive Lineman named Pete Henry. He's in both the Pro and College HoFs. None other than Pop Warner called him the best college Tackle ever. His nickname was "Fats" because he was so large. Pete Henry was 5'11" and 245 lbs.

Jack Lambert, one of the toughest, most physical MLBs to ever see the field in the NFL was 6'4". That's as tall as the average Offensive Guard that attends the NFL Combine these days. If you take the last 5 NFL Combines, the average Inside Linebacker is roughly 2.5" shorter than Lambert. By his own words, Lambert weighed either 203 or 204 (can't remember) lbs when he came into the league. Now compare that to that same group of Combine ILBs and Lambert was 35 (or 4) lbs lighter. Thirty five pounds heavier and two and a half inches shorter!

 

[Jack Straw]

Sounds encouraging

 

[Beef Invictus]

I'm not even a tiny bit kidding when I say that a big factor in perception is that most people's modern exposure to old NFL games is via NFL Films rather than broadcasts. You're thinking of slow motion highlights. Most plays didn't have the shots that got taken out of the game.

Hell, the biggest change in number of collisions with a head of steam is the decline of the lead blocking Fullback. I don't think it's a coincidence that hasn't been mentioned.

Highlights are a pure cancer for perception. Especially highlights in slow motion by default.

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

 

[DancingPanther]

Highlights are a pure cancer for perception. Especially highlights in slow motion by default.

What about slow motion highlights that weren't actually in slow motion, like watching 70s hockey highlights?

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

@Captain Dave Poulin

Take a wild guess who is knocking on the door of being the #8 seed in the AFC...

 

[Kermit the Prog]

@Captain Dave Poulin

Take a wild guess who is knocking on the door of being the #8 seed in the AFC...

The NFL having all the efficiency of a bake sale committee with no bills lower than a $20 in the cash box.