Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2018 3:56:48 GMT -6
I know some are absolute purists but in light of the ever increasing injuries and concussions there is a huge emphasis on player safety which may dilute the traditional violent nature of the game. What are your thoughts? This is in addition tonthe new helmet rule.
nesn.com/2018/04/why-matthew-slater-believes-eliminating-kickoffs-would-be-tragic-for-nfl/
The NFL already has taken steps in recent years to de-emphasize kickoffs. Now, as part of a continued attempt to make the game safer, the league is considering eliminating them entirely. Matthew Slater believes that would be a terrible idea. Slater, a seven-time Pro Bowler who has served as the New England Patriots’ special teams captain since 2011, delivered a passionate monologue Tuesday on why the NFL should not do away with the kickoff. After admitting his bias — Slater rarely plays on offense, so his livelihood depends on the kicking game — the Patriots veteran went on to explain how removing such an integral play would amount to “changing the fabric of the game.” “A lot of people will say I have a bias because it’s what I do for a living, and I understand that,” Slater said. “But I think it’s no mystery that I’m closer to the end of my career than I am to the beginning. That being said, I think if you take away this play from football, you’re changing the fabric of the game. I think this play is part of the fabric of the game, and it really makes me ask the question: Where do you go from here? What would happen next? “And I don’t know the answer to that. I don’t know. But I look at a number of plays: I look at a goal-line stand; I look at a third-and-1. Think about the collisions that are happening there. Those may be deemed unsafe by some people. So if you make a drastic change such as this, what’s next? What happens? The reality is this is football. This is a contact sport. This is a violent sport. And all of us that are playing the game understand that. There is an inherent risk that comes along with playing the game. If you’re not OK with that risk, I respect that, and maybe you should think about doing something else.
Read more at: nesn.com/2018/04/why-matthew-slater-believes-eliminating-kickoffs-would-be-tragic-for-nfl/
nesn.com/2018/04/why-matthew-slater-believes-eliminating-kickoffs-would-be-tragic-for-nfl/
The NFL already has taken steps in recent years to de-emphasize kickoffs. Now, as part of a continued attempt to make the game safer, the league is considering eliminating them entirely. Matthew Slater believes that would be a terrible idea. Slater, a seven-time Pro Bowler who has served as the New England Patriots’ special teams captain since 2011, delivered a passionate monologue Tuesday on why the NFL should not do away with the kickoff. After admitting his bias — Slater rarely plays on offense, so his livelihood depends on the kicking game — the Patriots veteran went on to explain how removing such an integral play would amount to “changing the fabric of the game.” “A lot of people will say I have a bias because it’s what I do for a living, and I understand that,” Slater said. “But I think it’s no mystery that I’m closer to the end of my career than I am to the beginning. That being said, I think if you take away this play from football, you’re changing the fabric of the game. I think this play is part of the fabric of the game, and it really makes me ask the question: Where do you go from here? What would happen next? “And I don’t know the answer to that. I don’t know. But I look at a number of plays: I look at a goal-line stand; I look at a third-and-1. Think about the collisions that are happening there. Those may be deemed unsafe by some people. So if you make a drastic change such as this, what’s next? What happens? The reality is this is football. This is a contact sport. This is a violent sport. And all of us that are playing the game understand that. There is an inherent risk that comes along with playing the game. If you’re not OK with that risk, I respect that, and maybe you should think about doing something else.
Read more at: nesn.com/2018/04/why-matthew-slater-believes-eliminating-kickoffs-would-be-tragic-for-nfl/