Over the past few years there has been a push to turn the last couple of each NFL Team's preseason games into part of the regular season. One argument in favor of the addition is that players don't need the time anymore . The off-season programs that the players participate in, and the team OTA's and training camp give them plenty of time to stay in shape and learn a playbook. Why not make more serious competition? Also fans are tired of having to pay regular season prices for games that do not count. It just doesn't have that same energy or experience as when players that you have actually heard of are on the field for more than a few plays.
Over the same period of time there has been some minor opposition to the conversion of those final preseason games. What if a coach needs those contests to devise their game plans? Have they had time to set depth charts? Have all necessary cuts been made? All of those questions have floated around but have had minimal impact on the support of the topic. I agree that the NFL should change to an 18 game season, or at least I did until now.
My whole view on the issue turned completely around after witnessing what happened during the first week of the season. During the course of the games, multiple players went down with injuries that can affect their careers, and even their lives after football. From suffering concussions that can keep them out 1-2 weeks (Eagles QB Kevin Kolb) to a second straight season with an ACL Tear (Jets DT Kris Jenkins) each and every injury that happens weekly in the NFL can devastate one's life.
Concussions, even minor ones have been a serious concern to the NFLPA lately. Former players have popped up left and right with diagnosed brain damage because of the violent head jarring, injury causing hits that they fell victim to on a weekly basis during their playing careers. ACL tears are one of the most serious injuries in all of sports. In it, a ligament behind your knee is ripped and requires extensive surgery plus an 8-10 month recovery. This huge recovery time causes the player not just to suffer the huge pain of the injury, but also causes them to miss the whole rest of their season. Although after an ACL injury, players are usually fine, there are quite a few former players with serious trouble walking as result of these injuries.
If an 18 game season is put in place it will involve even more serious injuries because of the high level of competition that will be going on for an extra two weeks. This shows that an 18 game season is bad for the NFL because I would rather see 2 preseason games than see my favorite player miss the whole season with an injury suffered that could have been avoided without the change.
-A
Showing posts with label injury. Show all posts
Showing posts with label injury. Show all posts
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Will we see Strasburg again this year???????
Have we seen the last of Washington Nationals rookie phenom Stephen Strasburg for the season? We might have, yesterday night he was seen walking off the mound in Philadelphia wincing in pain. When manager Jim Riggleman and a team trainer rushed towards Strasburg Nationals fan's eyes were glued to the TV. As he was walked off the field to a chorus of boos in Philly Nats and Strasburg fans alike wondered if we will see the young rookie again this season. I firmly believe that the next time we see Strasburg throw a ball in a Major League game will be in the Spring of 2011.
If this game was his last for the season, he can surely be proud of the year he has had. When he is healthy he has been lights out going 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA, a WHIP of 1.07, and he has help opposing batters to a .221 average. Also if he has thrown his last pitches he would rank second among rookie years behind only another flamethrower, Kerry Wood with a 12.18 strikeouts per 9 innings.
As a baseball fan, I say leave Strasburg in we want to see him play. As a Cardinals fan I say put on the 15 day DL and don’t make us face him. But as a person who wants to see the Nats rebuild I don’t want him further straining his forearm or getting inflammation in shoulder again. I don’t expect to see Stephen Strasburg for the rest of the year, and I actually don’t mind it.
-A
If this game was his last for the season, he can surely be proud of the year he has had. When he is healthy he has been lights out going 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA, a WHIP of 1.07, and he has help opposing batters to a .221 average. Also if he has thrown his last pitches he would rank second among rookie years behind only another flamethrower, Kerry Wood with a 12.18 strikeouts per 9 innings.
As a baseball fan, I say leave Strasburg in we want to see him play. As a Cardinals fan I say put on the 15 day DL and don’t make us face him. But as a person who wants to see the Nats rebuild I don’t want him further straining his forearm or getting inflammation in shoulder again. I don’t expect to see Stephen Strasburg for the rest of the year, and I actually don’t mind it.
-A