The first ever leather helmet in football history was worn in this game.
Navy Midshipman (and later Admiral) Joseph Mason "Bull" Reeves wore what is widely regarded as the first football helmet in the 1893 Army–Navy Game. He had been advised by a Navy doctor that another kick to his head would result in "instant insanity" or even death, so he commissioned an Annapolis shoemaker to make him a helmet out of leather.[14]
Ain't no pussy, that Admiral Reeves.
Take that Roger Goodell.
I still say helmets should be outlawed, at least modern helmets.
ReplyDeleteThe military gives me a bullet-proof vest to protect me from death, yet military members still die.
ReplyDeleteThe helmet protects the head better than leather, yet players are going to get injured (or die).
In the military you sign a document understanding your risks. Football can't do the same? One gets a few thousand dollars, the other a few million. Sign it or don't play... duhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Although I know Czabe didn't want to chase this tennis ball, I don't agree with getting rid of kickoffs. And instead of just knocking the idea, I'd like to put out a different suggestion. This is my idea:
ReplyDelete*Kickoffs at the 50
*The other 10 players on the kicking team can't take a running start. They have to keep one foot on the 50 until the ball leaves the tee.
*The receiving team is only allowed to stay between the 40 and the 20 until the kick.
*Any kick that goes out of bounds whether over the sideline or out of the back of the endzone results in the receiving team taking possession at the 50.
*The receiving team can still take a fair catch or knee in the endzone for a touchback, but then only take the ball at their own 5.
These ideas came to me after seeing a few rugby matches on TV, and while speaking as an outsider to that game, I get the feeling that they are doing a better job dealing with this concussion problem. And while I don't think these ideas are perfect, I do see them as better than what Goodell and Schiano are suggesting. I'd like to keep some semblance of the game I grew up with.
Hopefully with this we could eliminate some of the high-speed collisions that are plaguing football, but still keep the excitement of kick returns most of us love.
Getting rid of kickoffs may not make me give up on watching the Shield alone, but eventually, enough significant changes to America's Game put together could make me change the channel.