The NFL game has already changed for the worse. First we were reviewing plays to make sure “they got the calls right”. Now we review plays to second-guess the level of violence in a particular hit. If found to be excessive the player is punished. How can this be good for the game?
It’s gotten to the point where cornerbacks refuse to tackle and safeties are pulling up on hits. In the open field the game is turning into a form of the game that we used to refer to as “rough touch”. Boring! May as well watch Soccer.
I don’t want any pro football player to have lasting injuries for my amusement.However,pro football is getting
so bad that the fans will simply stop watching.
The league has reviewed game tape to assess fines on players for extreme illegal hits for a long time, like decades. It’s good for the game because it keeps dirty play from going unpunished just because the ref missed it.
I haven’t seen anybody refuse to tackle or pulling up. Well Deion Sanders but he just never liked to hit people, made him a better cover guy.
Actually “rough touch” is exactly what they’re trying to get out of the game. A lot of defensive backs have lost the art of the actual tackle, instead turning themselves into missiles under the theory of if you hit a guy really hard he’ll fall. Not only does it cause injuries, it’s a bad way to play the game as guys can dodge you more easily and then you’re laying on the ground and they’re running free. Tackling involves wrapping your arms around a guy and bringing him down, it needs to get back in the game.