American Football (NFL)
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I played rugby at a decent amateur level when I was younger but when I watch it now I'm amazed how much the game has changed in the last 20 years due to 2 factors that occurred at the same time - the advent of professionalism and the phenomenon known as Jonah Lomu. We now have brick shithouse wingers bigger than back row forwards who are capable of running 100m in 11 seconds. This was previously unheard of and although there may be a gap in fitness, ability, conditioning, etc between rugby and American football at the elite level, I'd suggest it's closing. Despite this, there is far more money in football and rugby is still a secondary sport in most countries that play it so it will never have the pull, glamour and backing of gridiron and everything that comes with that, including facilities, coaching, the playing pool, etc.
The changes over the last 2 decades have seen rugby move from a contact sport to a collision one and the increase in head injuries and associated protocol reflects this. I don't think it's as severe as football (yet) but that's in part because there are no helmets, partly the difference in the sports and also partly due to a more continuous (flowing) nature of the game than the start-stop set-play pattern of football, where collisions are key.
I also think that the ability to crossover from rugby to football isn't necessarily about ability or agility but understanding the differences in the game - roles, tactics, etc. Most rugby players are unlikely to have even played football until they switch and if you do that at the peak of your career you don't want to wait a couple of years for your opportunity, hence the likelihood for them to switch back. It's all about timing and managing expectations. In fact it's difficult enough to switch codes in rugby, let alone to another sport entirely.
I'm not really disagreeing with anyone here but just adding some further food for thought, my £0.02/$0.02 depending on your outlook!
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Pats are on short rest after losing twice at home, on the road in Tampa. the D better pick up the pace this week, last in the league! ???
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Pats are on short rest after losing twice at home, on the road in Tampa. the D better pick up the pace this week, last in the league! ???
Been kind of a weird start to the season IMO. Four games in and only one undefeated team (Chiefs).
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I'm in a 16 team league. Talent is thin.
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What a difference a running back makes! Adrian Peterson has injected some serious much needed life into this AZ Cardinals offense. Perfect debut. With that being said, we made it way too damn close at the end and allowed the Bucs to make a comeback but we got out of their with the win.
Off to London next to face the Rams.
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It seems this season, moreso than any I can remember recently, it's all about just keeping your stars healthy. Some of the biggest names in the league are already done for the season and just today Aaron Rodgers broke his collarbone.
The NFL kind of feels like this ravenous cannibal of a sport. It's basically eating itself with guys consistently getting bigger, faster, and stronger while the rules and protection/equipment are always a few steps behind.
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Steelers over KC the last unbeaten team
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yeah it's just odd to me to not have any unbeaten teams at this point.
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yeah it's just odd to me to not have any unbeaten teams at this point.
Yes, KC has been alone for a few weeks. Pats won ugly today after disallowing Jets TD. I thought it was a good TD
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yeah it's just odd to me to not have any unbeaten teams at this point.
Yes, KC has been alone for a few weeks. Pats won ugly today after disallowing Jets TD. I thought it was a good TD
Same here, it was a TD. Horrible call by the refs.
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I heard someone talking yesterday about the cause of more and more season-ending injuries like ACL tears being a result of the week to week training becoming less and less vigorous.
Franchises are more worried about practice injuries and player safety, but the result is they are less conditioned and big explosive plays during games are creating more issues. -
We should do an IH fantasy league again next season, like the one we had a few years ago…
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He sure did. Wonder what happened to the guy?
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I heard someone talking yesterday about the cause of more and more season-ending injuries like ACL tears being a result of the week to week training becoming less and less vigorous.
Franchises are more worried about practice injuries and player safety, but the result is they are less conditioned and big explosive plays during games are creating more issues.I think Blood and Thunder is right, I think that the NFL players are just getting ridiculously bigger and faster than they ever have been. Throw that formula into a high contact sport and it's a recipe for injuries.
