When you have big and fast guys running at each other in full speed, with the attempt of hitting one another, people are going to get hurt. Unfortunately, injuries have always been a part of the NFL and it’s the commissioner (Roger Goodell) and referee’s job to reduce those injuries while maintaining the integrity of the game. This isn’t an easy task. Yet, it has to be done. Therefore, Goodell added in new rules such as;  no leading with your helmet to make a tackle, (this prevents “defenseless” players from taking hard blows above the shoulder) if a player loses his helmet during the play, it automatically ends, during field-goal and extra-point attempts the defense cannot hit the snapper because he’s in a defenseless position (from snapping the ball), and the kickoff has been moved up to the thirty-five yard line (which limits the number of returns a game).

     I agree with Roger Goodell’s decision of inserting new rules to improve the safety of the players, especially after the suicide of Junior Seau which very easily could’ve happened because of the damage concussions caused to his brain. He played for twenty seasons in the NFL and probably suffered many blows to the head. In addition, the New Orleans Saints Bounty program promoted intentional hitting of people on the head and those who hit the hardest or knocked someone out of the game would get paid additional cash. What I don’t understand is why the players are mad at Goodell for new rules. These rules could easily spare the players five to ten more years that they will live for. However, as stated in the article, “New Rules for NFL Concussions: A Good Start”, “players are not concerned about dementia many years later.  They are concerned about the next practice, the next game, the next paycheck, and the next contract.” These are the main reasons NFL players have an average life expectancy of around fifty-five years. Except this year the league is making an effort to flip that statistic around. My advice to the players, keep your mouth shut.

~Andrew Mayano