Without a rooting interest (which is pretty much all the time being a Jets fan) I watch, but not enthusiastically.
am bothered by how huge the NFL industry has grown and how it minimizes violent behavior of players.
It's a violent game. Anyone playing should know that going in. Sure,things can be done to minimize the injuries (especially concussions) but in the end the game is about knocking people down on to the ground. 200-300lb guys running full speed at each other is going to be violent. The atheletes have gotten faster and bigger, thus the collisions are going to be greater (F=MA). There is a limit to how much a body (and head) can take and I think they are finding that limit.
Want to limit concussions? Get rid of the hard plastic on the helmet (or the helmet all together) and go back tot he leather helmets. Not many are going to lead with their heads when there is minimal, or no protection for their noggin.
The concussion is not from the blow to the head, it's from the sloshing of the brain inside the skull cause by the sudden stop or change of direction. The only thing the helmet prevents is the big bruise on the outside. Sure some of the padding in the helmet helps cushion the blow, but in the end, the brain sloshes.
The same "sloshing" effect caused me to lose my sense of smell.
And the NFL is in it for the money. If there was no money to be made, there would be no NFL. How much is too much? I don't have an answer for that.
