Posted on Aug 31, 2017
ESPN Football Analyst Walks Away, Disturbed by Brain Trauma on Field
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The last straw, he said, was working the Outback Bowl in December, when he saw the Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard hobbled, taking hits and being left in the game until the final two minutes of a 30-3 blowout loss to Florida. Beathard went on to be taken in the third round of the N.F.L. draft by the San Francisco 49ers. The bowl game (“a game that means less than zero,” Cunningham said) still rankles Cunningham.
“I know some of the coaches from that team, known them for years,” he said. “And it was hard for me not to walk down after the game and just say: ‘Dudes, what are you doing? Really? What are you doing?’ These are just kids.”
Cunningham teared up again. “I get emotional,” he said.
He said he hoped being publicly forthcoming about his rationale for leaving the broadcast booth would further the conversation about football safety. His desire, though, is not to undermine the game but to help it.
“I know some of the coaches from that team, known them for years,” he said. “And it was hard for me not to walk down after the game and just say: ‘Dudes, what are you doing? Really? What are you doing?’ These are just kids.”
Cunningham teared up again. “I get emotional,” he said.
He said he hoped being publicly forthcoming about his rationale for leaving the broadcast booth would further the conversation about football safety. His desire, though, is not to undermine the game but to help it.
ESPN Football Analyst Walks Away, Disturbed by Brain Trauma on Field
Posted from nytimes.com
Football
Broadcast Media
TBI
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 2
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SSG Carlos Madden I really think the answer (though counter intuitive) is less padding. Look at a sport like rugby. They don't wear a lot of padding, and they don't have the same injury issues. The reason is that players have to learn the proper technique, and implement it on each play. Not just because they could injure the other player, but because they could injure themselves as well. If American Football players had to be as proficient in technique as well as taking their own safety into account during a play, it should result in fewer injuries. Instead of flying around the field looking to make the big hit, they would be forced to consider the impact on themselves as well. Football is a collision sport. There are going to be injuries, the only way to avoid it is not to play. There are ways to mitigate that risk. Reducing the amount of padding between the player and the field would make risk assessment a part of each play.
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SGT (Join to see)
That is a great point! I would like to stress another point. I played when when technique was stressed daily. I watch these younger players and they are pathetic. Tackling with their heads down, leaving their feet, and poor blocking techniques. One thing I like about Urban Meyer is that he stresses proper technique and that is why his teams win. They sustain their blocks, they square off, wrap, and run through the tackle. When they played against Alabama and Oregon in their national title run, I saw a lot of injured players from Alabama and Oregon. Cardale Jones separated the shoulder of an Alabama All-American defensive back because he kept his legs driving when the DB did not square off, wrap, or run through the tackle. Size has nothing to do with it. Technique will trump muscle every time. I was a 150 pound offensive guard/middle linebacker and blocked 300 pound linemen by simply sealing their tackling arm and keeping my feet moving and fighting off blockers with technique. I was never injured and played against several future NFL players.
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SSG Carlos Madden
I've read that too. They say when football has less padding, there were actually less injuries. I think when you teach kids how to fundamentally tackle with their bodies rather than their equipment, they might have better/safer habits later on.
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