Another young guy retires.

[TeeTee]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000496012/article/anthony-davis-departure-continues-49ers-tumultuous-offseason

Now the 9ers starting LT retires, at 27 years-old.

The NFL doesn't want to admit it, but this is a trend. Players suddenly are choosing to retire even when they still have years left of playing time.

And SF must be a completely wreck; they have had like 3 players in their prime call it quits. I have a feeling that org. is a hot mess right now.

They will return to the bottom of the div. this season.

[fansince'76]

Even more than Goodell's inept stewardship, fear of concussions/CTE is what's probably going to kill the NFL once and for all. Participation in youth leagues up to the high school level has been dropping every year for a while now as well.

[Devilsdancefloor]

could be player would rather retire than play for the 9ers? I have a feeling something is going on behind the scenes we have no clue about.

[Edman]

Even more than Goodell's inept stewardship, fear of concussions/CTE is what's probably going to kill the NFL once and for all. Participation in youth leagues up to the high school level has been dropping every year for a while now as well.

Considering that the helmets that players wear aren't even protection anymore, it's a given.

Today's Helmets are not protection, they're weaponry.

[fansince'76]

Considering that the helmets that players wear aren't even protection anymore, it's a given.

Today's Helmets are not protection, they're weaponry.

Exacerbating the situation are helicopter parents that want to send their kids outside encased in bubble wrap just to ride a bike, but that's a whole other issue...

[tube517]

Exacerbating the situation are helicopter parents that want to send their kids outside encased in bubble wrap just to ride a bike, but that's a whole other issue...

http://bensalemcomfort.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Bubble-Wrap-Kid.jpg

[fansince'76]

http://bensalemcomfort.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Bubble-Wrap-Kid.jpg

Exactly! :lol:

Remember doing this, tube? I do - no helmet, no padding, and dangerous as hell (the ramps we used to set up were a lot bigger and higher off the ground to boot). My "Evel Kneivel" career ended when I was about 11 and I wound up doing a header over my handlebars. On second thought, maybe it's a good thing that kids today don't have an Evel Knievel-like influence like we did. :chuckle:

http://scontent-a.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xfa1/t51.2885-15/10818128_388112338031039_299807689_n.jpg

I also remember regularly participating in contests on the playground to see who could jump the farthest out of the swingset:

http://ak2.picdn.net/shutterstock/videos/2118335/preview/stock-footage-boy-jumps-off-swing-set.jpg

[Craic]

Exactly! :lol:

Remember doing this, tube? I do - no helmet, no padding, and dangerous as hell (the ramps we used to set up were a lot bigger and higher off the ground to boot). My "Evel Kneivel" career ended when I was about 11 and I wound up doing a header over my handlebars. On second thought, maybe it's a good thing that kids today don't have an Evel Knievel-like influence like we did. :chuckle:

http://scontent-a.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xfa1/t51.2885-15/10818128_388112338031039_299807689_n.jpg

I also remember regularly participating in contests on the playground to see who could jump the farthest out of the swingset:

http://ak2.picdn.net/shutterstock/videos/2118335/preview/stock-footage-boy-jumps-off-swing-set.jpg

Yep.

I remember the ramp would be a 1x10 and a few pieces of 2x4 stacked under it. I had the ramp crumple on me one time, sending me crashing down, both to the ground, and before that, to the crossbar. OUCH. Needless to say, I went and put the yellow pads on my Pro Thunder.
http://cdn.bmx.transworld.net/wp-content/blogs.dir/444/files/2012/03/1979huffyprothunder.jpg



Also remember jumping out the swings blindfolded. We were doing simulations in class, and that one was a day's simulation of being blind. I still wanted to jump from the swingset, so I did. Scared the #%(@ out of my partner for the day.

[ALLD]

^^^ After I got my driver's license one of the kids I used to play baseball with was jumping ramps down the block. I was driving past and he was crying and a bone was sticking out of his right arm. I totally freaked.