Marshall Faulk doesn't want a safer game

[polamalubeast]

The concussion lawsuits filed by former NFL players have generated a lot of interest of late, but not every ex-NFLer is involved in them.

Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk says that he never had a concussion in his 13-year career, which likely colors his opinion about moves being made to make the game safer. Faulk, who admits to worrying about how his body will hold up in 10 years, isn’t a fan of such moves and told Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch as much in a recent interview.

“It’s pretty simple for me,” Faulk said. “Player safety is ‘Go play golf. Go play basketball where they call fouls for slapping you on the hand.’ … But it’s football. I hope guys get to play longer and there aren’t as many injuries as there were in the past. But I’m sorry, it is a contact sport. And I will feel cheated to a certain extent (if too many changes are made) because I want to watch the contact sport that I grew up loving and watching, but I know that’s no longer possible.”

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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...-a-safer-game/

[GodfatherofSoul]

I could be in denial, but I'm not so sure all of these health problem are concussion related.

[XxKnightxX]

Marshall Faulk says that he never had a concussion in his 13-year career

You see that thing hes got on his mouth? Yeah thats a great reason he avoided concussions. Something none of the players wear nowadays.

[NCSteeler]

Wow, Admittedly not a big fan of Faulk's, since his stint on NLFN, but I gotta give him props for speaking his mind and the truth about what he loves.

[Bluecoat96]

Wow, Admittedly not a big fan of Faulk's, since his stint on NLFN, but I gotta give him props for speaking his mind and the truth about what he loves.

I agree 100% He got a few brownie points in my book.

[steelerdiva]

Faulk still ain't one of my favorite people, but he spoke the truth here. Props....

[Chidi29]

Easy for the player that is out of the league to say...

[fansince'76]

Easy for the player that is out of the league to say...

When it's a 13-year HoF RB, it carries some weight. Especially when contrasted with the concussion claims of money-grubbing dirtbags like Art Schlichter and Sean Salisbury who were either complete busts whose NFL "careers" lasted about as long as a cup of coffee (Schlichter) or scrubs who almost never played (Salisbury).

[Chidi29]

When it's a 13-year HoF RB, it carries some weight. Especially when contrasted with the concussion claims of money-grubbing dirtbags like Art Schlichter and Sean Salisbury who were either complete busts whose NFL "careers" lasted about as long as a cup of coffee (Schlichter) or scrubs who almost never played (Salisbury).

Not to me. He's an observer now. One who for the most part, played in an era where concussions were treated much less seriously now. I'm sure had he played today, hits that would then be described as having his "bell rung" would now be concussions.

Yes, what some people are doing is disgusting. Everyone is crying wolf. But it doesn't mean that the wolf doesn't really exists even if it is overshadowed by player hyperbole.

[fansince'76]

You see that thing hes got on his mouth? Yeah thats a great reason he avoided concussions. Something none of the players wear nowadays.

Bingo! When the players are mandated to wear those, along with the demonstrably safer "brain bucket" helmets (modeled by Steve Wallace below), and there is still a concussion "epidemic," then come talk to me about making sweeping and fundamental rules changes in the name of safety. But until then, stop screwing up the damn game.

[fansince'76]

Not to me. He's an observer now. One who for the most part, played in an era where concussions were treated much less seriously now. I'm sure had he played today, hits that would then be described as having his "bell rung" would now be concussions.

You're "sure" of that, huh? Pretty presumptuous, if you ask me.

[Chidi29]

You're "sure" of that, huh? Pretty presumptuous, if you ask me.

A running back who played for 13 years with over 3500 career touches not suffering one concussion? Pretty naive, if you ask me. And that is the biggest hurdle in overcoming the issue of concussions. They're still being treated as a myth when nothing could be farther from the truth.

[fansince'76]

A running back who played for 13 years with over 3500 career touches not suffering one concussion? Pretty naive, if you ask me. And that is the biggest hurdle in overcoming the issue of concussions. They're still being treated as a myth when nothing could be farther from the truth.

Don't consider them a myth. I do think the problem is overblown and exacerbated thanks largely to people like Salisbury and Schlichter, not to mention ambulance-chasing parasitic shysters like this. And I still think the NFL needs to mandate safer equipment, regardless of how "dorky" it looks, as opposed to legislating the game to the point where it's glorified flag football.

And Faulk himself claimed he never had a concussion - you know his body better than he does? Like I said, pretty presumptuous.

[Chidi29]

Don't consider them a myth. I do think the problem is overblown and exacerbated thanks largely to people like Salisbury and Schlichter, not to mention ambulance-chasing parasitic shysters like this. And I still think the NFL needs to mandate safer equipment, regardless of how "dorky" it looks, as opposed to legislating the game to the point where it's glorified flag football.

And Faulk himself claimed he never had a concussion - you know his body better than he does? Like I said, pretty presumptuous.

They're in the process of doing both. The league has put a ton of money/time/effort into equipment and helmet research. CEO's of companies like Schuttl have takled about the fact Goodell and the league is taking a better approach to the issue. There's a subcommittee called the, "Subcommittee on Safety Equipment and Playing Rules". The issue of having safe equipment and mandating it is not cut and dry. And of course, all helmets that are allowed to be worn must reach a certain benchmark that must be reached set by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment.

I think Faulk had a concussions(s). He just didn't know it because during that time, no one called them that.

[Aussie_steeler]

I think Faulk had a concussions(s). He just didn't know it because during that time, no one called them that.

I think you are a Roger Goodell apologist who just didnt know it because during that time and no one called you out.

[Chidi29]

I think you are a Roger Goodell apologist who just didnt know it because during that time and no one called you out.

I've been called an apologist on here more than I've been called Chidi.

[Chidi29]

And even if we take Faulk at his word and assume he never suffered a concussion, he doesn't know the severity of actually having one. It's easy to not want things that don't affect you, even if they affect others in your line of work.

[NCSteeler]

They're in the process of doing both. The league has put a ton of money/time/effort into equipment and helmet research. CEO's of companies like Schuttl have takled about the fact Goodell and the league is taking a better approach to the issue. There's a subcommittee called the, "Subcommittee on Safety Equipment and Playing Rules". The issue of having safe equipment and mandating it is not cut and dry. And of course, all helmets that are allowed to be worn must reach a certain benchmark that must be reached set by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment.

I think Faulk had a concussions(s). He just didn't know it because during that time, no one called them that.

I don't mean to possibly bring your age into this BUT, you keep referring to "that time" like he played in the damn 50s or something. You know he's only been retired about 10 years right. I do believe if he said he never had one he knows he never had one. A, he wore a mouth piece, it has been proven to help. B, RBs can control where their heads go and Faulk was usually a body save and would step out of bounds if needed. The guys that get mauled and knocked out get good treatment and have for a few years, it's the lineman that get minor concussions week after week and never get a break that end up having the really big problems down the road. Yet all the rule changes are geared towards Offensive skill players getting hit. Which could be a reaction to the media or reaction to fans wanting high scoring, but either way it's not addressing the majority of head injuries. Second you keep quoting sources about the leagues safety committee and equipment committees as proof that they are doing something, they have yet to do anything other than mandate hip and knee pads, WHOA that's a major step after how many meetings? I've seen little movement on mandated mouth pieces, or how about just starting negotiations with the union on the ability to mandate safety equipment. If the League really cared sooo much, the next CBA would not be signed by ownership until there was clear language that allowed them to mandate safety equipment. They got language added to be able to control the color of their jock strap but have yet to consider safety equipment, HUH.

[Chidi29]

I don't mean to possibly bring your age into this BUT, you keep referring to "that time" like he played in the damn 50s or something. You know he's only been retired about 10 years right. I do believe if he said he never had one he knows he never had one. A, he wore a mouth piece, it has been proven to help. B, RBs can control where their heads go and Faulk was usually a body save and would step out of bounds if needed. The guys that get mauled and knocked out get good treatment and have for a few years, it's the lineman that get minor concussions week after week and never get a break that end up having the really big problems down the road. Yet all the rule changes are geared towards Offensive skill players getting hit. Which could be a reaction to the media or reaction to fans wanting high scoring, but either way it's not addressing the majority of head injuries. Second you keep quoting sources about the leagues safety committee and equipment committees as proof that they are doing something, they have yet to do anything other than mandate hip and knee pads, WHOA that's a major step after how many meetings? I've seen little movement on mandated mouth pieces, or how about just starting negotiations with the union on the ability to mandate safety equipment. If the League really cared sooo much, the next CBA would not be signed by ownership until there was clear language that allowed them to mandate safety equipment. They got language added to be able to control the color of their jock strap but have yet to consider safety equipment, HUH.

You and the rest of the "anti-Goodell" group are being hypocrites.

You can't sit here and say the game has drastically changed under Goodell and then say the game Faulk played ten years ago is similar to today. The fact is that concussions and head injuries are looked at and treated much differently today. You have to admit that much.

I'm sorry they haven't been consulting you on the steps they're taking to try and make the game safer. The league is pouring in millions of dollars a year into research on concussions and safety features. The brightest minds around are working closely with Goodell. And they have been introducing new things. Acceleromters just completed their first pilot season in the NFL (like the Law Firm in the Super Bowl. It's on his mouthguard.



Trying to make the game safer takes a lot of time. It's not an overnight thing. It's a science and like anything in science, it takes a lot of data collection (which takes a lot of time) and verification. With the league being relatively new at attacking this issue. It's not a quick fix nor is it an easy one.

I know some doctors don't even want an offical helmet. So there's that, leading experts not wanting one.

There is so much going on behind the scenes that people don't take the time and try to find out.

[NCSteeler]

You and the rest of the "anti-Goodell" group are being hypocrites.

You can't sit here and say the game has drastically changed under Goodell and then say the game Faulk played ten years ago is similar to today. The fact is that concussions and head injuries are looked at and treated much differently today. You have to admit that much.

I'm sorry they haven't been consulting you on the steps they're taking to try and make the game safer. The league is pouring in millions of dollars a year into research on concussions and safety features. The brightest minds around are working closely with Goodell. And they have been introducing new things. Acceleromters just completed their first pilot season in the NFL (like the Law Firm in the Super Bowl. It's on his mouthguard.



Trying to make the game safer takes a lot of time. It's not an overnight thing. It's a science and like anything in science, it takes a lot of data collection (which takes a lot of time) and verification. With the league being relatively new at attacking this issue. It's not a quick fix nor is it an easy one.

I know some doctors don't even want an offical helmet. So there's that, leading experts not wanting one.

There is so much going on behind the scenes that people don't take the time and try to find out.

I never said the game has changed drastically just the fines and penalties for playing the game

No matter what they are doing behind the scenes, they must get CBA language that allows them to mandate safety items, to date all they care about is the color of your socks and shoes.

[Chidi29]

I never said the game has changed drastically just the fines and penalties for playing the game

No matter what they are doing behind the scenes, they must get CBA language that allows them to mandate safety items, to date all they care about is the color of your socks and shoes.

And the entire way concussions are looked at. The research and the seriousness of them has completely changed in the past ten years.

There is no piece of safety equipment that is been proven to be far and away "the safest" out there. Research is still being done on that. Right now, we're still trying to figure out how to make the safest helmet. We're still partially in the research stage.

[steeldawg]

Then Faulk should be calling out the players suing the nfl for injuries they suffered.

[SMR]

I've been called an apologist on here more than I've been called Chidi.

Hey, if the shoes fits...

Apologist you are, indeed.

[Chidi29]

Hey, if the shoes fits...

Apologist you are, indeed.

And everyone else is on the other end of the spectrum, the anti-Goodell, can't do anythign right.

[steelerdude15]

I don't understand why some of you think the players don't wear mouth guards. They still wear mouth guards, but most no longer wear the ones that attach to the helmets. Many of the mouth guards are also clear as well.