BradyManny

Ray Lewis pathetic outburst on Sunday and Rodney's [joking] digs at Brady yesterday bring up an ongoing issue, which is that certain players feel the game is losing its physicality, and those players, are more often than not, on the defensive side of the ball.

I emphasis that they are on the defensive side of the ball b/c they are essentially on the attack at all times - Rodney and Ray get to run around the field and throw their bodies at people. At no time do Rodney or Ray Ray face the same threat, particularly to their knees, that a QB in the pocket planting their feet and throwing a ball does. It's not even close to comparable.

So, why, under any circumstances should these guys have their opinions respected on this issue? There are rules in place protecting their knees from blocks that could potentially do damage, why shouldn't the QB have comparable protection??

On top of that, the players are getting bigger & faster than was imaginable thirty years ago when the game was, in fact, more violent. And how much of that can be attributed to improvements in the science of strength & conditioning, and supplements, legal or otherwise (and I'm looking at you now, Rodney)? Honestly, I hate to take a shot at Harrison as he is one of my all-time favorite Patriots, but you got a guy who was busted for PEDs complaining that the game isn't physical enough - the reason QBs have to be protected now more than ever is b/c the players on the other side of the ball are an ungodly and unnatural combination of speed & strength and can inflict more damage and more injuries than otherwise possible.

Franky, I'm just sick of hearing defensive players bytch and moan about the game losing its physicality. They dish out pain, but aside from taking on blocks (which Ray Lewis does his best to avoid anyway), they don't take it.

xmarkd400x

I don't think its fair to lump Ray Lewis' comments with the general feeling by many players that the game has had some 'oomph' taken out of it.

I'd say that yes, the league will continue to create rules that promote player safety. This is a change, because the rules didn't exist before. As with any change, there will be those who oppose it.

Is it better? I don't know. Will people argue for both sides of it? Certainly. Are Ray Lewis' comments related? Tangentially.

BradyManny

Why do you say that? Personally, I thought they came off as very general remarks about the state of the game, and not just as specific complaints about the two calls on Brady (both of which were properly made calls).

FirstAndGoal

I don't think Ray was taking a shot at Brady. He was taking a shot at the rules. I didn't hear anything that was a shot at Brady. I think they have a healthy respect for each other.

BradyManny

Agreed - that's what I'm saying, he was complaining about a rule that protects the QB knees, yet there are rules in place protecting defensive players knees from blocks as well. And the QB is the one who is most exposed to that kind of injury, anyway.

mayoclinic

The NFL is oriented to offense and specifically to the passing game. That's what produces big numbers, big ratings, big plays, and big stars like Manning, Brady and Brees. We didn't start it. In fact, we were victims of it when Polian and his Rules Committee made changes to prevent us from physically intimidating and beating up the Colts.

It's sometimes a fine line between physical and dirty play, and I can understand the need to protect players. But personally I prefer a bit more physical play on both sides of the ball. Highlights are fine, but it's not an NBA slam dunk contest, after all. The physical nature of the game is part of what makes football what it is.

I sympathize with defensive players feeling that the NFL is being overprotective. But to ignore the rules and try and play the way you used to when you know it's going to get called is stupid. The league instituted rules about blows to the head and the Brady rule, and they're going to call those things until someone changes the rules.

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

JSn

I think they should ban defenders from running at the QB as it could up his stress levels and we all know stress is a silent killer...

I'd rather see teams build better O-Lines than have to institute a gazillion rules to keep QB's alive.

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signbabybrady

so to put it short only the players that gain from the rule changes can complain about them. whether the rules should be added or not is one thing but saying that guys who have to change the way they play can not complain is kind of foolish.


Oh yeah and you don't think trying to tackle Brandon Jacobs is painful? or even Ray Rice you see the momentum he had going for him on that big run you get in the way of that and say its not painful.

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BradyManny

But for all the whining, defensive players essentially have the same protection that QBs have with the Brady rule & other existing rules - you can't dive at their knees either.

BradyManny

There's a difference between pain and season-ending injury. The quarterbacks are more exposed than defensive players, and it's not even close.