Why Football Matters (And Other Thoughts)

As has been discussed previously in this space, PCR writer Robert Gilbert recently released the e-book "Going Beyond: Vision, the NFL, and the 2010 Carolina Panthers." 

David Masciotra, author of "Working on a Dream: The Progressive Political Vision of Bruce Springsteen," provided the introduction for Gilbert's book, and recently released the introduction on his blog for ChicagoNow.

After the jump is an excerpt from his introduction, with a link to the full text.

Need a new book for your NOOKcolor/NOOK?

"Going Beyond: Vision, the NFL, and the 2010 Carolina Panthers," PCR writer Robert G. Gilbert's new e-book, is now available from Barnes & Noble in addition to Amazon. 

VIDEO: Participate in a Pro Bowl Practice as Michael Vick

Keeping with the Michael Vick theme, it's not too often -- I don't even know that it's been done before -- that a mere spectator of a football game has had the opportunity to see the live action from the quarterback's point of view. Interestingly, new technology has allowed spectators to pry a little more into what a quarterback sees during a practice, as evidenced in this recent video, available on NFL.com .

Should the Carolina Panthers draft Nick Fairley #1 Overall? Maybe not.

Auburn DT Nick Fairley, celebrating

Many NFL media pundits, and many fans alike, think that the Carolina Panthers should draft Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley with the first pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Awed, perhaps, by the difference-making abilities of recent high defensive-tackle selections, like the Detroit Lions' Ndamukong Suh and the Baltimore Ravens' Haloti Ngata, they see the disruptive force Fairley was on opposing offensive lines this past college season, and the brilliant performance he put on in the BCS National Championship Game between Oregon and Auburn.

CBA Dispute: The NFL Owners Hold The Upper Hand

NFLPA President Kevin Mawae

The New York Daily News today ran a column discussing how the owners in the NFL hold all the chips, as it were, in the ongoing CBA debacle that could result in no football next season. 


The article, by Gary Myers, makes this simple point that few have discussed: The players cannot band together. He points to examples of Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie attacking NFLPA leadership via Twitter, the mass crucifixion of Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, and more to show that the fraternity of players simply can't hold together in their battle against the owners. 

Not Only More Injuries; But Retired NFL Players Take More Painkillers

An article showed up earlier today on www.businessweek.com about retired NFL players and opioids. A group of over 500 retired NFL players from 1979 to 2006 were surveyed by researchers, and it turns out that NFL retirees are FOUR TIMES more likely to take prescription painkillers.

This is right in line with our earlier news today concerning the rise of injury in the NFL. Just as society has become an instant place, wanting convenience over quality, even, the instant success world of the NFL and the evolution of NFL players to be bigger, faster, stronger, taller has caused the NFL to become a far more violent, "dirty" game then it was in years past. Sure, players like Jack Lambert, Deacon Jones, and Ray Nitschke put fear into the heart of opposing players in the past, but now, any Joe off the street is capable of paralyzing you for life because he has either been taught to use his helmet as a weapon, or he has decided to do that himself.

A Logical Solution to NFL Games Played Overseas

Which teams are scheduled to travel 14 hours overseas to play an important regular season game on foreign soil? There are fans who favor the international games, and of course there are fans who really feel that the NFL has no business sending its product overseas for a regular season battle. Where do you stand?

Until recently, I hadn't an issue with the NFL scheduling two teams to play an international game. However to me, there is a more logical choice that should be strongly considered when league officials decide which teams head overseas to entertain fans.

Is the NFL Doing Enough to Protect its Players from Concussions?

            I’ve been at a “football watching party” at my friend’s house. Sometimes I’m at a bar watching football. I’ve witnessed it live from within the confines of a stadium, even. Regardless of where I’m watching an NFL game, I’ve seen the scenario one-too-many times. A receiver goes to grab a pass and upon returning to the ground from his acrobatic feat, and takes a hit from a defender that makes me cringe. I wait for the receiver to get back on his feet. Sometimes after a hit of that magnitude, he’s a little slow to rise. But this time it’s different. This event is comparable to one of those dreaded instances in the past, where 15 or 20 seconds have passed, and he’s still laying face-down, motionless on the field. Might he have suffered a concussion? The training staff runs out to aid the fallen athlete. Thirty seconds have passed, and still he’s lying motionless on the field. Next the motorized cart enters the field where the trainers are now stabilizing the player before transporting him somewhere inside the bowels of the stadium for further examination. While he’s transported off the field, I wait for a thumbs-up or some type of signal from the player that indicates he’s all right. Sometimes I receive that indication; other times I’m left to wonder if I’ll ever see one of the best players of the game return to the field of play again, while also wondering what emotions his family must be experiencing at this time.

NFLPA Finds Increase in Injuries in 2010

The study claims that players incurred 3.7 injuries per team per week, and that 63 percent of the players in the league suffered at least one injury.

Of those injuries, 37.7 percent of the injuries required a player to miss a game, with 12.6 percent of the injuries causing them to be placed on injured reserve.

The study finds that the number of players landing on injured reserve — more than 350 — greatly outpaced 2009, when 250 players finished the year on IR.

Read more at  http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/28/union-cites-increase-in-injuries-in-2010/ 

There are several things the NFL could do to cut down on injuries:

1) Use the best-possible helmets. New, better helmets are being researched and developed - the NFL needs to pour resources into helmet design and then mandate the usage of said design's product. 

2) Consistent penalties - AND ejections. Despite the NFL saying repeatedly that ejections would be forthcoming for repeat offenders on helmet-to-helmet hits, very few ejections actually occurred. Make it an egregious offense to spear or helmet-to-helmet hit someone, and let's see what happens. 

3) Strongly consider a second bye-week even if the regular season stays at 16 games. It may even work to give an extra week off in between pre-season and regular season. 

Comment with your own suggestions of how injuries could be reduced. Obviously injuries will not be removed from the game, but it's utterly ridiculous that 2/3 of the league's players should suffer some form of injury. Does any other professional sport have that type of number?

Going Beyond: Vision, the NFL, and the 2010 Carolina Panthers

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/01/prweb4946734.htm

“Going Beyond: Vision, the NFL, and the 2010 Carolina Panthers is Robert G. Gilbert’s definitive e-book on the composition of NFL Football. Defining and utilizing such concepts as critical thinking, player development, the role of coaching, computer profiling, mentoring, entropy, the vital significance of vision, and more, Gilbert crafts a textbook that truly does show the reader how to go beyond, in life as well as football. His detailed critical analysis of the 2010 Carolina Panthers illustrates how to properly implement the methodologies he develops, in addition to offering the Carolina Panthers a chance for true growth.”

http://www.explosivegrowthoutreach.com/

Jay Glazer, New York Jets, Patriots and the NFL: Tripgate, the Unspoken Issue

While the NFL Playoffs have wound on, with thrilling performances by quarterback Aaron Rodgers for Green Bay, a disappointing showing from the reigning world champion New Orleans Saints against the record-wise worst playoff team in NFL history, an uncharacteristic meltdown from Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens on the road against the Ben Roethlisberger-led Pittsburgh Steelers and two road victories by the upstart loudmouth New York Jets and their head coach, Rex Ryan, a story has been developing.

Robert Gilbert’s response to Matthew Futterman’s “Is This the Apotheosis of the NFL?”

Matthew Futterman, sports columnist for the Wall Street Journal, wrote an excellent editorial entitled “Is This the Apotheosis of the NFL?" on January 14, 2011.

John Wooden, Teaching, And Carolina Panthers Head Coach Ron Rivera

Former San Diego Chargers and Chicago Bears defensive coordinator, new Carolina Panthers Head Coach Ron Rivera said, in his first press conference with Carolina, "We're looking for teachers. We're looking for guys that are going to be really good in the classroom and out on the field, and that will make that commitment to the players.”

Hiring teachers is an excellent first step towards overcoming and going beyond, but for sustained improvement, teachers must become mentors. 

MOMENTUM: Aaron Rodgers, The Green Bay Packers, and The Atlanta Falcons

In my Quick Thoughts on the Steelers-Ravens matchup earlier, I talked multiple times about the concept of Momentum and how NFL teams should strive towards understanding it better – its effects, controlling it, and how to utilize it to their advantage.