Bobref

First of all, recognize that the gigantic selection bias makes this study scientifically invalid as “proof” of many of the sweeping conclusions attributed to it. If someone concludes that a large percentage of NFL players have or will develop CTE on the basis of this study, well, I’d like to have a crack at them on the witness stand. My guess is that whatever $$ the League has to spend on healthcare for these players will be a minuscule percentage of what those retired veterans earned for the League and its current players.

There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics. — Mark Twain

Just like there are former NFL players who don’t have CTE.

There is another way to look at this. There are very few occupations/avocations that do not have long term physical effects. Know any old carpenters or bricklayers who don’t have chronic back issues or arthritis? It’s an occupational hazard, now well-documented. As to whether it’s worth the risk, that’s an individual choice.

They will never do that. “A man’s reach should exceed his grasp … or what’s a heaven for?”

Another possible “answer” to the shortage is to get more females involved in officiating. The standard objection is “they never played the game.” That may be changing, at the grassroots level. https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/cif-unanimously-votes-to-make-flag-football-a-girls-high-school-sport/ CIF unanimously votes to make flag football a girls' high school sport FEBRUARY 3, 2023 / 3:02 PM / AP California approved a plan Friday to make flag football a girls' high school sport amid soaring popularity of the game and a push to get more female athletes on the field. The move by the California Interscholastic Federation — the statewide body that governs high school athletics — makes flag football an official sport for girls in the nation's most populous state for the upcoming 2023-24 year. The plan was approved unanimously by the organization's federated council in Long Beach, said Rebecca Brutlag, an agency spokesperson. Paula Hart Rodas, president-elect of the CIF Southern Section's council, said the goal is to get more girls involved in high school sports and tap into a widespread love of football by many who are loath to play tackle. Southern California schools spanning from Long Beach to Corona are hoping to start teams in the fall and the approval allows districts to add the sport to their budgets, Hart Rodas said. "You can love the game of football and not love getting tackled but still want to participate," Hart Rodas said. "Flag right now is aimed directly at getting more girls involved in athletics by adding a different sport that we know girls across the country are interested in, but not willing to play tackle for a variety of reasons." The move adds California to a growing list of states that have included girls' flag football in high school athletic programs, such as Alabama and Nevada. New York state's public high school athletic association took a similar step this week and expects to host the first state championship for girls flag football in the spring of 2024. The vote in California comes amid a surge in interest in flag football among younger players in recreational leagues and burgeoning support from the NFL and teams such as the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers, which have been running a pilot high school league for girls in Southern California. Scores of schools signed up to participate in the pilot and those selected to do so — and the eager young players who played in it — have widely been seen as pioneers in the sport. Paul Schmidt said being part of a start-up has been exciting for his 14-year-old daughter, who had never played flag football before she tried out for the team at Redondo Union High School, one of the schools participating in the league. Making the sport official should make it easier to secure field time, he said, and gives a boost to a tight-knit team of girls that has bonded around starting something new. "She loves it, loves it. It's exciting to be in a new sport," he said. Rising interest in flag football — in which no one gets tackled and a play ends when an opposing player pulls a flag from a belt around the ball-carrier's waist — comes amid concern about the risk of concussions and other injuries from tackle football. In the decade leading up to 2018-19, the number of girls playing flag football in U.S. high schools doubled to 11,000, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations. Without the CIF's approval, California high schools could organize flag football clubs. But coaches said allowing official interscholastic competition will likely drive more schools to start teams and develop a pipeline of players. Troy Vincent Sr., the NFL's executive vice president of football operations, wrote in the Sacramento Bee that times have changed since he played professional football, which back then was "broadly seen as a man's game." He said high school players might be able to play into college and beyond as universities have also ramped up the sport. Vincent is also pushing to get flag football added to 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. "This is no longer just a backyard sport for girls' pickup games during family holiday gatherings," he said.

Joe Brady, QB coach of the Bills.

😂 Bait declined.

Because they don’t think much of Indiana football, I would guess.

Capacity: 16,844

In case you’d like to know a little bit about CG’s opponent.

Awesome venue for high school football. Lots of history there.

Div. 1

I think it’s easier to pick up WRs and DLs who can contribute right away in the draft, while I would look to free agency for OLs. Either Orlando Brown or Mike McGlinchey would look good in a Bears’ uniform.

So, the real question now is whether Sam Hartman follows Rees to Alabama.

Agree 100% about his skimpy resume. What Saban sees in him, I have absolutely no clue. And I’ll lay a fair share of blame on Freeman for those inexplicable losses. But I chalk it up to inexperience, rather than incompetence. How he fills the OC position if Rees leaves will be huge.

And just when you think that … sh*t happens.

Here is the entire press release. 2023 NFHS Football Rules News Release.pdf

Think: holding by the offense in pass protection.

Here’s the most important. More to come soon. I’ve been stumping for this one for years. NEWS RELEASE Changes in Basic Spot for Penalty Enforcement Headline 2023 High School Football Rules Changes INDIANAPOLIS, IN (February 2, 2023) – A notable change to Rule 10 of the NFHS Football Rules Book will eliminate the excessive penalty enforcements for offensive fouls that occur behind the line of scrimmage in high school football. This change in Rule 10-4 (Basic Spots) is one of seven revisions recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Football Rules Committee at its January 8-10 meeting in Indianapolis. All changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors for the 2023 high school football season. In a move to achieve one of the committee’s fundamental tasks of maintaining a balance between offense and defense, this revision stipulates the basic spot for enforcement of fouls behind the line of scrimmage is the previous spot rather than the spot of the foul. Current penalties for illegal kicking, batting and participation fouls, as well as provisions for offensive fouls occurring in the end zone that may result in a safety, remain intact. As an example, with the change in Rule 10-4, a team on offense at its own 40-yard line that is called for holding 10 yards behind the line of scrimmage at its own 30-yard line, would be faced with first and 20 from its 30-yard line rather than the almost insurmountable task of first and 30 from its own 20-yard line.

Playing the devil’s advocate, if you had Barkley, Fields might not have to run as much, reducing the risk of injury. But again, at what price?

OK, but how much are you willing to spend on him? Shouldn’t a #1 WR and/or OL be a higher priority?

So much anger …

Brady retiring. End of an era. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/01/sports/football/tom-brady-retires.html#:~:text=At age 45%2C Brady was,would retire in February 2022.

Sean Payton, new head coach of the Denver Broncos. Looks like Denver is doubling down on Russell Wilson. https://www.nfl.com/news/broncos-sean-payton-head-coach-deal-saints