that's a fair point.

Honestly, when I'm watching I have no idea what IS and IS NOT defensive PI anymore.

Totally. It has become ****ing ridiculous.

I love watching physical DBs (Sherman, Carr, Flowers, Chancellor, Browner, Whitner, Brown, Revis, etc). It makes me crazy seeing guys get called for the weakest PI calls during the regular season.

I've been saying for a couple years now get rid of the hard shelled helmets. Boom. done.

certainly won't have guys launching themselves into guys like missiles anymore.

yep. shitty tackling. diving at a runner blindly / head down instead of head up tackling.

No, but there are several instances where the helmet protects (knees/elbows to the head).

I think it would be worse to remove helmets than try to improve them. Additionally, I'd love to see Rugby's concussion statistics over the past 15 years and the studies on brain damage in Rugby players.

I'm not in favor of that idea whatsoever, it would take way too much physicality out of the game and lead to ALL kinds of inadvertant injuries... heads slamming to the turf, kicks to the head, all kinds of really nasty things would happen.

wear motorcycle helmets lol

It would change the game for sure (which is why I'm not in favor of it), but I recall an article from a year or two ago which suggested that injuries have actually INCREASED with extra safety equipment over time since players tend to play like their gear will always protect them.

I remember reading something to that effect as well.

I like the idea in a way. I dont think it should be on when the ball is in play, just too distracting, but for measurements flipping a switch and having the first down line appear on the field would be much better than walking the chains out.

Everything is cooler with lasers. Ever been to a Pink Floyd show?

I've thought for a while that the easiest way to do it would be to put a laser on/embedded in the first down marker and then just flip it on to measure across rather than trot the chains out.
Keep a square on the base of the marker to assure it's not angled toward an end zone and put a template or something (could be something carried by the referee) to account for the crown of the field (which I believe is about 18").

I agree. Really not necessary, but if it didn't interfere with anything and worked properly, then hell, why not?

I remember my first flashlight. It was amazing.

I vaguely remember hearing about that, on the surface it makes sense but i just dont see how newer, better equipment could be an overall detriment.

Guys are so huge and fast now that removing some of the equipment to get them to ease up a bit wouldnt add up to the same level of safety that modern gear provides.

I'd hate to have this game become rugby, however close to our football it may be in some respects.