Football Bob Costas on the future of football: 'This game destroys people's brains'

DanT · 11-08-2017, 07:01 PM

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...ins/842904001/

Quote from top of article:

Quote:

Originally Posted by USA Today article

As far as longtime sports broadcaster Bob Costas is concerned, the future of football in the United States is clear — and bleak.

“The reality is that this game destroys people’s brains," he said Tuesday night.

Speaking at a roundtable discussion at the University of Maryland, Costas, who hosted Football Night in America on NBC for more than a decade, said the sport could collapse over time, barring a development in technology to make it reasonably safe. He said the decline of football, which was once “a cash machine,” is the most significant story in American sports.

“The cracks in the foundation are there,” Costas said. “The day-to-day issues, as serious as they may be, they may come and go. But you cannot change the nature of the game. I certainly would not let, if I had an athletically gifted 12- or 13-year-old son, I would not let him play football.”

**Rain Man** · 11-08-2017, 07:02 PM

Watching the Herm years messed mine up.

DanT · 11-08-2017, 07:07 PM

It's kind of sad that some people don't see the appeal of a game that packs less than 60 minutes of action into 3.5 hours of TV, with referees throwing flags all over the field, except on scoring plays that are eventually overturned on review, all run by owners that demand taxpayers build them facilities. Sure, it can result in long-term brain damage along with other chronic diseases that take away your life expectancy, but what a game, huh!

Frazod · 11-08-2017, 07:08 PM

Jesus, this ****ing cuck needs to be fired by NBC yesterday.

aces and eights · 11-08-2017, 07:12 PM

Pussification is ruining the game. I miss LT knocking ppl out, and head hunting safeties. I played from the second grade through high school. Now what was I saying?

bdj23 · 11-08-2017, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanT

It's kind of sad that some people don't see the appeal of a game that packs less than 60 minutes of action into 3.5 hours of TV, with referees throwing flags all over the field, except on scoring plays that are eventually overturned on review, all run by owners that demand taxpayers build them facilities. Sure, it can result in long-term brain damage along with other chronic diseases that take away your life expectancy, but what a game, huh!

All while our favorite team never wins us a Super Bowl.

jaa1025 · 11-08-2017, 07:23 PM

Go back to the leather helmets and people won't be using their helmets to tackle.

**srvy** · 11-08-2017, 07:23 PM

Anyone remember when Bob did NFL games. Yep he has a point as it fried his.

**notorious** · 11-08-2017, 07:30 PM

Listen to former players that are now "experts" and it's obvious.

DanT · 11-08-2017, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BDj23

All while our favorite team never wins us a Super Bowl.

49 years and counting to our next one...any day now!

Jamie · 11-08-2017, 07:39 PM

I think if you're able to look at the situation objectively it's been pretty clear for a while that football's days are numbered. Once they can reliably test for CTE in living people it will start a spiral at the end of which football will either not exist or be a fundamentally different game. I'm not saying it'll happen tomorrow or next year, but if it doesn't happen within 20 years I'll be surprised.

**hometeam** · 11-08-2017, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamie

I think if you're able to look at the situation objectively it's been pretty clear for a while that football's days are numbered. Once they can reliably test for CTE in living people it will start a spiral at the end of which football will either not exist or be a fundamentally different game. I'm not saying it'll happen tomorrow or next year, but if it doesn't happen within 20 years I'll be surprised.

Or maybe, if we are lucky, we will return to an age of personal responsibility. That would be neat.

TLO · 11-08-2017, 07:45 PM

I'd destroy my brain too to become an NFL caliber athlete. (So would most people, I'm guessing).

carcosa · 11-08-2017, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hometeam

Or maybe, if we are lucky, we will return to an age of personal responsibility. That would be neat.

Do you think more personal responsibility is going to save football somehow?

crayzkirk · 11-08-2017, 07:51 PM

Is it just me or does the NFL Network only show Chiefs games when they lose? Geez, the Chiefs played like absolute garbage against the Cowboys.

Hey, NFL... When do the Chiefs get to win one? Yeah, I know... Boo Hoo.

11-08-2017, 07:02 PM	#2
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3318491 VARSITY	Watching the Herm years messed mine up. __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
Posts: 141,427	1 0

11-08-2017, 07:07 PM	#3
DanT Veteran Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Davis, CA Casino cash: $4501711	It's kind of sad that some people don't see the appeal of a game that packs less than 60 minutes of action into 3.5 hours of TV, with referees throwing flags all over the field, except on scoring plays that are eventually overturned on review, all run by owners that demand taxpayers build them facilities. Sure, it can result in long-term brain damage along with other chronic diseases that take away your life expectancy, but what a game, huh!
Posts: 4,225	1 0

11-08-2017, 07:08 PM	#4
Frazod WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $3125085	Jesus, this ****ing cuck needs to be fired by NBC yesterday.
Posts: 119,485	1 1

11-08-2017, 07:12 PM	#5
aces and eights Rookie Join Date: May 2017 Casino cash: $5810400	Pussification is ruining the game. I miss LT knocking ppl out, and head hunting safeties. I played from the second grade through high school. Now what was I saying?
Posts: 23	3 1

11-08-2017, 07:23 PM	#7
jaa1025 Veteran Join Date: Nov 2006 Casino cash: $10000898	Go back to the leather helmets and people won't be using their helmets to tackle.
Posts: 2,922	2 0

11-08-2017, 07:23 PM	#8
srvy Fight, build, win! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: KC Casino cash: $1671250	Anyone remember when Bob did NFL games. Yep he has a point as it fried his. __________________ "The victim stance is a powerful one. The victim is always morally right, neither responsible nor accountable, and forever entitled to sympathy."
Posts: 24,358	1 0

11-08-2017, 07:30 PM	#9
notorious Supporter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Who knows? Casino cash: $2925884	Listen to former players that are now "experts" and it's obvious.
Posts: 83,365	1 0

11-08-2017, 07:39 PM	#11
Jamie Veteran Join Date: Mar 2002 Casino cash: $1498503	I think if you're able to look at the situation objectively it's been pretty clear for a while that football's days are numbered. Once they can reliably test for CTE in living people it will start a spiral at the end of which football will either not exist or be a fundamentally different game. I'm not saying it'll happen tomorrow or next year, but if it doesn't happen within 20 years I'll be surprised.
Posts: 1,392	1 1

11-08-2017, 07:45 PM	#13
TLO Life is changing.. Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: NW Missouri Casino cash: $1914900	I'd destroy my brain too to become an NFL caliber athlete. (So would most people, I'm guessing).
Posts: 38,913	1 3

11-08-2017, 07:51 PM	#15
crayzkirk Veteran Join Date: Nov 2016 Casino cash: $3850000	Is it just me or does the NFL Network only show Chiefs games when they lose? Geez, the Chiefs played like absolute garbage against the Cowboys. Hey, NFL... When do the Chiefs get to win one? Yeah, I know... Boo Hoo.
Posts: 4,357