> 1) No tackle football before a certain age (to be determined by scientists based on brain development and how damaging a concussion would be). You can learn a ton about football, running routes, learning plays, getting in shape, etc. without hitting people.
Good luck enforcing this with kids. We played flag football in school but full tackle with zero supervision after school in the park.
> 2) Ban hitting. Everything should be a wrap around tackle. No more players running full speed and launching themselves into other players. Look at how few players actually try to tackle people.
I get what you're going after but it's tricky when you're dealing with the boundaries. How do you push a guy out of bounds without "hitting" him?
> 3). Put padding on the outside of helmets and maybe shoulder pads. Current helmets are not doing nearly a good enough job of slowing down energy. They are designed to protect against fractures, but future football equipment should be designed to slow down impacts.
I see no issue with this. If it's proven to be safer than I'm sure people would switch to it. Maybe pitch it to Riddell.
> 4) Make neutral zone a few yards long. Much of the worst blows happen to linemen who fire off into each other, particularly on running plays. While big hits get the most notice, it is actually those who are suffering routine head blows that are at the most risk.
This would substantially change the mechanics of the game. I'm not sure if it would be more or less fun but it's be a wildly different game. Imagine the difference a speed player would have if there's an added 3-5 yard gap between the starting lines.
> 5) Ban the quarterback sneak and any other similar play where linemen dive into each other in short yardage situations.
The end zone plays would be different indeed. Also, no more superman shots of Cam.
> 6) Ban players for unsafe hits. 15-yard penalties are not nearly enough for something that could cause someone to die very young.
+1
It should be immediate and permanent if it's intentional. Accidental unsafe hits should result in an ejection . Bonus points if the crowd boos the player who committed the hit.
> 7) Ban players for PEDs. Steroids and HGH permanently alter your physiology. PEDs are making players unnaturally big, strong and fast. Suspensions are not enough, because even if a player stops doing them, he may have made himself unnaturally big, strong and fast.
+1
I find it hilarious that doping doesn't result in permanent bans.
> 8) Allow defensive backs to hand check and other ways of playing defense that don't revolve around big hits. The passing game has exploded in the NFL, partly because it's so hard to defend against receivers. Receivers get more separation these days. Allowing hand checking closes separation and would limit the amount of passing.
I have to think this one through further. It's hard to imagine a situation where you can take down a power running back that doesn't involve something like a hit. The truly power RBs are like tanks and the site of one dragging multiple defense players into the end zone is an amazing site.