[ThePundit]

I think the NFL is soon going to have to play flag instead of tackle football. Every year the injuries get worse and worse. It's ridiculous: Look at all the RB's that are hurt or who have been hurt and missed signifcant time.

Marshawn Lynch
Kevin Jones
Larry Johnson
Sean Alexander
Sammy Morris
Ronnie Brown
Cadillac Williams
Frank Gore
Stephen Jackson
LaMont Jordan
Ahman Greene
Rudi Johnson
Brian Westbrook
Adrian Peterson
Deuce McCallister
Lawrence Maroney

THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I haven't even counted guys who just missed like 1 game, like Brandon Jacobs and Maurice Jones Drew.

[Tiny Tom]

Originally Posted by ThePundit

I think the NFL is soon going to have to play flag instead of tackle football. Every year the injuries get worse and worse. It's ridiculous: Look at all the RB's that are hurt or who have been hurt and missed signifcant time.

I was basically saying the same thing. And this is just the runnningbacks!!! Never mind all the other offensive or defensive positions!!! Is it just this year or is it progressing worse each year injuries in the NFL is the question I asked.

Marshawn Lynch
Kevin Jones
Larry Johnson
Sean Alexander
Sammy Morris
Ronnie Brown
Cadillac Williams
Frank Gore
Stephen Jackson
LaMont Jordan
Ahman Greene
Rudi Johnson
Brian Westbrook
Adrian Peterson
Deuce McCallister
Lawrence Maroney

THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I haven't even counted guys who just missed like 1 game, like Brandon Jacobs and Maurice Jones Drew.

I was basically saying the same thing and it's only mid-season. And this is just the runnningbacks!!! Never mind all the other offensive or defensive positions!!! Is it just this year or is it progressing worse each year injuries in the NFL is the question I asked.

[NASCAR Gnome]

Bigger, stronger, faster... every year the players are getting that way and injuries are more becoming pronounced because when the "immovable object" meets the "irresistible force" the human body usually ends up paying the price!

Ben Roethlisberger is listed as 6'5 and 241 lbs. This fellow is the current "archetype" (prototype) of what QBs in the NFL are supposed to be. Joe Montana stood 6'2 200 lbs. and he was considered the "archetype" in his time. Joe played 20+ years ago and since that time, players have gotten much, much larger. Back then, if you were 300 lbs. on the O-line, you were considered a "freak" and today if you're NOT 300 lbs.-plus, you are too SMALL!!!

The human body can only take so much. I'm no doctor but you can build your muscles and make them bigger and stronger but unfortunately for these behemoths, the knee joint still bends the same way as does the ankle, elbow, shoulders, etc. As time goes on, don't be surprised to see injuries pile up - that's normal for this sport!

[Tiny Tom]

NASCAR Gnome's logic is impeccable. Nice work breaking it down scientifically with weight and pressure points for these athletes. I have to wonder with the mammoth load of injuries and half the marquee players being out (and it's only week10!!!) already if the quality of NFL football is suffering because we are forced to watch Jesse Chatmans instead of the Ronnie Browns and the Simeon Rices instead of the Dwight Freeneys of the league.

[NASCAR Gnome]

Thanks Tiny, for the kind words and yes, I manage to get some things cogent every once in a while!

I've been following the sport since I can recall and I can't recall a time where the players are just so much bigger across the board! In a way, you can say basketball players have gotten taller and bigger with a larger proportion now in the NBA of 7-footers but the difference is you don't hear about Yao Ming or Dirk Nowitzki going down (and is lost for the season) with an ACL because of the sport!

The NFL has to understand that fans are there for the players. Sure, if Jesse Chatman becomes the default starter because Ronnie Brown is lost for the season, true fans will continue to cheer Chatman and the Dolphins on but in truth, he's NOT the guy they paid to see! Aside from quarterbacks, the running backs are the marquee players in the league and while everyone makes the extra effort to protect the QB, nothing appears to be done to protect the RB!

On ESPN, Bill Parcells said that the average lifespan for a RB in the NFL is 4 years. He also said that it's a "disposable" position! When questioned about that statement, he made it clear that teams like New England (Antowain Smith, Corey Dillon, Kevin Faulk, Lawrence Maroney) and Denver (Terrell Davis, Olandis Gary, Tatum Bell, Mike Bell, Clinton Portis, Travis Henry, Selvin Young) have proven that you can have success without spending 30-40 million in signing a star like Shaun Alexander only to see him get hurt and earn his paycheck on the sidelines! Both Shanahan and Belichick have figured out the position and have done things other coaches would not think of doing. If you know that the law of averages is a four-year lifespan for RBs, and the fact that RBs like Curtis Martin, Marshall Faulk, John Riggins, Walter Peyton, etc., are very rare, then it probably is a smart move to follow the models the two coaches have set and look at several RBs rather than one!

Adrian Peterson was on his way to doing some very special things this season but when the human body is abused the way is in this sport, it's no surprise to me to see him go down. Sad but true...

[Seahawker 562]

good news for seahawk fans, no SA

[Tiny Tom]

Seems like the days of Emmitt Smith and Barry Sanders are gone to be replaced by a merry go round of mediocre running backs as well as second stringers in other positions when the marquee players go down. Anthony Gonzalez taking the place of Marvin Harrison? PLEASE!!! And then even he gets hurt!!! The NFL is beginning to look like the XFL in terms of on field talent.

[Tiny Tom]

Aside from Kiwanuka and McNabb which NFL stars got hurt today?

[ThePundit]

Originally Posted by Tiny Tom

Aside from Kiwanuka and McNabb which NFL stars got hurt today?

Brandon Jacobs hurt his hamstring and came out of the game and did not return.

[Tiny Tom]

Yeah but Howie Long said he'd play next week. Don't know what he based that on but whatever. If Jacobs misses more time than they have just Droughns carrying the load for them and that's not good at all. Still I only put the stamp on guys when they are on IR. As I said before, nowadays by mid-season the NFL on-field talent looks like Vince McMahon's XFL.

[azrael492]

Originally Posted by Tiny Tom

Yeah but Howie Long said he'd play next week. Don't know what he based that on but whatever. If Jacobs misses more time than they have just Droughns carrying the load for them and that's not good at all. Still I only put the stamp on guys when they are on IR. As I said before, nowadays by mid-season the NFL on-field talent looks like Vince McMahon's XFL.

Jacobs got hurt in the 2nd?? game of the season and was out for 4-6 weeks. He has played the last couple games and gets hurt again. Could he just be too big to play this position? He is listed as 6'4" and over 260. Is that too big to get the ball as many times as he does?