NFL’s biggest issue
Forget concessions, that’s so 2013.
Forget star players holding out and missing time, that’s so Le’Veon 2018.
Forget the CBA and the potential work stoppage, that’s so 2021.
Nope. The biggest swirling talking point for the NFL right now is the wear and tear – emotionally as well as physically – the game has on its stars.
This is not new, of course. But the conversation of this has become newly commonplace.
It started with the discussions of Andrew Luck retiring in large part because of the cycle of injury, pain, rehab, play, rinse and repeat.
It continued when everyone’s favorite Polar Bear, Rob Gronkowski, talked about how the injuries and the effort to get on the field and stay on the field took the joy of the game from him and in some ways the joy of life away.
It continued to a darker place with LeRon McClain, the former Alabama fullback and NFL veteran who played for almost a decade, pleading for the league to help him get his head checked.
Again, this is not breaking news, that these players are breaking their bodies for the game they love, and that the process has, does, and will continue to break the players’ spirits, as well.
But talking about this – from some of the toughest dudes of their generation in Luck, Gronk and McClain – is even more damaging for a sport that has become accustomed to fighting the bad PR of several of its stars saying they would not let their sons play.
I think booing Andrew Luck was in poor form. Truly I do.
I understand the laments of Gronk, especially when he is calling a news conference to pitch a new pain reliever with CBD oil. (And I also believe the league needs to take a collective stance on dealing with pain relievers, up to and including marijuana, and come up with ways to help the players cope with the mental as well as the physical anguish.)
I feel for McLain’s issues with head injuries and pain.
But let’s be really blunt here: It’s not like any of us or any of them should be surprised by this, right? They knew this going in and they readily accepted the transaction of fame and glory and six- or seven-figure salaries to be a modern-day gladiator in a sport that has never been more popular and never been more tightly regulated in an attempt at safety, and one that has never been played by a collection of physical freaks that have middle linebackers who are the size of former left tackles and who run at the speed of O.J. Simpson.
But the issues of players making enough money to live forever without sacrificing their quality of that life they have created will affect the league from this day forward.
And not just fringe guys. Stars. Potential Hall of Famers.
And the spins of this for future generations who are wondering if they are tough enough to play when the toughest of the tough who are already playing at the highest level are questioning whether they are tough enough is a powerful and negative narrative.
Speaking of that
Well, for the first time in 30 years, involvement in prep sports declined, according to this story on ESPN.
It was sparked by the fifth straight year in which numbers of high school participants dropped.
The number of total high school sports participants in 2018-19 was 7,937,491 according to the annual survey conducted by the National Federation of State High School Associations. That was down 43,395 from 2017-18.
The survey showed that participation in 11-man football dropped by almost 31,000 and the 1,006,013 playing 11-man football is the lowest mark since the 1999-2000 school year. And that is with 168 more schools offering 11-man football. All but seven states had a drop in the number of football participants in the traditional game.
That said, participants increased nationally in six-, eight- and nine-player versions of the game, with 156 schools adding it and 1,594 new participants.
So there’s that.
College football catch-up
It’s Hump Day for most of us working stiffs who are breaking our humps. (Seriously, I can’t even say that with a straight face. Unless I lose my voice or type a blister on my finger, what physical strains do either of my day jobs present? #BlessedFella Those folks out there doing real work – as opposed to those of us who just have jobs – to provide for their families, you guys and gals deserve to kick back a couple of Coca-Colas this evening. Thanks for all you do.)
But for a lot of area football fans, this is the last day of the offseason. It’s Georgia Tech (+36) at Clemson, UTC hosting Eastern Illinois, and the first SEC action of Week 1 as Texas A&M (-33.5) welcomes Texas State. (Yes, that Georgia Tech is a bigger road underdog than Texas State is still a little unnerving.)
With that wonderful realization that we are down to less than 36 hours from a fun Thursday night slate, here are five college football things that caught my eye:
– UTC released its depth chart, and here are the details from Lindsay “Forever” Young, the TFP UTC beat ace. Lots of transfers, I see. That could be a good thing. Here’s hoping that a) there’s a nice-sized crowd on Thursday, and b) the Rusty Wright era gets off on a winning note. With the unknown and the stakes hanging on a fast start, the Mocs have a fair amount of pressure to deliver against an Eastern Illinois team that finished near the bottom of the OVC last year and was defensively wretched last year. Eastern Illinois allowed 38 or more points in eight of its 11 games last year and allowed on average 40.5 points per game. If you have a SoCon football fantasy league, well, first get some help for your raging fantasy football addiction and then start Nick Tiano this week.
– In arguably the biggest win of the week, Tennessee got news that Aubrey Solomon, the Michigan transfer, is going to be eligible to play. HOOOOOGGGGEEEEEEE news for Steve McB and the rest of the Johnny Vols Fans around these parts as Solomon instantly becomes the Vols’ highest-ranked defensive player and injects what we all believe to be a dynamic presence into arguably the Vols’ biggest position of need. Here are some details from Gene of Many Hats Henley, the TFP UT Beat ace.
– From the “Like it matters” category comes news that four Alabama difference-makers, including perceived RB1 Najee Harris, will be suspended for at least parts of Saturday’s opener. Yeah, here’s betting that Alabama’s fourth-string running back – which is where they are considering suspension and injury – will make Duke coach David Cutcliffe mumble “Dang, I wish we had that guy” at some point relatively early Saturday afternoon. Here’s more from TFP college football poohbah David Paschall.
– Yes, odds matter in futures bets, but according to David Purdum, ESPN’s excellent gambling reporter, the top five teams with the most money wagered on them at Caesar’s Palace to win the national title are: 1) Georgia; 2) Oklahoma; 3) Alabama; 4) THE Ohio State; and 5) Clemson. Thought that was interesting.
– Also of note in terms of gambling, DraftKings has a prop bet right now that you can bet on Clemson-Alabama meeting in the national title game. ‘Yes’ pays plus-225 (bet $100 to win $225) and ‘No’ is at minus-275. According to reports, as late as Monday, no one had bet on ‘No.’