Dec 9, 2017 5 min read

Flag football, eh?

In the wake of the Bengals-Steelers Monday Night Mayhem there have been more references to the NFL turning into flag football as a result of too much emphasis on safety.

First of all, let’s not disrespect flag football. I played in some good leagues with former college players and PIAA officials and it wasn’t for pansies. Lots of real football was being played – just not tackling.

In case you hadn’t noticed, in the NFL, tackling has become a lost art. Way too many “tackles” are players launching themselves in the direction of a running back or a receiver.

Ask Antonio Brown.

Steelers safety Mike Mitchell can launch with the best of them and he went on a rant last week in response to all the talk about the Steelers and Bengals playing too rough Monday night.

“You wanta see flag football? Let’s take the pads off. We wear heavy (stuff). That’ll make it easier for me. Give us flags to pull off and then I’ll know what we’re playing. I feel like I gotta ask a guy, ‘Hey are you ready for me to hit you now?'”

Mitchell went on to say that he knew that he signed up for full-contact football and he’s OK with it. He also mentioned that his kids and grandkids should never have to worry about money.

His comments were honest and refreshing but the NFL should keep them on file just in case he signs on to a class-action lawsuit several years down the road.

Meanwhile, could it be that the NFL’s growing resemblance to flag football might have something to do with making it more dangerous for players?

I don’t have the numbers to back it up, but the eye test tells me that all the passing increases the numbers of high-speed collisions.

Five wide receivers in the formation. Six defensive backs and all of those guys are going at full speed in the open field. There was a time when two teams combining for 50 passes in a game was considered an aerial circus. Now, the ball is routinely in the air 75-90 times in a game.

When running backs were more important than wide receivers more of the action took place in the trenches. There were collisions but not as often at high speed.

Because of all the passing and all the receivers, 240-pound linebackers are expected to run 4.4 40-yard dashes. Safeties, who used to weigh 185 pounds, now weigh closer to 210.

The size of the players has more to do with injuries than how the players are playing and everybody knows that the NFL’s tests for PEDs is more about catching stupid players than it is about catching juicers.

Mitchell’s grandkids wouldn’t have nearly as much money waiting for them if not for the violence. It sells.

Most NFL players seem to agree with Mitchell. They know what they signed up for. Let’s see how many of them are singing a different song 15 or 20 years from now.

• The Steelers-Bengals TV ratings showed a 30 percent increase over the game played in Week 12 last year. Don’t be surprised if, despite all the frightening violence, at least one of their games is in prime time next season. Did I mention that violence sells?
• Ryan Shazier being rushed to the hospital with a spinal in jury is what drew much of the media attention to the game and led to the discussions about violence and safety but, strangely enough, he was hurt on a routine tackle.
• So, Giancarlo Stanton is going to be playing for the New York Yankees next year. The Yankees led the Major Leagues in home runs last season. Stanton hit 59. What does it say about a league – and Major League Baseball is really one league – when a team that is desperate to win more games and put more people in the stands is more desperate to trade an MVP?
• The New Orleans Saints lost six players to injury Thursday night. Drew Brees was asked after the game how much playing on Thursday was a factor. His answer: 100 percent.
• LaVar Ball says his sons – one in college at UCLA and the other in high school – are dropping out of school and will play basketball overseas. Too bad they can’t play on another planet.
• If college football contracts meant anything, Pat Narduzzi’s contract being extended would be a good thing for Pitt. As it is, it means nothing. If he has success, instead of achieving stability it will only increase speculation that he’ll go somewhere better. Of course, this could change if colleges everywhere respected all contracts.
• Jose Altuve, who is only 5-6, is obviously too small to be an American League MVP. So, let’s nip that talk of 5-10 Russell Wilson being NFL MVP in the bud.