Ken Schram: It's football, not a tea party
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After fining Seahawk wide receiver Golden Tate $21,000 for his block on a Dallas linebacker last Sunday, I think there are some new rules that the NFL should consider.
For example, if a player wants to tackle or block a player from an opposing team he should first have to provide a verbal warning.
Something along the lines of "Here I come" or "I'm gonna get ya."
That would allow the other player to be ready for the block or tackle, or simply decide to drop to the ground and curl up in a fetal position to avoid the hit altogether.
Another consideration: Bubble wrap and those Styrofoam peanut thingies.
Why aren't those part of every football uniform?
Make a one-piece body suit of those shock absorbent particles and wear them underneath the jersey.
That'd help the guys from getting hurt, plus it would be cool to hear the pop-pop-pop-pop sounds with every play.
Look, I know the NFL is concerned about head injuries in this very physical sport and I support the idea of refining the game to avoid concussions.
But when you take a clean hit and slap a $21,000 fine on the player because incidental contact left a little bruise on the other player's chin, well then you're not just protecting players, you're killing the game.
And while I'm on the topic of football, those substitute refs really suck.
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Have something to say to Ken? Login or signup below to post a comment. Just be sure to read the rules and keep things civil. You can also e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com. You can also connect with Ken on Facebook.
For example, if a player wants to tackle or block a player from an opposing team he should first have to provide a verbal warning.
Something along the lines of "Here I come" or "I'm gonna get ya."
That would allow the other player to be ready for the block or tackle, or simply decide to drop to the ground and curl up in a fetal position to avoid the hit altogether.
Another consideration: Bubble wrap and those Styrofoam peanut thingies.
Why aren't those part of every football uniform?
Make a one-piece body suit of those shock absorbent particles and wear them underneath the jersey.
That'd help the guys from getting hurt, plus it would be cool to hear the pop-pop-pop-pop sounds with every play.
Look, I know the NFL is concerned about head injuries in this very physical sport and I support the idea of refining the game to avoid concussions.
But when you take a clean hit and slap a $21,000 fine on the player because incidental contact left a little bruise on the other player's chin, well then you're not just protecting players, you're killing the game.
And while I'm on the topic of football, those substitute refs really suck.
---
Have something to say to Ken? Login or signup below to post a comment. Just be sure to read the rules and keep things civil. You can also e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com. You can also connect with Ken on Facebook.
Okay, you are so off the mark on this one. I saw that hit, and it was blatantly illegal. If he had hit him in the numbers, like he is supposed to, there would not have been a problem. But he didn't, he drove the top of his helmet into the other guys face mask. So he deserves the fine. And by the way, the NFL is not worried about little Boo Boos, They are worried about premature Alzheimer and guys ending up in wheel chairs. Â
Is he going tell his mom that he got hit by other kid in football. Cry me a river! Boo hoo!
It's football. Duh! Same with basketball. You going get hit! No matter what! They going play nice in NHL. Not!
I don't care what you say about that hit, it was planned and unnecessary. You can see him look to his left at the player coming, her turns and lowers his head. He hit the player so hard his butt is almost 4 feet off the ground. Hits like those are only designed to injure another player. THAT IS NOT A SPORTSMAN LIKE MOVE. Call it what you want but that kind of playing is not needed. There are enough injuries without crap like that.Â
It was a good hit "back in the day" but not in todays football. Â You lead with your head now, and you know there's going to be a penalty/fine, etc. Â Then again, watching Russell get "touched" out of bounds and that draws a 15 yard penalty is beyond ludicrous. Â
Tate's hit was what we used to call a "slobber knocker". I understand that the "league" wants to protect the highly paid players but come on. Football is a collision sport after all.
Football is dangerous. Football is barbaric. Football is idiotic.... yet, I still watch.
Tate's hit was the best part of the game. It's only icing on the cake that Dallas went "Boo hoo hoo" all the way home.
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I'd say the $21k was worth it.
I saw something similar on the news the other night when a guy was cold cocked in an alley in Seattle.Â
I have less than no interest in watching grown men play a game with a ball for ridiculously high salaries, and usually whining that they didn't make even more money, and, more often than not, behaving badly publicly, when there are so many honorable, decent, appreciative, hard-working people busting their humps for peanuts. You know who I am a fan of? The single Mom checking your groceries full time. The student, that is taking a full credit load, and working the convenience store all night. The service industry workers that take abuse from their customers while getting poor wages, but still work hard to pay their bills. Yeah. I'm a fan of the everyday people that have REAL jobs.Â
 @ButtercupSprinkles If you have no interest in watching grown men play football, why are you here?  This is about football! LOL
In case you haven't noticed, this is an editorial peice, not a football game. I am here for the same reason others are. I wish to comment on it.
I amnot a fan of football so I don't understand monetary fines. Doesn't seem like that has anything to do with the game. If you are going to penalize players for illegal play, then why not sit out a quarter or a game. Monetary fines seem pointless when you make millions anyway.
It's like football turning into basketball where every possession is followed by a whistle!
Why wasn't the official fined also? I think if an official does not throw a flag and is later deemed a finable hit by the commish, then a fine should be applied to the official.
I played football for 11 years growing up from Pee-Wee through high school on the line. Hit squads were part of the game. There was no sport other than football. Wrestling, track, et al were all to stay in shape for football.
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Now I pay a heavy price for my years of youthful physical abuse. These players pay a long term heavy price for playing this game. Some are compensated quite well. Others, like linemen, are not compensated very well. While the hits you see on Sunday may seem normal and part of the game they do hurt and they do take their toll in the long run. Taking a guy out at the knees (thanks to Eastside Catholic) may seem all well and good to you but after years of pain and $300k in surgeries it is less than fun. Ever hear of lineman's neck? It is what happen to a lineman's neck after years of getting snapped and whipped around. Premature arthritis, stress fractures in all of the cervical vertebrae. No fun. The injuries these guys sustain are brutal and cumulative. Not something to be joked about an ridiculed. One single hit can end a career or ruin a life in the blink of an eye.
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Go play the game and take the hits these guy do week after week.
 @Rider You honestly think football was harder than wrestling? Football was a cake walk compared to wrestling and I had scholarship offers in both.
 @Rider You think football was harder than wrestling? Football was a cake walk compared to wrestling and I had scholarship offers in both.
 @thebigteacher Didn't say football was harder or easier than wrestling. It was used to stay in shape for football season. When wrestling season ended we would start spring workouts in track and field to get ready for summer 3 a days. Toughest thing about wrestling is that we were allowed just to kill (metaphorically) the guy and be done with it.
 @The WA Mama Now that's funny!
Now try going shopping the day after Thanksgiving (especially when my mother in law is in the store). Now that, gentlemen is DANGEROUS!!!!!! ;-)
While I agree that it cumulative itâs part of the game and a chosen occupation. I might add it not the only such job I jumped out airplanes with the  infantry for 20 years and have  seen many injuries end a career or a life. But it was my chosen career and would  not trade it for anything. Iâm sure the guyâs that play in the NFL would say the same thing.
 @BocaBob And the military taught you the proper techniques for folding your chute, jumping out of the vehicle, falling in air, and landing on the ground. They tested you and demanded that you subscribe to their techniques for your own safety. They demanded you are in a physical condition compatible with your job.
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Much the same as the NFL is demanding players do their jobs safely to prevent injury.Â
 @Rider did someone hold a gun to your head and make you play? C'mon, its common sense. Don't want to get hurt. DON'T PLAY THE GAME!
 @Catherine John Edwards As a kid? Yes. It is also why I stopped playing rather than go on to college ball. I had a choice to make. Either continue to play and the next hit to my knees would put me in a wheelchair or stop playing.
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Don't want to get into an accident the don't drive a car.
Don't want to drown - don't go into a body of water
Don't want to get drunk - don't drink alcohol
Don't want to smell like an ashtray - don't smoke cigarette
Don't want to get mugged - don't go into Seattle at night
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 @Rider Every occupation has its hazards and they are amply compensated for the toll.
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Miner's lung, anyone?
You know when I was young we had to walk to work up hill, both ways, barefoot and in the snow. And we were lucky. Gladly took our tackles and brain sloshes so we could eat and have a roof over our heads!
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These kids now all they do is complain, why we didn't even have steroids and helmets back then. Sheesh!Â
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 @Rider  @NoKitty666 When courtesy and respect left the field, and politics took over the sidelines, I left the stands!
 @NoKitty666 Fortunately society grew smarter and protective technology improved since then. At the same time linemen were not 350# of stacked muscle hell bent on destruction in your time either. In your time they all played with courtesy and respect to each other.
 @Sid Vishess Miner's lung, meso, etc can be mitigated through the proper use of PPE such as respirators. This is what the NFL is trying to do. They have already added in special PPE and are now having to deal with the behaviors.
Women's Rugby is more of a physical and dangerous sport than any NFL team could ever be.
The only real sport is Hockey. =PÂ If you want to fix football. Remove the helmet
Ken talks tuff when its someone else but we would never see this old guy put his money where his mouth is.Â
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 @Andrew Bush based on your little scrawny arms in your profile pic, I bet you couldn't take a hit from a Jr. Varsity football player so keep talking tough while banging your knuckles on your keyboard.Â
 @Andrew Bush and how would Ken do that Andrew, how would he do that? just want you're two cents worth don't ya
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 @Catherine John Edwards  @Andrew Bush How 'bout cage match?
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AndrewBush, The Obama Poster Boy versus Schram The Ram?
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acknowledgment;Â "The Wrestler"
 @notez2cme No. No. No.Yes.Yes. Old Country Buffet. First to stop eating loses!
 @Sid Vishess Dude; you need a job or you have way too much time on your hands. Is there a story on KOMO that you could pass up without blabbering a bunch of nothings about? It must suck to have KOMO as your favorite site, I mean the time you spend on here you couldn't possibly be trolling other sites. But I'll take you up on the cage match. Just say where......
Andy always wines. Though I can't belive he disagrees with wind bag. 2 peas to say.
Happy Friday.
Right on, Ken!
I'll have to take another look at the replay - that hit looked to me like leading with the helmet straight into the other guys facemask. If that's correct, I don't think that should be considered a "clean hit". If I'm wrong & it was truly a legal block, then by all means, play on.
 @katiemcc He hit him with the crown of his helmet.  Launching yourself into someone, whether you're a defensive or offensive player, isn't allowed. Â
 @katiemcc All  football players are trained from DAY 1 in PeeWee Football to keep your head up and tackle with your face-mask right in the numbers. That is exactly what happened . That his helmet THEN moved up to the chin is  part of the game.
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Clean hit-1
National Faerie-plum League- 0
 @Sid Vishess yep
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we're raising a generation of wimps - it's that simple. this is the future. look out when a serious threat arrives, they'll all be whimpering for their mommies...
 @Theonedog More single moms...more we have issues.
 @Theonedog Do you play professional football?
 @Audio Cat whats your point?
I totally agree with you Ken.
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Football is football. You are going to hit and you are going to get hit. Granted, precautions should be in place to protect players (better helmets, padding, etc.) as well as penalizing flagrant acts to harm other players -- and I'm all for that, but sometimes things go a little too far. If this was a Jr. High or High School game, I'd say it was justified. But at the level of the NFL, these are big boys who know what to expect and accept the risks involved to earn their millions. They don't need to be coddled -- what next, is the ACLU going to jump in? Â
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There are too many REAL victims out in this world. Football players are not "victims" and they shouldn't be treated as such. They are grown men who CHOOSE to play this game as their profession. With the money comes the risk.
I was with you until you made the "little bruise on the other player's chin" remark.
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Look at all the former NFL players with brain disease now. Science is showing that it's not necessarily the big hit, but many continued hits to the head.
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I think you are really ignorant Ken.Â
 @caphillkid You're one of those people Ken is talking about. You want football to be two hand touch.Â
@PackersCougsBravesSounders @caphillkid  No, we want our favorite players to not be complete blithering idiots when they retire from the game because of the brain damage they received during their careers (though the ones that start their careers as blithering idiots, obviously cannot be helped.)
 @katiemcc don't play if you don't want head injuries.
 @PackersCougsBravesSounders If you say so. Enjoyed watching my 49ers whup up on your Packers though.Â