Clinton Portis sues NFL over concussions.

[NC_Skins]

Originally Posted by GoSkins!

Sorry, but part of the reason for the insane high salaries that players get paid is because of the risk. Football really isn't that unique. Several other jobs have high "danger" pay too; and you can't take the pay, understand the risk, and then expect more money for taking that risk after the job is done.

I don't think people would pay as much to watch, nor would players get paid as much to play, non-violent (think flag) football. Players have the money to buy the most protective equipment money can buy and no one forces them to take the job if they don't want to risk long term injuries. Maybe next, soldiers can start suing the military.

That isn't why their salaries are high. Risk has nothing to do with it. The demand for the sport has everything to do with it. Baseball, basketball, and golfers make just as much (if not more) than football players and their salaries are guaranteed. What their sport doesn't have is really any risk of permanent injuries to the brain. If risk had anything to do with salaries, NASCAR drivers would be the highest paid people in any sport.

People enjoy the brutal violence within the game, and have so since the days of the gladiator in the Roman coliseum.

[GoSkins!]

Originally Posted by NC_Skins

That isn't why their salaries are high. Risk has nothing to do with it. The demand for the sport has everything to do with it. Baseball, basketball, and golfers make just as much (if not more) than football players and their salaries are guaranteed. What their sport doesn't have is really any risk of permanent injuries to the brain. If risk had anything to do with salaries, NASCAR drivers would be the highest paid people in any sport.

People enjoy the brutal violence within the game, and have so since the days of the gladiator in the Roman coliseum.

But isn't the "demand for the sport" based on the "brutal violence within the game"? I didn't say that it is the only reason for high salaries, but I believe that it is an unfortunate reality in pro football. Just like wrecks in NASCAR. Without the wrecks, fewer people would watch, and salaries would be lower. Since there are wrecks, more people watch, which allows for higher salaries, and those higher salaries entice pro drivers to risk serious injury or death on the race track.

This same idea holds true in football. People aren't looking for players to get permanently injured, but they are waiting for those hits that lay out the other players. Those hit sometimes cause permanent damage. And I don't know if a player can blame the NFL for what the individual players do on the field. I wonder why the players don't sue the guy who hit them and caused the concussion too??? It is clear that this is where the NFL is going. They want to say that the rules would prevent issues if it wasn't for the players breaking the rules with "head shots". Therefore, sue the players, not the NFL.

[Skinzman]

Originally Posted by GoSkins!

But isn't the "demand for the sport" based on the "brutal violence within the game"? I didn't say that it is the only reason for high salaries, but I believe that it is an unfortunate reality in pro football. Just like wrecks in NASCAR. Without the wrecks, fewer people would watch, and salaries would be lower. Since there are wrecks, more people watch, which allows for higher salaries, and those higher salaries entice pro drivers to risk serious injury or death on the race track.

This same idea holds true in football. People aren't looking for players to get permanently injured, but they are waiting for those hits that lay out the other players. Those hit sometimes cause permanent damage. And I don't know if a player can blame the NFL for what the individual players do on the field. I wonder why the players don't sue the guy who hit them and caused the concussion too??? It is clear that this is where the NFL is going. They want to say that the rules would prevent issues if it wasn't for the players breaking the rules with "head shots", therefore, sure the players not the NFL.

NC's point is that salaries are tied directly to the amount of money that the sport brings in. He used other sports as examples. Golf being the best one. Since people watch it, they can bid out the rights to networks to air it for a lot of money. It doesnt have to have violence for people to like it. The "Brutal violence of Golf" is absolutely nothing, yet people still watch it.

[GoSkins!]

Originally Posted by Skinzman

NC's point is that salaries are tied directly to the amount of money that the sport brings in. He used other sports as examples. Golf being the best one. Since people watch it, they can bid out the rights to networks to air it for a lot of money. It doesnt have to have violence for people to like it. The "Brutal violence of Golf" is absolutely nothing, yet people still watch it.

Yeah, I get that point. I think you misunderstood mine.

Your right about golf. I just disagree that people would watch football if not for the hitting. Maybe I'm wrong, but it is my opinion.

[Skinzman]

Originally Posted by GoSkins!

Yeah, I get that point. I think you misunderstood mine.

Your right about golf. I just disagree that people would watch football if not for the hitting. Maybe I'm wrong, but it is my opinion.

If they try to turn it into flag football, then I agree. But they have been adding rules for a while now to lessen the hits. Back in the 60's and/or 70's, you could club an OL across his head. They now have all the QB protection and defenseless receiver rules. They just added this year the RB's putting their head down rule 3 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. And the NFL is still on a steady rise for popularity.

Either way, salaries are tied to one thing only. The Income of the NFL. It doesnt really matter what drives that income, only that it is there.