The ramifications of Luke's injury are enormous.

[pantherclaw]

NFL is no more dangerous as it was 30-40 years ago. 

[hepcat]

To anyone who thinks I'm over-reacting to this, I recommend watching Calvin Johnson's E:60 Documentary http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/16822053/calvin-johnson-talks-painkillers-concussions-player-safety

Luke sustained a serious concussion last night whether you want to believe it or not. The next two games are against two likely playoff bound teams on the opposite side of the country. Highly unlikely Luke travels with the team for those games.

The team has been struggling WITH him in the lineup. It's unlikely he will play again this season given the losing record. Even if Luke recovers and plays next season, no one can unsee what happened to him. Players are taking their long term post football health more seriously. It will be more common to see great players retire younger.

[Jangler]

Whilst I do agree players will most likely retire sooner for health reasons and concerns. 

Two easy fixes

a. Get rid of Thursday and Monday games. Start showing 2 more Sunday games on NFLN.

2. Full time officials.

 

also..

fug soccer

 

 

[Zaximus]

I definitely wouldn't blame him for retiring early, he has made more than enough money and it's not worth the long effects at this point.  

Football is definitely going to lose popularity I think.  As more parents don't let their kids play, they'll gravitate toward other sports (safer ones) and end up going after that.   Time will tell.  

As a fan, that was hard to watch though and I'd be lying if I said I don't feel guilty nowadays watching all these concussions that are happening.   This is happening at different levels of football as well so we may not really have a clear answer of how much it's affecting the population.  

[hepcat]

16 minutes ago, pantherclaw said:

NFL is no more dangerous as it was 30-40 years ago. 

Smoking isn't any more dangerous than it was 30-40 years ago either. Why are smoking rates at the lowest they've ever been then? People know how dangerous it is now. There are a lot of similarities to how the NFL has hidden the dangerous of a career in football to how the smoking industry hid the dangerous of smoking to the public. When billions of dollars are at stake, you tend to see that kind of information trickle out. It's out now. The NFL is ripe for decline, from the inside and out. 

[Snake]

[hepcat]

1 minute ago, Snake said:

Here's this shitty poster who doesn't read threads but still responds to them. Who let you out of your closet?

[SportsCrazie4172]

14 minutes ago, Jangler said:

Whilst I do agree players will most likely retire sooner for health reasons and concerns. 

Two easy fixes

a. Get rid of Thursday and Monday games. Start showing 2 more Sunday games on NFLN.

2. Full time officials.

 

also..

fug soccer

 

 

and go back to pig skin helmets..the helmets the players wear attribute to the damage the players take in hits

[TheRumGone]

After the Cam hits I've lost interest in the NFL. I still watch the panthers but haven't watched any other games. Once you start getting older, you start feeling your mortality. Which makes you more empathetic to other people. What happened to Luke shook me to the core the same way Cams hits did. I realize these guys make millions and know all the risks at this point but damn last night was scary.

 I don't think I can completely stop watching the panthers but this season has taken a massive toll on me personally, and I'm sure it has to many others. 

[PghPanther]

The decline of football played at this level of physical intensity will come when the insurance company premiums and law suits make it financially impossible for lower forms of the sport to exist in college, high school, and peewee leagues........ 

That in combination with concerned parents refusing to allow their children to play the game will kill the supply for demand in players over time............

Football fans need to face this reality and adjust their expectations of what this sport will be in the future.

 

[Snake]

2 minutes ago, hepcat said:

Here's this poster who actually watched the game.

Fixed it for ya. 

[hepcat]

Just now, Snake said:

Fixed it for ya. 

If you'd read the thread, I did watch the game. This morning. Took me only 45 minutes. It was nice having the night off.

[Snake]

4 minutes ago, hepcat said:

If you'd read the thread, I did watch the game. This morning. Took me only 45 minutes. It was nice having the night off.

I suggest you pick the MLS fourm to post in if the Panthers are that taxing to you. We will all be better off for it. 

[thefuzz]

40 minutes ago, thomas96 said:

Not a single Panthers will retire at the end of the year. Not even Oher. Calm down.

Not so sure this is the case.

Wouldn't surprise me to see CJ and/or Tolbert call it quits, and Kalil probably isn't but a season or two away as well.