Veteran NFL writer says players should use proper tackling techniques

Longtime NFL writer Ron Borges discusses the importance of proper tackling techniques in the Nov. 21 issue of Pro Football Weekly.

“Ever since the crackdown on illegal, unnecessary hits and excessively dangerous head shots in the NFL, there has been much hand-wringing in many corners about how the sport is being neutered,” Borges writes. “This is nonsense.”

“What is enlightening is to examine video from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, a time when pro football began its ascendency to the high place it now holds in American culture. What you will find may be surprising,” continues Borges, who viewed NFL Films programming featuring game action from those decades.

“What I was struck by was the fact very few ball carriers or receivers were being struck in the head in those days,” he adds.  “Why? Because the tacklers were actually tackling. They were hitting with their shoulder, wrapping their arms around the ball carrier and fiercely taking him down. They were doing it with more than enough violence to impress anyone, but not with helmet shots to the cranium.”

“Whether this is an issue of lost technique, poor (or changing) coaching or both,” Borges concludes, “today’s defenders do not tackle the way the game originally intended.”

AFL-CIO comments on NFL CBA negotiations

In an e-mail sent yesterday, the AFL-CIO’s Online Mobilization Coordinator Manny Herrmann commented on the negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The correspondence (excerpt at right) first discusses a petition “urging Congress to maintain an extension of emergency unemployment insurance benefits for long-term job hunters.”

The e-mail then transitions to the NFL labor negotiations, stating “If you care about jobs, here’s something else you should be worried about.”

The correspondence concludes by asking recipients to “please stand in solidarity with the players.”

DeMaurice Smith criticizes Dolphins owner Stephen Ross

NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith criticized Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross today in an ESPN.com story written by Chris Mortensen.

Wrote Mortensen: “As the Miami Dolphins approached Thursday night’s game against the Chicago Bears with third-string quarterback Tyler Thigpen taking the reins, owner Stephen Ross’ recent comments that a proposed 18-game regular season schedule would not contribute to a significant difference in players’ injury rates drew a sharp rebuke from NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith.

“‘Comments like that tell me that they just don’t get it,’ said Smith of league management and ownership. ‘Their teammates lost two franchise quarterbacks in the same game … and the message is we shouldn’t worry about adding two more games? Men are not expendable and neither are their families.’

“Ross endorsed the 18-game season on Tuesday by saying: ‘The additional games, the studies show will not really increase injuries. We’re still playing 20 games, we’re eliminating two preseason games and adding two regular-season games, which is really what helps with the revenues, and make the fans a lot happier and those games will be a lot more meaningful. But in terms of the players, they’re still playing 20 games.’”

“‘We will continue to talk with them about a new CBA,’ said Smith. ‘[Owners] clearly want two extra games, but even the current system of training camp, offseason, disability and long-term health care is in need of serious fixing. Two games on top of this current system is not going to work.

“‘Right now the NFL is suing nearly 300 players to deny their right to workers compensation. They want to cancel players’ health insurance in March and we are fighting for player disability claims every day.’”

Mortensen continued his story with the NFL’s response, writing: “NFL spokesman Greg Aiello defended Ross’ remarks and countered that the league continues to address the player safety and health issues that appear inherent with an expanded schedule.

“‘Mr. Ross made basic factual points that have been made repeatedly — that we are not proposing to add to the current 20-game season and that the overall injury rate per game remains consistent,’ said Aiello. ‘DeMaurice Smith knows very well that the health and safety issues of converting to the proposed 18-2 season are being addressed with the union in a comprehensive way encompassing the year-found football calendar.

“‘He also knows that owners long ago committed that retired player benefits will be protected if the CBA expires in March without a new agreement and that the clubs have continued to expand programs and benefits for retired players even over the past year. He knows that no player will lose his existing health insurance because a federal law called COBRA operates during a strike or lockout, which means that no player or family member would experience any change in coverage for so much as a single day because of a work stoppage. The union knows this and there is no excuse for suggesting otherwise.’”

For the complete story, click here.

AP: NFL union seeks Congress’ help

Frederic Frommer of The Associated Press in Washington wrote the following story today:

The NFL Players Association has turned to Congress for help in preventing team owners from locking out union members next season. Steps the union has taken include drafting letters for lawmakers to send to the league and holding a briefing for members of Congress and their aides on the economic impact of a labor dispute, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.

The union’s adversary on Capitol Hill, NFL lobbyist Jeff Miller, argued that Congress isn’t in a position to resolve the dispute and that trying to pull lawmakers into it is out of bounds.  “There’s an opportunity for us and the players to work this out at the negotiating table,” he said. “That’s the avenue to pursue.”

The players union declined to comment on its campaign. In a brief telephone interview, NFLPA public policy counsel Joe Briggs said Congress has taken an active interest in the sport, citing last year’s highly publicized hearings on NFL head injuries. He also noted that Goodell had attended a Congressional Black Caucus foundation event this year and that the league’s political action committee had made campaign contributions.

Miller said the league is simply playing defense. “We have a very different approach to this than the players association has,” he said. “But at the same time, if they’re spending a lot of time on Capitol Hill trying to encourage Congress to engage in our collective bargaining negotiations, we can’t just abdicate the playing field. We have a responsibility, too, to talk to members of Congress and their staff and educate them about the status of the negotiations.”

For the complete story, click here.

Mort Report: NFLPA makes good-faith proposal on 18-2 season

Chris Mortensen writes on ESPN.com that the NFL Players Association “has made what it says is a ‘good-faith’ counter-proposal” on the enhanced season concept, which would transition the 20-game schedule from the current format of 16 regular-season games and four preseason games to 18 regular-season games and two preseason games.

“The union’s counterproposal, according to sources, includes significantly reduced voluntary offseason workouts and a specific number of helmetless and padless practices during training camp,” Mortensen continues.

Mortensen reported the following highlights of the union proposal:

• “Voluntary offseason workouts would be reduced from the current 14 weeks to five weeks or 20 days (four days a week, four-hour maximum per day)
• Significantly reduced contact between players during training camp with four practices a week consisting of helmetless and padless periods
• Two in-season bye weeks
• Expanded rosters from the current 53 to 56 or 57, in addition to practice squads.
• Increased pro-rated salaries for players under contract
• Reduction of the amount of games players become vested to qualify for post-career health care and pension benefits”

For the complete story, click here.

NFL partners with Sport in Society on workplace-conduct training program

The NFL has joined with Northeastern University’s Sport in Society Center to develop a workplace-conduct program for the league and its 32 clubs.  The program will be created by the end of this year and implemented individually by all NFL clubs with each team’s staff adapting the curriculum to be most effective for that team.

“Sport in Society applauds the NFL for its commitment to values-based leadership and its understanding of the important role sport has to play in society,” said Dan Lebowitz, executive director for Sport in Society, which provides professional development and consulting for organizations that use sport as a tool to promote social responsibility.

“The NFL’s efforts on this program are a testament to the positive steps that must be proactively taken by the professional sports industry,” Lebowitz added. “Sport in Society has been providing values-based leadership education to the sports industry for over 25 years. We hope that other sports follow the NFL’s leadership in this effort.”

The training will include video content and group discussions with facilitators. Relevant media clips and segments featuring former NFL players, well-known experts on gender issues and sport, coaches, and media professionals will provide further relevancy and points for discussion.

“We are pleased to be working with an organization that has a demonstrated track record of success in workplace conduct training in the sports industry,” said Robert Gulliver, executive vice president of human resources and chief diversity officer for the NFL. “Sport in Society will help us develop a program to ensure a better understanding of professional workplace conduct and produce positive results.”

Super Bowl legacy in Indianapolis begins to take shape; NFL contributes $1.2 million

Officials from the NFL, Indianapolis Colts, 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee and other organizations broke ground today in Indianapolis on the Chase Near Eastside Legacy Center and Indianapolis Youth Education Town (YET). The facility (artist’s rendering above) is part of the Host Committee’s Near Eastside Legacy initiative, which also includes housing re-development and East 10th Street business development. 

Colts COO Pete Ward, NFL Senior Vice President Frank Supovitz and Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard joined 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee Chairman Mark Miles at the groundbreaking.  The NFL will donate $1.2 million toward this Super Bowl project through NFL Charities and the NFL Youth Football Fund/LISC.  Super Bowl XLVI is scheduled for February 5, 2012 at Lucas Oil Stadium.

“Today marks an exciting cornerstone for Indianapolis and the Near Eastside community,” Miles said. “Community members can start to watch this Legacy Center grow into a facility that embodies the spirit and energy of this neighborhood.”

The 27,000-square foot facility will be housed on the campus of Arsenal Technical High School. The John H. Boner Community Center will partner with the Indianapolis Public Schools to coordinate neighborhood programming, including community youth leagues and educational programs in math, science, technology, literacy, arts, and fitness. Other improvements planned after the 2012 Super Bowl on the campus include installing a new field turf football field and re-surfacing the track inside the football stadium.

“Students on campus will benefit from the expanded opportunities this center will offer,” said Dr. Eugene White, superintendant of the Indianapolis Public Schools.

Dolphins and owner Stephen Ross honor longtime writer Edwin Pope

Miami Herald columnist Edwin Pope (center) honored by Dolphins owner Stephen Ross (right) and Hall of Fame coach Don Shula prior to Sunday's game.

“The Dolphins did a grand thing Sunday, even before they won their fifth game of the season,” Armando Salguero wrote in The Miami Herald, “[they] named their press box the Edwin Pope Press Box to honor The Herald columnist’s 54 years of local coverage and all 45 seasons of Dolphins coverage.”

“The Dolphins, with the blessing of owner and Pope reader Stephen Ross,” Salguero added, “will hang a plaque for Pope in the box where the media overlooks the field at Sun Life Stadium.”

Ross and Hall of Fame coach Don Shula spoke at the pregame ceremony honoring Pope.

“Nobody chronicled the Dolphins more than Ed…the great Shula wins and the Marino touchdowns,” Ross said.

Added Shula, “If there’s ever a guy that deserved to be honored, it’s that guy right there.”

For the complete story, click here.

Week 10 features 12 Sunday games

Week 10 of the 2010 NFL season kicked off Thursday night with Atlanta’s 26-21 home victory over Baltimore. The action continues today with 12 games.

Following is today’s game schedule (all times ET):

New Collective Bargaining Agreement could boost new stadium development

In news stories over the past few days, the financial feasibility of building new NFL stadiums has been discussed.

Yesterday, Mark Fabiani, Special Counsel to the President of the San Diego Chargers, held a Q&A on Chargers.com with fans interested in a new stadium for the team.

“The NFL’s financial assistance is going to be essential to the success of our stadium efforts here in San Diego,” Fabiani said. “And the same could be said for the stadium efforts now underway in the Bay Area and Los Angeles – none of these efforts can succeed without financial assistance from the NFL. As I write this, though, the NFL’s G3 program is out of money as the result of loans made by the NFL for new stadiums in Indianapolis, the New Jersey Meadowlands, and Dallas. It is very much an open question whether the NFL will create a new G3 program.”

On Thursday, Commissioner Roger Goodell spoke to a group of business leaders in Atlanta about the possibility of the city hosting a Super Bowl.

“The bar has been raised because you’re getting great facilities around the country in great communities,” Commissioner Goodell said as reported by The Associated Press. “These games are a tremendous value to the communities, so there’s a lot of competition for it. So I think a new stadium with this great community would be beneficial to bringing another Super Bowl to this community.

“That’s one of the reasons we’re focused on restructuring the collective bargaining agreement, to make sure that we have the kind of structure that will allow us to make those kind of investments in the game and the communities which allow the game to continue to grow,” Commissioner Goodell continued. “That is good for the players, good for the teams, good for the communities. That’s something we want to continue to focus on.”

For the complete AP story, click here.