Ed Cunningham on ESPN

[Guy Chamberlin]

When Mike Ditka says he wouldn't let his son play football, knowing what he knows, we may have turned a corner.

Unless Mike Ditka's just a big pu&&y.

But as long as Ed Cunningham is drawing a paycheck, he's walking a hypocritical line.

And Christian McCaffrey definitely deserves the Heisman.

 

[Hujan]

Why does this guy even call football games? Does he like the sport? Is a paid shill by the liberal lawyers who wear panties on the weekend?

He just made a 10 minute speech about how football is too physical these days, how they SHOULD never add another playoff game because there's too much football already, there's too many injuries because players have gotten too fast too big..etc whine etc whine.

This same pu&&y calls Nebraska games and literally whinces when there is a big crushing hit and made it seem as though there were some malicious intent on behalf of a football player making a tackle. Man, he is a puss. It makes me mad he even has that job.

If you've read a single report about the impact concussions have on the brain and what it does to an individual long term, you'd be singing a different tune.
No offense, but adding the word 'liberal lawyers' (like they have anything to do with it?) and calling him a pu&&y makes you look pretty ignorant about the topic. You clearly don't understand the topic and come off looking not so great.

You missed the point. Your argument is essentially that football is too violent and damaging to the brain, and that it perhaps needs to be re-examined as a sport. It's a conversation worth having, but the OPs point is that it doesn't make sense for a guy who feels that way to be calling a football game. It would be rather like having Sunday services led by a "pastor" who does nothing more than rant about the evils of organized religion.If Ed Cunningham thinks football is a brutal sport and too violent and dangerous, he shouldn't be calling games on TV. If you can't understand that, it's you who doesn't look "so great."

My point was by using 'liberal lawyers' and calling him a pu&&y was immature.
Like there's some agenda attacking football from the left. OP looks ignorant when using those terms.

Not football specifically but the political left tends to be much softer and more bleeding heart that the right, for better or worse. Our participation-ribbons-to everyone, don't-criticize-anyone culture is brought to you by liberals.
I have no doubt in my mind that Ed Cunningham probably gets walked all over by everyone he encounters and pays over MSRP for his cars. Coincidentally or not, I suspect he's a Democrat.

 

[PTPer]

Folks, there appears to be a fissure between the "don't change football" crowd & the "it's a danger to our youth" crowd. Listen, if you take the hard line that football should not be made safer, you are going to LOSE, and you might lose the whole game itself. Alternatively, if you use your senses and discuss democratically the changes that could be made, there is a shot we keep this great game from going extinct. Neck strength training, heads up football, & less contact throughout a season are a few thoughts. Don't be hard headed or you will be the cause for the extinction of the game of football. Ed Cunningham is generally a blowhard but just because he is concerned about player safety doesn't make him a liberal. Take off your tin foil hat, RED.

 

[MichiganDad3]

There are risks in everything we do, you either accept them or walk the other way.

I fear the world is coming to an end soon, because I agree with RADAR.

 

[MichiganDad3]

Folks, there appears to be a fissure between the "don't change football" crowd & the "it's a danger to our youth" crowd. Listen, if you take the hard line that football should not be made safer, you are going to LOSE, and you might lose the whole game itself. Alternatively, if you use your senses and discuss democratically the changes that could be made, there is a shot we keep this great game from going extinct. Neck strength training, heads up football, & less contact throughout a season are a few thoughts. Don't be hard headed or you will be the cause for the extinction of the game of football. Ed Cunningham is generally a blowhard but just because he is concerned about player safety doesn't make him a liberal. Take off your tin foil hat, RED.

The key is to make it safer without ruining the game.

 

[MichiganDad3]

Just because Cunningham expresses an opinion and justifies it in the name of "safety" doesn't make his opinion valid. Glad I'm not watching whatever game is on to listen to his bullsh#t, instead of a calling the game as a commentator, he turns the booth into a pulpit to politicize his agenda. He's a moron.

His 'opinion' is most certainly valid. Concussions, and, probably more surprising, repeated impacts over years of playing football that may never lead to a concussion, unequivocally lead to long term damage to the brain. This is an established fact.

Should a guy who only wants to be talking about brain damage and how football causes it be calling games? No. But his 'opinion' is right.

I wonder what causes more long term damage to the brain, repeated blows to the head from football or listening to ed cunningham?

 

[onlyHskrfaninIL]

Why does football need to go away? Its a violent sport. It always will be a violent sport. I think generally people understand the risks.

 

[KCBuc]

Make safety changes, educate better, and change the rules are reasonable steps. There has to be some responsibility put on the player and their choice to be part of a team. The game is a hitting sport and that involves risk. No one is making them play the game. If the scholarship is worth the risk, sign up and play. If not, play flag football at the YMCA.

Ed is better suited to call ​table tennis, but I'm sure he would want to replace the paddles with something a little less aggressive.

 

[I am I]

Why does this guy even call football games? Does he like the sport? Is a paid shill by the liberal lawyers who wear panties on the weekend?

He just made a 10 minute speech about how football is too physical these days, how they SHOULD never add another playoff game because there's too much football already, there's too many injuries because players have gotten too fast too big..etc whine etc whine.

This same pu&&y calls Nebraska games and literally whinces when there is a big crushing hit and made it seem as though there were some malicious intent on behalf of a football player making a tackle. Man, he is a puss. It makes me mad he even has that job.

If you've read a single report about the impact concussions have on the brain and what it does to an individual long term, you'd be singing a different tune.
No offense, but adding the word 'liberal lawyers' (like they have anything to do with it?) and calling him a pu&&y makes you look pretty ignorant about the topic. You clearly don't understand the topic and come off looking not so great.

You missed the point. Your argument is essentially that football is too violent and damaging to the brain, and that it perhaps needs to be re-examined as a sport. It's a conversation worth having, but the OPs point is that it doesn't make sense for a guy who feels that way to be calling a football game. It would be rather like having Sunday services led by a "pastor" who does nothing more than rant about the evils of organized religion.
If Ed Cunningham thinks football is a brutal sport and too violent and dangerous, he shouldn't be calling games on TV. If you can't understand that, it's you w

ho doesn't look "so great."

Thanks. More eloquently put by you, than I .

I can can add whatever disclaimers I want to him. There are certain segments of the population trying to bring (ESPECIALLY the NFL) football down.

It's no secret there are people who have never ever played a down of football in "concussion protocol" booths in stadiums all over the country.

I played football for 17 years and had my bell rung a time or two along the way. What I got out of football is way more than it took from me. My personal experience is that he whole concussion problem is blown way way out of proportion for the avg little league-high school player.

College and NFL, I can see a need for some new thought.

But to listen to Bill (Ed) Cunnigham sit there and rant on and on about the number of plays, injury attrition, violence, player size and force etc etc...he sounded pansy. Just a freakin pu&&y. Why is he calling games and giving opinions on a game he doesn't believe should be played??

And it's been obvious over the years (I remember several games he's called of Nebraska wherein he was overly pursuant of egregious hits and lowering of head. It's nauseating listening to him during games complain about the violence of the sport.)

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

Why does this guy even call football games? Does he like the sport? Is a paid shill by the liberal lawyers who wear panties on the weekend?

He just made a 10 minute speech about how football is too physical these days, how they SHOULD never add another playoff game because there's too much football already, there's too many injuries because players have gotten too fast too big..etc whine etc whine.

This same pu&&y calls Nebraska games and literally whinces when there is a big crushing hit and made it seem as though there were some malicious intent on behalf of a football player making a tackle. Man, he is a puss. It makes me mad he even has that job.

If you've read a single report about the impact concussions have on the brain and what it does to an individual long term, you'd be singing a different tune.
No offense, but adding the word 'liberal lawyers' (like they have anything to do with it?) and calling him a pu&&y makes you look pretty ignorant about the topic. You clearly don't understand the topic and come off looking not so great.

You missed the point. Your argument is essentially that football is too violent and damaging to the brain, and that it perhaps needs to be re-examined as a sport. It's a conversation worth having, but the OPs point is that it doesn't make sense for a guy who feels that way to be calling a football game. It would be rather like having Sunday services led by a "pastor" who does nothing more than rant about the evils of organized religion.If Ed Cunningham thinks football is a brutal sport and too violent and dangerous, he shouldn't be calling games on TV. If you can't understand that, it's you who doesn't look "so great."

My point was by using 'liberal lawyers' and calling him a pu&&y was immature.
Like there's some agenda attacking football from the left. OP looks ignorant when using those terms.

Not football specifically but the political left tends to be much softer and more bleeding heart that the right, for better or worse. Our participation-ribbons-to everyone, don't-criticize-anyone culture is brought to you by liberals.
I have no doubt in my mind that Ed Cunningham probably gets walked all over by everyone he encounters and pays over MSRP for his cars. Coincidentally or not, I suspect he's a Democrat.

I could argue about masculinity in relation to political roles, but I won't go there.

Point is, studies are proving that football is dangerous. I love the sport and want to see it protected anyway possible, if that means not adding additional games then so be it. Because going forward, studies are only going to show that football is more dangerous to the brain than the previous study.

 

[PTPer]

Why does this guy even call football games? Does he like the sport? Is a paid shill by the liberal lawyers who wear panties on the weekend?

He just made a 10 minute speech about how football is too physical these days, how they SHOULD never add another playoff game because there's too much football already, there's too many injuries because players have gotten too fast too big..etc whine etc whine.

This same pu&&y calls Nebraska games and literally whinces when there is a big crushing hit and made it seem as though there were some malicious intent on behalf of a football player making a tackle. Man, he is a puss. It makes me mad he even has that job.

If you've read a single report about the impact concussions have on the brain and what it does to an individual long term, you'd be singing a different tune.
No offense, but adding the word 'liberal lawyers' (like they have anything to do with it?) and calling him a pu&&y makes you look pretty ignorant about the topic. You clearly don't understand the topic and come off looking not so great.

You missed the point. Your argument is essentially that football is too violent and damaging to the brain, and that it perhaps needs to be re-examined as a sport. It's a conversation worth having, but the OPs point is that it doesn't make sense for a guy who feels that way to be calling a football game. It would be rather like having Sunday services led by a "pastor" who does nothing more than rant about the evils of organized religion.
If Ed Cunningham thinks football is a brutal sport and too violent and dangerous, he shouldn't be calling games on TV. If you can't understand that, it's you w

ho doesn't look "so great."

Thanks. More eloquently put by you, than I .
I can can add whatever disclaimers I want to him. There are certain segments of the population trying to bring (ESPECIALLY the NFL) football down.

It's no secret there are people who have never ever played a down of football in "concussion protocol" booths in stadiums all over the country.

I played football for 17 years and had my bell rung a time or two along the way. What I got out of football is way more than it took from me. My personal experience is that he whole concussion problem is blown way way out of proportion for the avg little league-high school player.

College and NFL, I can see a need for some new thought.

But to listen to Bill (Ed) Cunnigham sit there and rant on and on about the number of plays, injury attrition, violence, player size and force etc etc...he sounded pansy. Just a freakin pu&&y. Why is he calling games and giving opinions on a game he doesn't believe should be played??

And it's been obvious over the years (I remember several games he's called of Nebraska wherein he was overly pursuant of egregious hits and lowering of head. It's nauseating listening to him during games complain about the violence of the sport.)

If you can't see your style of argument is part of the problem then you're just ignorant. You do realize that individuals under 18 are typically not making the final call in whether they play football, not to mention playing it safely. All you see is "you're a pu$$y" or "you're a tough guy." What an ignorant attitude. Real toughness is using your brain to make smart choices not bash it into other humans with intent to hurt them, in effect damaging your own ability to make smart choices. Can't you see the irony of that?

 

[dvdcrr]

Contact espn and let your opinion be known

 

[dvdcrr]

Men and boys have had to deal with concussions since before homo was sapiens. Wrestling with your brother, getting knocked off the equipment at recess. Falling off horses. It happens. Men are still well adjusted and productive. Youth football is not as dangerous as the new docs would have you believe. Most kids go clear through the programs without ever having a concussion.

These are not a bunch of Jr. Seau's; God bless him.

Change the game without ruining it. From my perspective, its nearly ruined already with the current changes. Too much replay and plays are still getting called wrong. No real tough safety play. No hitting the quarterback. Lately someone here posted a game of the 92 Huskers. Go watch that game and then tell me that is not a better version of the game. Players playing more naturally, flying to the ball. Safeties going hard to the play.

You know back before so much agonizing replay, you got some calls, and some went against you, it evens out. The quality of officiating was just better when big brother was not watching over the shoulder. And this catch is not a catch business... Bizarro world. Welcome to 2015 McFly!

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

Men and boys have had to deal with concussions since before homo was sapiens. Wrestling with your brother, getting knocked off the equipment at recess. Falling off horses. It happens. Men are still well adjusted and productive. Youth football is not as dangerous as the new docs would have you believe. Most kids go clear through the programs without ever having a concussion.

These are not a bunch of Jr. Seau's; God bless him.

Change the game without ruining it. From my perspective, its nearly ruined already with the current changes. Too much replay and plays are still getting called wrong. No real tough safety play. No hitting the quarterback. Lately someone here posted a game of the 92 Huskers. Go watch that game and then tell me that is not a better version of the game. Players playing more naturally, flying to the ball. Safeties going hard to the play.

You know back before so much agonizing replay, you got some calls, and some went against you, it evens out. The quality of officiating was just better when big brother was not watching over the shoulder. And this catch is not a catch business... Bizarro world. Welcome to 2015 McFly!

This is exactly the problem. That style of play is incredibly unsafe.

It's no use arguing about the impact of concussions, I'm not going to change any minds. Football is by far the most exciting sport in the world, and if you want it to continue you'd better get on board with keeping the players safe. That includes calling a penalty for a hit above the shoulders even if unintentional, calling a foul for hitting a defenseless player, etc.

That play Gerry got ejected for against Iowa? Properly called. Need to discourage players from doing that. What else could he have done on that play? Absolutely nothing. Give up the play and move on. Football has moved towards that and it SHOULD continue to move towards that. Keep the game as safe as possible even if you perceive it to be 'watered' down.

 

[EmeraldIngot]

There's some interesting research being done in material engineering to find ways to reduce the severity of impacts on a helmet. Most of it is being funded by DARPA for use in military helmets, but could be easily adapted to football and hockey helmets. Rule changes can only do so much to reduce head trauma in an impact sport, but some rule changes are necessary. Better still is research into improving helmets.

Now the reason why concussions and head impacts are so bad is because a hard enough impact will cause rapid acceleration of the head in one direction, followed by rapid deceleration, and sometimes a re-acceleration in the other direction. This literally compresses the brain against the skull, resulting in bruising or worse directly to the brain.

A helmet that is able to redirect or disperse the kinetic force in a way that lowers the acceleration applied to the brain could drastically reduce the severity of concussions and greatly reduce the damage caused by non-concussion causing hits.