ekansekans's blog: "df"

BOSTON -- Professional football can evolve into a safer game without sacrificing the physical play -- or, some would say, violence -- that has made it so popular, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a speech on player safety at the Harvard School of Public Health on Thursday. "Football has always evolved, and it always will," he told an overflow crowd of a few hundred. "Make no mistake: change does not inhibit the game; it improves it." In a long-planned appearance that came four days after three starting NFL quarterbacks were knocked out with concussions, Goodell said that the league has already improved the way it handles hits to the head. San Franciscos Alex Smith, Chicagos Jay Cutler and Philadelphias Michael Vick were all diagnosed with concussions in Sundays games. Goodell said that all three were taken out "as soon as they showed symptoms," a claim that was challenged by a member of the audience during the period for questions who noted that Smith and Cutler kept playing for a short time after being injured. "It was identified and they were taken out of the game," the commissioner said. "Even a few years ago, Im not sure you would have seen that." Listing some of the safety measures that have been incorporated into the sport both before and since he became commissioner, Goodell mentioned the elimination of the flying wedge that was first employed by Harvard in the 1800s and the change in kickoffs last season that he credited for a 40 per cent reduction in concussions on returns. He said the league is looking into better helmets and sponsoring scientific research that could make the game still safer. "Not long ago, the game allowed the head slap, tackling by the face mask, horse-collar tackles, dangerous blocks, and hits to the head of defenceless receivers and quarterbacks. All of that has changed," he said. "My commitment has been and will continue to be to change the culture of football to better protect players without changing the essence of what makes the game so popular. It has been done. "And it will be done." Football has never been so popular -- and its popularity is still rising, Goodell said. The 16 most-watched TV shows this fall -- other than the presidential debates -- were NFL games; the second-most popular sport to professional football is college football, Goodell said, quoting President Barack Obama as saying, "You dont go anyplace where folks dont talk about football." But the sports popularity has also been jeopardized by an onslaught of reports linking it to the brain damage that can lead to memory loss, depression and suicide among retired players. "We are well aware of social commentators who now question our future. And I am here to tell you: If we are at another crossroads, we have already taken the right path," Goodell said. "We took it a long time ago, and our commitment to stay on it will not waver." Calling it the sports biggest challenge, Goodell said his goal is to change the sports culture -- a culture in which players and coaches are discouraged from hiding injuries to keep players on the field. The problem is not unique to football, he said, noting that athletes in other sports are hesitant to leave when others are still competing or, in the case of the military, in danger. "The culture of the athlete is still too much of a play-through-it, rather than player safety mentality. Many players have publicly admitted to hiding concussions and other head injuries," he said, telling the story of a family friend with a 15-year-old daughter who hid a concussion because she didnt want to come out of a field hockey game. "Its the warrior mentality -- in a 15-year-old girl. This is unfortunate, but we are working with players, team doctors and coaches to change that culture. It is changing, but will take more time, resolve, patience, and determination." Goodell said that his twin daughters play middle school lacrosse and soccer. "I am concerned for their safety," he said. "I want them to play, but I want them to play for coaches who know how to teach proper techniques and who are trained in the safety of their sport." Research has shown that repeated hits to the head, even those that do not cause concussions, can cause brain damage in players in contact sports, including football, hockey and boxing. Dr. Robert Stern, one of the researchers who has been looking into brain damage caused by concussions, said the steps the league has taken are "making a huge difference." But the changes are coming too late for thousands of former players who claim the NFL withheld information on the damage concussions can do to their long-term health. More than 3,500 former players -- including at least 26 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame -- have sued the NFL, saying not enough was done to inform them about the dangers of concussions, and not enough is being done today to take care of them. Asked about former players, Goodell said, "Its no secret that we have challenges in that area." But he noted that the league has worked with former players on other medical problems: paying for joint replacements if they cant afford them and warning of the dangers of cardiovascular disease if they stop working out once they stop playing. "We want players to enjoy long and prosperous careers and healthy lives off the field," Goodell said. "So we focus relentlessly on player health and safety, while also keeping the game fun and unpredictable." Goodell also claimed that it is only more recently that the danger of repeated concussions has been understood. Leadership, he said, "means facing up to your challenges and working tirelessly to make sure you make the right choices, for the right reasons, based on science and facts, not speculation." Another audience member asked Goodell if the four-game preseason, with talk of an 18-game regular-season schedule, undermined his claims of concern for player safety. Goodell said the league had an option in the former collective bargaining agreement to go to a 20-game schedule, but chose not to. The exhibition season may be shortened, he said -- but not because of player safety. "It just does not meet the standard of quality that the NFL is all about," he said. Authentic Kaepernick Jersey . -- Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy says leading receiver Randall Cobb is too valuable to take off of kick returns for safety reasons. Colin Kaepernick Womens Jersey . Claiborne signed the deal Monday, and the cornerback will be able to practice when rookies and selected veterans have three days of workouts at Valley Ranch starting Wednesday before the full training camp in California. http://elevatedcolor.com/new.html . -- Every muscle is twitching as Billy Hamilton inches farther from first base, a dead giveaway that some havoc is about to happen.(Sports Network) - Last night, the Kings found the offense they have been so sorely lacking but it still resulted in a third straight loss. Los Angeles looks to rebound this evening and avoid a season series sweep at the hands of the hosting Colorado Avalanche. Watch the game live on TSN2 and TSN Mobile TV at 9:30pm et/6:30pm pt. The Kings struggles with scoring have been well documented this season, with the club ranking dead last in the NHL with 124 goals. They have been shut out eight times on the season, including consecutive 1-0 setbacks going into last nights meeting at Phoenix. Los Angeles looked to have blasted out of its funk after getting goals from Drew Doughty, Andrei Loktionov and Dustin Brown in the games first 15 minutes, but some poor discipline ultimately resulted in a 5-4 shootout loss. The Kings, who also got a goal from Justin Williams, allowed a pair of power- play goals early in the second and also saw Phoenix net the game-tying goal while up a man after winger Kyle Clifford was whistled for a game misconduct for a shot to the head of the Coyotes Gilbert Brule. Brown tied the shootout in the second round, but Mikkel Boedker responded by beating Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick and Jack Johnson missed the net as the final skater. Quick ended with 25 saves as the Kings lost for the fifth time in six games. "When you give up three power-play goals on the road, youre going to have a tough time winning," Kings head coach Daryl Sutter said. Though Los Angeles will be trying to avoid its longest losing streak since a five-game skid from Dec. 3-13, the point earned last night did give it sole possession of eighth place in the Western Conference.dddddddddddd The Kings moved one ahead of the Flames, while the Avalanche sit four back of the final playoff position. Colorado can close the gap this evening with its first season series sweep of Los Angeles since relocating from Quebec. The Avalanche had lost seven of eight to the Kings, including getting swept in the four-game series last year, before outscoring Los Angeles 8-4 in the three meetings this year. The Avs snapped a three-game home losing streak to the Kings with a 3-2 win back on Oct. 30 and should have a bit of a tougher edge tonight after acquiring forward Steve Downie from the Lightning on Tuesday for defenseman Kyle Quincey. Downie had 12 goals, 28 points and 121 penalty minutes in 55 games with Tampa Bay this year and logged 14 points in 17 playoff games last season in the Lightnings march to the Eastern Conference finals. "Our organization believes that Steve Downie will add grit and skill to our lineup offensively," said Avalanche general manager and executive vice president Greg Sherman. "He plays the game with an edge and we look forward to seeing the immediate and future impact he can bring to our team." Colorado made the move days after a 5-1 loss in Winnipeg, its third loss in four games. "Overall, we just werent good enough tonight in all areas of the game. I dont think we had everybody here on deck tonight," Avalanche head coach Joe Sacco said. Gabriel Landeskog lit the lamp for Colorado and Semyon Varlamov allowed all five goals on 25 shots to take the loss. ' ' '