Why Football Isn’t What It Used to Be

Football has become one of the more controversial topics in the sports world. From many professional players speaking out about how football isn’t fun anymore, the uniforms are one of most anticipated things about the game nowadays, and every game there is one controversial penalty because the rules for penalties are conspicuous.

Over the past couple months since the NFL season has started there have been multiple players including franchise players complaining to the media that “they aren’t having fun anymore.” Odell Beckham Jr was one of the first players to openly talk to the media about his frustration with the league. Its demoralizing for the company because every time the fans see OBJ he is out there dancing during pre-game and his touchdown celebrations after he torches the defense. There have been multiple others players to say something about not having fun but they spoke as an anonymous or undisclosed player.

The uniforms in the game of football are one of the biggest attractions in the game of football. In college football there are constantly new uniforms being brought out sometimes every week such as Oregon, Louisville, UCLA, and Texas AM. There are still teams in college football that stick to their same old jerseys for home and away such as Alabama, Ohio State, and Kansas State. Over the past week there have been tons of uniforms that show some form of patriotism and a tribute to veteran’s day on their uniforms. This truly shows how uniforms have “changed the game” and that it’s not a bad thing for the game.

The biggest controversy in the game of football is penalties whether its professional football, college football, even high school football. Penalties can ultimately decide a game and can make or break the team’s chances. What decides a penalty and what a penalty is just isn’t clear enough for the referees, the players, and the fans. The most controversial penalty called is pass interference because it’s always the debate of whether the receiver pushed off or the defensive back was holding onto the jersey too much or too long, but there is no definitive rule and call for pass interference, it’s always just a give or take situation.

One of the biggest controversies of football and a demoralizing to the game of football. Parents don’t want their kids playing football and taking the risks of concussions at a young age while at the college and professional level the game is trying to limit down concussions with the new rules and the new style of helmets. Concussions are very serious and after multiple concussions the medical staff can make you stop playing football for your health. One of the newest rules in the past couple years is: targeting, which is when a football player is leading with the crown of his helmet (top of helmet) to make a tackle. The penalties are normally called on the defense and the player will be ejected if he gets a targeting penalty on him.

Instant Replay, a beauty or a thing of heartbreak. Instant replay has been instituted in the football atmosphere for the past couple years now and it has broken many hearts and gave joy to many others. I love the thought of instant replay and as a fan it has turned so many plays into greatness. A great one-handed snag that was called incomplete because the ref didn’t see the player got his foot in can be challenged and turned over because of instant replay. When replay first came out not many people liked it because often the calls were called wrong just because it was replayed and automatically overturned. Now there has to be clear and convincing evidence to overturn the calls which has helped cut down on wrong calls. Instant replay can ultimately change the game and even change a team’s season based on the importance of the game.

Although football isn’t what it used to be such as the tough gritty power running it’s not a bad thing because football is safer for the younger generation, the players have more ability to wear what they want and show off their personality, and the game is trying to become safer with all the penalties. Even though the penalties are annoying for fans to watch and can slow down the game the league is trying to make the game safer and eventually more efficient.