Many NFL groups have misplaced star gamers to season-ending accidents this season or performed with out them for important stretches — however a brand new ballot finds that many soccer followers need extra video games, even when it means extra threat.
A new Quinnipiac poll discovered about half of NFL followers say the league is doing sufficient to guard gamers from severe accidents. Most followers, 60%, help increasing the season, together with many who say the transfer for gamers — which would come with a wage improve — is well worth the elevated threat of damage.
The NFL is nearing the midpoint of a season marked by high-profile accidents which have knocked a number of key gamers out of motion the remainder of the best way. Dolphins five-time All-Professional extensive receiver Tyreek Hill (knee), 49ers All-Professional linebacker Fred Warner (ankle), five-time Professional Bowl edge rusher Nick Bosa (knee), Giants wideout Malik Nabers (knee) and sensational rookie working again Cam Skattebo (ankle) have all suffered season-ending accidents.
Buccaneers extensive receiver Mike Evans will see his streak of 1,000-yard receiving seasons finish at 11 due to a damaged clavicle. And people are simply the accidents among the many largest names.
However the ballot means that for probably the most half, blame is not touchdown on the league. The NFL has taken robust measures to cut back accidents by making a number of guidelines adjustments through the years, together with overhauling the kickoff.
The ballot additionally discovered that about half of U.S. adults approve of Dangerous Bunny because the Tremendous Bowl halftime performer — and most are additionally eager on shifting the Tremendous Bowl to Presidents Day weekend, so the sport would at all times be adopted by a vacation.
In an effort to extend security on the sector through the years, the league has additionally beforehand banned sure sorts of tackles, expanded protections for defenseless gamers, made it unlawful to make use of the crown of the helmet to hit an opponent and extra. The league has elevated safety of quarterbacks, and general concussion numbers have decreased due to safer helmets and use of protecting helmet covers.
Nonetheless, soccer is a violent, bodily sport and it is troublesome to stop a participant from tearing a knee ligament or dislocating an ankle. Typically, accidents like a torn Achilles tendon happen with none hitting.
About 4 in 10 People say the NFL is doing “about the correct quantity” to assist keep away from severe accidents to skilled soccer gamers, and about 3 in 10 say it's doing “too little.” Only a few suppose the league is doing “an excessive amount of,” and about 2 in 10 did not have an opinion.
About half of NFL followers — those that name themselves tremendous followers, followers, or informal followers — say the league is doing sufficient, and about 3 in 10 say it is not doing sufficient.
The ballot discovered that amongst NFL followers, there is a divide on the dynamic kickoff rule. About 4 in 10 desire the brand new rule, and about the identical share need the earlier rule again.
After increasing the season to 17 video games in 2021, the NFL is weighing including one other regular-season recreation.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has said the purpose is so as to add an 18th recreation and cut back preseason video games from three to 2. Including one other recreation requires approval from the NFL Gamers Affiliation, and interim government director David White informed The Related Press it is not inevitable that the union will conform to it.
The collective bargaining settlement runs via 2031. The 2 sides have not mentioned renegotiating it and Goodell mentioned final week that dialog is on maintain till the gamers affiliation selects a everlasting government director.
Amongst NFL followers, about 6 in 10 help including one other recreation. That view is very prevalent amongst individuals who describe themselves as “tremendous followers.” About 7 in 10 NFL tremendous followers mentioned they'd prefer to see the enlargement, in contrast with about half of informal followers.
Issues about accidents largely outweigh the will for an additional recreation. About 6 in 10 NFL followers who help the enlargement mentioned it will be “value it” when informed that including a regular-season recreation would improve gamers' threat of damage along with their salaries.
Democrats are particularly more likely to approve of Dangerous Bunny — who has overtly criticized President Donald Trump and his immigration insurance policies — being chosen. About three-quarters of Democrats approve, in contrast with simply 16% of Republicans. Roughly 6 in 10 Republicans disapprove of the selection.
Final week, Goodell reaffirmed the league's choice to place the artist on its largest stage.
“It is rigorously thought via,” Goodell mentioned. “I am unsure we have ever chosen an artist the place we did not have some blowback or criticism. It is fairly arduous to do when you might have actually a whole bunch of tens of millions of individuals which might be watching.”
Dangerous Bunny performs in Spanish and is anticipated to take action on the Tremendous Bowl.
There's one other space that People do agree on: shifting the Tremendous Bowl to a vacation weekend. A majority of U.S. adults general and NFL followers help shifting the Tremendous Bowl to Presidents Day weekend, in order that it is at all times adopted by a federal vacation on Monday.
