Roger Goodell To Ban Forward Pass

Roger Goodell held a press conference today where he announced a ban on the forward pass in the NFL beginning in the regular 2014-2015 season. Goodell cited concussions and other brain injuries as the reasoning behind the ban, claiming that many of the concussions we see are a direct result of a defenseless player catching a forward pass. 

“Our goal is changing the culture in a way that reduces the injury risk to the maximum possible extent, especially the risk of head injury, while ensuring that fans and viewers are asleep by halftime” he said. “We want players to enjoy long and prosperous careers and healthy lives off the field. So we focus relentlessly on player health and safety, while also keeping the game boring and predictable.”

Goodell addressed the fact that this ban essentially changes professional football, regressing the game to its pre-20^th century roots. He then said that he simply does not care about this regression, and that he is tired of the lawsuits so he “had to do something.”

“I’m sure some of you have asked yourselves the same tough questions others ask: When there is risk associated with playing tackle football, why do people continue to play?” Goodell said. “And for parents, should I let my kids play tackle football? The simple answer is I do not know why people continue to play and no, no you should not let your kids play tackle football”

Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson expressed his concern, telling the media that he is not sure he has a job anymore, and feels a little lost after the rule change.

There have been various efforts made by the NFL such as moving the kickoff forward 10 yards, and assessing penalties for running backs lowering their helmets before contact. This will be viewed by many as one of the more groundbreaking rule changes in recent years and Goodell expects some backlash. He added at the end of his press conference that anyone who does not like the rule change can “suck it” because “now the lawyers will shut up.”