Football topics that are controversial?

[JoRo]

I have to write a bibliographic essay, using quotes, and basically my thesis is going to be some sort of topic that can go either way, and then just explain both sides using quotes and sources from other people.

What I plan to do is find a football subject that could be argued, then go to a bunch of boards and have them discuss it for me and do what I can with the results.


But so far all I have is: How important to winning is the quarterback position? and then have people argue it.

Anyone have any other ideas?

[SBboundBRONCOS]

you should do something like a cap limit for rookie contract or something

maybe head injuries

those would be good topics too if you want to find some actual legit sources

[jhns]

It isn't the NFL but the lack of playoffs in the NCAA seems to be a good debate.

[Bronco51]

Well, the argument to eliminate preseason games is a good debate.

[PowderAddict]

If you want a topic that will surely create controversy you can bring up the Rooney Rule.

Another good one would be: "Al Davis: Devil, or undead?"

The final suggestion I have: "What NFL club leads the league in futility: Browns, Lions, or Chargers?"

[Mount-n-Groan]

oooo.... good ones mentioned so far, especially the Rooney Rule.

You could also do some regarding rules and rule changes.

e.g. - how overtime in NFL could be changed, replay (non-reviewable calls and such), excessive celebrations (football as a prop, group celebrations, etc.), leading with the helmet.

Also, maybe something about what's more important: a good run offense or good run defense, etc.

Good luck!

[Spice 1]

Legitimacy of the New England Patriots SuperBowl appearances.

No team in professional sports has had more controversial success.

- The use of a snow blower to kick a game winning field goal in the playoffs. I believe this lead to the '86 SuperBowl.
- Steroid use for an unspecified period of time during their last four superbowl runs.
- Video taping of other teams practices, including the Steelers in '05 (playoffs) and the Rams in '02 (Superbowl).
- Fumble in '02 AFC Championship which became known as the "Tuck Rule", and gave the Patriots a superbowl birth.

[str8jacket]

Why not do it on offenses?

The A-11 offense was recently just grounded, and I personally hate the spread.

[BroncoManiac_69]

Spice 1 mentioned the Patriots but that is team specific.

Rooney Rule comes to mind but already mentioned.

Overtime rules?

Forward Pass=Fumble rule/Tuck rule.

Crowd noise was flagged in the 80's but that is gone now.

Pass Interference was always a debate in some cases.

[Comrade]

Overtime rules would seem to be the choice option to me, although I think most folks are in favor of changing the current system the NFL has.

(throwing out one I havent seen posted yet)

How about debating whether or not to expand the NFL into Canada? We know that Canucks are loyal to the CFL but still, a media market like Toronto has to be tempting.

Word is that the Bills might get moved into Toronto after Ralph Wilson passes.

Crowd noise was flagged in the 80's but that is gone now.

Really? Wow. I am sure glad that is gone, what is the point of having home field advantage if your crowd cant get loud and try to disrupt the visiting team?

[BroncoManiac_69]

Really? Wow. I am sure glad that is gone, what is the point of having home field advantage if your crowd cant get loud and try to disrupt the visiting team?

Yep. I can't recall exactly the year but the refs would tell the crowd to be quiet.

What a joke

The defense would get a 5 yard penalty for delay of game due to crowd noise.

I can remember Bernie Kosar actually asking the refs for a time out because he couldn't hear and it was granted. I specifically remember that. AND the team wasn't charged for a timeout. That just made the crowd louder.

Teams would get a "warning" for crowd noise.

Next "infraction" got a penalty.

I think the league realized, that was so stupid that they dropped that rule the following year.

[nbaballer913]

Steroids in football? Baseball is getting a lot of the bashing but we all know many in football have used Steroids (Merriman!) but NFL isn't getting its share of blame. Some have come out and admitted that they used it and have said that a LOT of people also used it.

[nbaballer913]

Steroids in football? Baseball is getting a lot of the bashing but we all know many in football have used Steroids (Merriman!) but NFL isn't getting its share of blame. Some have come out and admitted that they used it and have said that a LOT of people also used it.

and here's a perfect little tidbit that came from Rob Neyer of ESPN today, coincidentally.

"A story on this site caught my eye the other day. It's gotten about zero attention. And by now, only a couple of days after it broke, you'd have to search feverishly to even find it.

But luckily for you, you're reading this blog. So you won't have to search feverishly after all, because I'm giving you a link to it here.

Before you click on it, though, you might be shocked to read the following term, in the first four words of this item: "The NFL's steroids era."

We all know baseball's "steroid era" gets dropped into our national conversation as casually as terms like "federal bailout" and "red carpet" and, for some reason, "Nicole Richie."

But how often do you hear the words "NFL's steroids era"? Hmmm. To be honest, I'm not sure I'd EVER heard them -- until now.

Well, check out this story when you get a chance. It will tell you that a University of North Carolina study surveyed 2,552 former NFL players and found that more than 20 percent of those who played in the '80s ADMITTED they used steroids -- before the NFL began testing for it.

And, just as significant, about 15 percent of all former linemen for more than a HALF CENTURY (from the 1940s through the 1990s) admitted they used steroids.

So how big a scandal has this revelation caused? Uh, we're still waiting for it.

Funny how the most monstrous baseball story of the year so far involved a baseball player who tested positive for steroids, then admitted he used them, before baseball imposed a system of random testing and stiff punishments.

Yet the national sports audience has just about no interest in a revelation that hundreds of football players were using steroids before the NFL imposed a system of random testing and stiff punishments.

I'm almost as outraged by that ridiculous double-standard as I am by the fact that that baseball player clearly hasn't told the full truth about his own steroid use. Am I crazy?"

here's the link he was referring to: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3920603

hope this helps.