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It's very common for fans or athletes to feel like their sport was better in the past. It's a common sentiment in the NBA, with fans clamoring for the days of harder fouls, fights and a generally more action-packed game. That sentiment extends to the NFL, as well.
With the renewed emphasis on player safety, the NFL has been able to cut back on concussion occurrences significantly. There's no denying that it's a safer product on the field, but many feel that at times the league takes things too far when it comes to protecting the players. Even the players themselves feel that way.
Joe Flacco rants against NFL's player safety movement, exclaiming that they've gone too far
Joe Flacco, a longtime veteran who's still playing at 41 years old, doesn't like the direction the NFL is heading in. During Super Bowl LX media week, Flacco made the rounds at Radio Row and one of his interviews went viral.
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He quite clearly believes that ticky-tack personal fouls are hurting quarterback development, especially for younger guys like his former Cleveland Browns teammate, Shedeur Sanders.
"I don't think anyone coming into the league these days is quite as battle tested as guys that came into the league 15 years ago... I kind of came in as [the game] was transitioning. So I still have that mindset: I don't think it should be roughing the passer when they land on us; I don't think being slapped in the head should be roughing the passer. It honestly annoys me because it affects games in a negative way, at random times."
While Flacco understands that player safety is important, he believes the sport has become too soft. In the veteran's eyes, big hits are a part of the game and should be preserved.
Flacco says, "we signed up to get concussions, we signed up to get hurt". It's a sentiment that is simply fading away. And with that fading away comes a different style of play from athletes in the sport, including quarterbacks. Flacco doesn't think it benefits the upcoming QBs.