Seriously Flawed Thinking

I love reading the letters to the editor in the Wisconsin State Journal. They can be an interesting peek into the soul of the writer. Or a view into a serious lack of thought -- though I suppose many can say the same of this column.

But I digress. While the letters page is often filled with political rants, one this week caught my eye. This gentleman in Madison suggested that the problem with the NFL is violence, with player after player carted off the field. His solution? Limit the SIZE of the players. Let me quote his letter: "Linemen shouldn't weigh more than 250 pounds, while linebackers should be under 235, and receivers and defensive backs should weigh less than 175. Would the game be less interesting? The University of Wisconsin's 1963 Rose Bowl game is still considered by many to be the best every played, and most of the players on that team weighed close to 200 pounds."

Yes, 55 years ago college and NFL players were smaller. I recall being told by a sports editor of mine that, when Green Bay won Super Bowl II under Vince Lombardi, the defensive line of Green Bay Premontre High School (now known as Green Bay Notre Dame) weighed more than the Packers line. But then, players weren't making millions and had to have off-season jobs as well.

Going with the suggestion that placing limitations on the NFL would improve the game, maybe we should take it a few steps further

NBA -- Limited the height allowed on the court at one time. Based on inches.
NHL -- Limited to the number of remaining teeth in players (they are hockey players, after all).
MLB -- Only X-number of players who have tested positive for PEDs  (Performance Enhancing Drugs) in the lineup at one time.