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What a relief.
I don't know about any of you, but I have been absolutely worried sick about a legitimate and potentially deadly problem that has only recently been brought into the spotlight regarding the NFL. We have all been fairly oblivious to some very real dangers that have plagued professional football players for some time, and I'm so, so glad that steps are finally being taken to fix them. We have seen pee-wee and youth coaching programs instituting tutorials for their kids on how to hit, and get hit, more safely, just as we have seen high schools and colleges taking positive steps towards concussion awareness, CTE prevention, and increased player safety. We may lament for the days of the big hits, but I think we can all agree that ensuring that these men are able to live full, healthy lives after football should absolutely take precedent over highlight reel truck sticks.
But of course, far, far, FAR more worrisome than concussions, player suicides, lack of appropriate health care for players, domestic abuse, child abuse, sexual assault, and bungling mismanagement of...well, of pretty much everything...is the loathsome, immoral, disgusting, and shameful act of the dreaded end zone celebration. I know that I speak for all of us when I say that watching the greatest athletes in the world take pride and joy in making a big play by performing a dance or coordinating a small celebration with their teammates is single-handedly ruining this sport. I have no desire to watch pro football players let loose for a few seconds in between plays; not only is it incredibly disrespectful, but I have a feeling that it's probably the biggest factor slowing this wonderful game of football down. There have been times, during these past few seasons, where I saw three or more guys dancing in the end zone at the same time and seriously contemplated turning my TV off and running to church to pray for my own soul.
Luckily for me, my concerns will soon be allayed. It gives me great joy, and no small sense of relief, to hear that Troy Vincent has his priorities straight and will be tackling this highly controversial issue head-on:
We're developing an educational training video for players to show clear examples of appropriate and inappropriate celebrations. pic.twitter.com/3yzBxAaQuk
— Troy Vincent (@TroyVincent23) March 21, 2017
If there's a more effective way to stop errant behavior than an educational video, I haven't heard it. I remember watching a video on the dangers of alcohol as a freshman in high school, and I haven't touched the stuff since. I can distinctly recall walking out of health class after seeing an educational video on the dangers of premarital sex, and I haven't so much as spoken to a woman since that day (whether it has been voluntary or not is a discussion for a different time). So this really seems like the smart way to go for the NFL, and it's surely going to be time, effort, money, and resources well spent for what is going to be an excellent payoff.
Luckily for Mr. Vincent, there are a few players who are already catching on, so the hope is that he'll have plenty of material to work with. That the NFL is ignoring the laundry list of older veterans coming to the forefront to announce the various ways in which their bodies are broken because of their time spent playing in order to ensure that nobody has too much fun in the end zone is the reason I'm going to keep tuning in every week. Integrity!