I remember George Blanda and I still cringe thinking how Jon Stenaraud missed that field goal, but it's been a very long time since I watched football on TV.

Is it the high definition big screen, or have the NFL players gotten much quicker and agile.

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Have been bigger and faster for the last 20 plus years.
Half the tight ends should be O linemen.

I think it is just trick camera work, magnifying lens, and technical changes. There is no doubt they are a lot richer however.

It's the same in all sports. Many here would be surprised at the upper body strength of top flight soccer players these days. As for speed, it's everybody now, not just one or two in the team. If you haven't got speed, you are unlikely to make it in the pro game.

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Release the Kraken

That's why injuries are much more severe. You can really bulk up your muscles, but you can't increase your skeletal structure strength much. Much of the focus on injury reduction now is gear and rule changes. Unfortunately, the result of lots of these injuries don't show up 'til years later.

The Washington Redskins offensive line (the Hogs?) of the early 80s were notable for weighing nearly or over 300 lbs. This seems to be now the norm.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

S-T-E-R-O-I-D-S

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The whole population has gotten bigger, stronger, faster, and to a large degree, fatter.

I was not thinking about the 300 lb linemen.

I noticed the extreme speed, agility and strength in the running backs and the receivers. The moves remind me of basketball and hockey players.

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Got juice?

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Back to back World War Champs.

They're also conditioned to a razor's edge. Combined with the strength and speed, and it's no wonder that the injury rate is so high. You can't maintain that conditioning level and have any real physical reserve to combat injuries.

Add to that, the NFL has a 20-game schedule.

My dad played semi pro football. In his day at 6' 2" and 210 pounds he was considered a big man. He played guard on both sides of the ball. These days they got running backs and corner backs that size.

I played in high school although I wasn't near as big as my dad. I was extremely fast. And even back then the game was fast. But after watching pro football up close, MAN is it fast! Ain't no comparison to TV. They hit harder too.

There are so many players that are bigger, stronger and faster that I don't believe it's steroids. Modern technology and sports medicine but not steroids.

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Bigger, stronger and faster? Absolutely!
Tougher? Not a chance.

I wonder how many players today could hold an off season job?

Plus P-A-I-N-K-I-L-L-E-R-S. It used to be a bit of novocaine in the knee. Nowadays, it's opioids up the ying-yang. It's probably going to be the next big NFL scandal, after steroids and concussions.

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Pisgah

Masking agents are getting better & better...

I think they breed them on a farm in Nebraska, or maybe Alabama.

Careful there, Jimmy the Greek got himself in a heap of trouble with a remark about breeding back in the day.

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Back to back World War Champs.