Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:
Originally posted by Giedi:
That's key right there. The rules changes due to player health and injury issues. It's pretty much flag football nowadays when you compare it to what Bart Starr had to deal with back when he was playing. I think that's why defensively QB pressure schemes like the 3-4 blitz and the 4-3 under zones are so widespread now, and it's because the rules favor the passing game so much more than the run game. That's why Harbaugh's run first offense was a bit disappointing because he was operating an offense that gave a handicap to the opposing team from the get go.
Jim Hart was on the radio here a few weeks ago talking about how a defensive lineman once ran up to him after a play was over, slapped him hard upside his head in full view of a ref and all the ref did was walk up to him and say "you ready to go quarterback?" And he said that wasn't all that uncommon. Defenses aren't allowed to defend anywhere near what they used to, quarterbacks are far more sheltered and protected, can't be hit nearly as much,I imagine Montana in nowaday's NFL would be pretty much like Brady in terms of passing numbers.
I think I understand why the NFL makes these rules. I think they don't want the politicians to take their legal monopoly away, so in order to kiss up to the politicians so the politicians don't have any cause to be mad at the NFL and do that, they make these rules to *protect* the players. They've already had the no-spearing rule since before dirt was invented, and yet they add all this stuff about a QB being outside of the pocket vs inside etc.. I'd say a good portion of the politicians don't really care about the NFL, but they do care about some butt hurt citizen who doesn't like the redskin name and will complain to the politician about how the NFL is a criminal organization allowing the NFL to criminally assault and batter their employees by allowing these clothesline hits and stuff. I bet the politicians don't care one way or the other, but they have to deal with it because they want that guys or gal's vote in the next election.
Anyway, back to Montana. Yeah, I agree, I think he'd have very similar numbers to Brady and perhaps even better numbers. I dunno, but I know the guy would have found a way to win, one way or another. The guy was a winner, we'll see if CJ is cut from the same cloth.
