Ballot reveals many NFL followers need extra video games regardless of damage dangers

Many NFL groups have misplaced star gamers to season-ending accidents this season or performed with out them for important stretches — however a brand new ballot finds that many soccer followers need extra video games, even when it means extra threat.

A new Quinnipiac poll discovered about half of NFL followers say the league is doing sufficient to guard gamers from critical accidents. Most followers, 60%, assist increasing the season, together with many who say the transfer for gamers — which would come with a wage improve — is definitely worth the elevated threat of damage.

The NFL is nearing the midpoint of a season marked by high-profile accidents which have knocked a number of key gamers out of motion the remainder of the best way. Dolphins five-time All-Pro extensive receiver Tyreek Hill (knee), 49ers All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner (ankle), five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Nick Bosa (knee), Giants wideout Malik Nabers (knee) and sensational rookie working again Cam Skattebo (ankle) have all suffered season-ending accidents.

Buccaneers extensive receiver Mike Evans will see his streak of 1,000-yard receiving seasons finish at 11 due to a damaged clavicle. And these are simply the accidents among the many greatest names.

But the ballot means that for essentially the most half, blame is not touchdown on the league. The NFL has taken robust measures to scale back accidents by making a number of guidelines modifications over time, together with overhauling the kickoff.

The ballot additionally discovered that about half of U.S. adults approve of Bad Bunny because the Super Bowl halftime performer — and most are additionally eager on shifting the Super Bowl to Presidents Day weekend, so the sport would all the time be adopted by a vacation.

Many really feel the NFL is doing sufficient to keep away from accidents

This 12 months, the NFL carried out a modified dynamic kickoff rule to remove high-speed collisions, which had contributed to a excessive variety of accidents.

In an effort to extend security on the sector over time, the league has additionally beforehand banned sure forms of tackles, expanded protections for defenseless gamers, made it unlawful to make use of the crown of the helmet to hit an opponent and extra. The league has elevated safety of quarterbacks, and total concussion numbers have decreased due to safer helmets and use of protecting helmet covers.

Still, soccer is a violent, bodily sport and it is troublesome to stop a participant from tearing a knee ligament or dislocating an ankle. Sometimes, accidents like a torn Achilles tendon happen with none hitting.

About 4 in 10 Americans say the NFL is doing “about the right amount” to assist keep away from critical accidents to skilled soccer gamers, and about 3 in 10 say it’s doing “too little.” Very few suppose the league is doing “too much,” and about 2 in 10 did not have an opinion.

About half of NFL followers — those that name themselves tremendous followers, followers, or informal followers — say the league is doing sufficient, and about 3 in 10 say it is not doing sufficient.

The ballot discovered that amongst NFL followers, there is a divide on the dynamic kickoff rule. About 4 in 10 choose the brand new rule, and about the identical share need the earlier rule again.

NFL followers would assist one other regular-season sport, even with damage threat

After increasing the season to 17 video games in 2021, the NFL is weighing including one other regular-season sport.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has said the objective is so as to add an 18th sport and scale back preseason video games from three to 2. Adding one other sport requires approval from the NFL Players Association, and interim government director David White informed The Associated Press it is not inevitable that the union will comply with it.

The collective bargaining settlement runs by means of 2031. The two sides have not mentioned renegotiating it and Goodell mentioned final week that dialog is on maintain till the gamers affiliation selects a everlasting government director.

Among NFL followers, about 6 in 10 assist including one other sport. That view is very prevalent amongst individuals who describe themselves as “super fans.” About 7 in 10 NFL tremendous followers mentioned they’d wish to see the growth, in contrast with about half of informal followers.

Concerns about accidents largely outweigh the will for one more sport. About 6 in 10 NFL followers who assist the growth mentioned it might be “worth it” when informed that including a regular-season sport would improve gamers’ threat of damage along with their salaries.

Americans are cut up alongside get together strains on Bad Bunny because the halftime present

The NFL has confronted pushback since deciding on Grammy-winning Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny as its Super Bowl halftime headline performer. About half of Americans approve of Bad Bunny because the halftime present performer, a quantity that’s constant amongst NFL followers. About 3 in 10 disapprove of the choose, and about 2 in 10 didn’t have an opinion.

Democrats are particularly prone to approve of Bad Bunny — who has brazenly criticized President Donald Trump and his immigration insurance policies — being chosen. About three-quarters of Democrats approve, in contrast with simply 16% of Republicans. Roughly 6 in 10 Republicans disapprove of the selection.

Last week, Goodell reaffirmed the league’s determination to place the artist on its greatest stage.

“It’s carefully thought through,” Goodell mentioned. “I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an artist where we didn’t have some blowback or criticism. It’s pretty hard to do when you have literally hundreds of millions of people that are watching.”

Bad Bunny performs in Spanish and is anticipated to take action on the Super Bowl.

There’s one other space that Americans do agree on: shifting the Super Bowl to a vacation weekend. A majority of U.S. adults total and NFL followers assist shifting the Super Bowl to Presidents Day weekend, in order that it is all the time adopted by a federal vacation on Monday.