NFL Considers Widening Field

The NFL may consider taking a page out of Canada’s playbook. Nothing has been confirmed but the league could be looking into widening its field much like Canada’s CFL. The game of football has become quite gruesome over the years. Players are faster and stronger than ever and long-term head injuries are becoming more prevalent. Former competition committee leader Bill Polian told The National Football Post that the league had considered making the drastic change years ago and they may be revisiting the idea. Polian also mentioned that, from his experience, there are less traumatic collisions in Canada. The Canadian field is 35 feet wider than the NFL’s 160 feet. Allowing more space on the field could aid in the reduction of such high speed collisions.

I think the idea is certainly worth looking into. These players definitely need all the help they can get. Head injuries are no joke. The past few years have really shown us how devastating head injuries can be to a player's ability to lead a normal life outside the field. With cases like Junior Seau we saw how insomnia and depression could rob a player of his ability to think clearly and ultimately to live. So, I think the idea is well worth investigating.

But, not everyone is as open to the idea as I am. Some say the widening of the field could have an adverse effect on the player's safety and that collisions could be even worse. Others feel like the modification would have no effect on the hits at all. We'll see what comes of this idea in the months ahead.