A Weighty Matter

Aside from the long-term concussive damage of larger and larger men slamming into each other and faster and faster speeds, the enormous physical growth of players is also, in my opinion, one additional factor in the eventual slide in popularity of the NFL. More and more, players do not resemble actual human beings - certainly not the average size - but rather a different species entirely. It was not always so, as the average player in the '60 was not the freakishly large behemoth that romps on the gridiron today.

It will become increasingly difficult for the typical fan (or schoolboy) to identify with (or play) football players at the pro level and increasingly at the college and high school levels as well.

From the Times:

In 1970, only one N.F.L. player weighed as much as 300 pounds...and 532 as training camps began in 2010.

The average weight of an NFL player is now 252 lbs!

And like steroids, the pro problem is leaking down to the amateur level.

The issue of weight and heart risks has spread even to high schools, where studies indicate that more than half of linemen are overweight. Some medical experts have called for weight limits on players, though that seems unlikely in the immediate future.

Think about that for a second. Half of high school linemen, the position with the most players on the field (offense and defense), are overweight. Amazing.