Drew Brees wants to “save the game of football” with flag football
 

A bunch of retired guys played flag football in San Jose last night, in hopes of creating a product someone will watch on television.

But Saints quarterback Drew Brees is aiming even higher with his attempt to popularize the safer version of his sport.

According to Mike Triplett of ESPN.com, Brees is launching a co-ed youth flag football enterprise called the Football ‘N’ America League with an eye toward the future of the game.

“I think that this has the opportunity to really save the game of football, honestly,” Brees said. “I think we’re filling a void that is much-needed.

“We felt like, you know what, we have the opportunity here to really create what will be the premier youth co-ed flag football league in America.”

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Brees said he came upon the idea while coaching a kids team in San Diego the last few offseasons. The league will begin in New Orleans and around Louisiana this fall, before expanding to other states next year.

Brees played flag football as a kid in Texas and didn’t play tackle until his freshman year in high school And he’s turned out OK. But now that he has four kids, he’s even more sure of the need for such programs.

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Re: Drew Brees wants to “save the game of football” with flag football
 

Boy oh boy, flag football, maybe the NFL want charge so much for their channels. FLAG FOOTBALL, yeah. I could see "to tall Jones playing? You think!!

Re: Drew Brees wants to “save the game of football” with flag football
 

Drew has jumped the Shark.

Re: Drew Brees wants to “save the game of football” with flag football
 

I played Flag for years in college. We had over 12 defenses and 40 different plays in multiple formations. You had to practice to make a certain playoff level. The game could become very complex. If you were on a crappy team, we would blow you out because you would never understand what we were actually doing.

Re: Drew Brees wants to “save the game of football” with flag football
 

It isn't a bad idea. So many people scared with all the injuries and concussions of late they don't allow their kids to play and if they aren't playing the game - they won't watch as much either. Lose interests fast.

I played in a military league. Had a good time - was fun.

Re: Drew Brees wants to “save the game of football” with flag football
 

Exactly. It makes sense. A whole new generation of kids are simply not playing football because of the fear their parents have of the tackle game. Getting them involved in flag football can satisfy the anxiety of the parents and can eventually lead those that have the talent into the high school game.

Re: Drew Brees wants to “save the game of football” with flag football
 

And you can get your flag football superbowl tickets for $9.99. Not going to happen!!

Re: Drew Brees wants to “save the game of football” with flag football
 

It's youth football. Geeze.

Re: Drew Brees wants to “save the game of football” with flag football
 

I don't think their really only talking about pee-wee there.

Re: Drew Brees wants to “save the game of football” with flag football
 

No. Of course not. He said he didn't play tackle himself until he was a freshman in HS. The league would go as far as it would bear age wise. Those players that showed promise at HS age would go to tackle. The others would continue playing the game. It absolutely isn't pee-wee, although parents of of children of all ages here in the last few years have begun pulling their children out of the sport. At least flag would keep it alive.

Re: Drew Brees wants to “save the game of football” with flag football
 

It's got a lot of plusses. It'd be cheap as hell. I'm always shocked at what the Pop Warner and other little leagues' parents pay out to get their kids into a tackle football game. You'll still get some injuries, but overall I'd say it'd be safer than soccer. Kids would be watching and learning about real football instead "Oh I've got a hangnail, get the stretcher!" soccer more. It wouldn't be nearly as gender specific.

Re: Drew Brees wants to “save the game of football” with flag football
 

All good points.

Re: Drew Brees wants to “save the game of football” with flag football
 

Like it or not as medical knowledge advances and now the cats out the bag with the NFL/NCAA unable to suppress the amount of concussions that occur in the game something will change. More and more parents will keep their kids from playing and something needs to give. For the 1/2% that make it from being high school stars stars to the pro ranks the rest need to make their way in other fields and dnt need the long term effects of concussions

Re: Drew Brees wants to “save the game of football” with flag football
 

I scrounged up a team in college for fun. Won a few games but when we started playing the top teams it began winding down. We were not pushovers but without practice and playbooks no way. It also started getting vicious physically.

As for women playing, there would have to be a whole set of rules to make that viable. Like they would have to play QB for a specific time and each team would have to have women. I wish Brees the best buy I don't see that aspect working out so great.

Re: Drew Brees wants to “save the game of football” with flag football
 

He's not talking about women playing with men. He's talking about girls playing with boys. It is a youth flag league he is talking about. Girls at those ages are sometimes even more advanced physically than boys. The purpose of the is to provide football pre-high school with far less chance of injury.

Re: Drew Brees wants to “save the game of football” with flag football
 

Quick!!! Take her flag!!!

http://images.enstarz.com/data/image...anne-hough.jpg

#MyFirstEverThreadRepair

Re: Drew Brees wants to “save the game of football” with flag football
 

Won't see me watching Flag Football, bring out butterfly nets & straight jackets could help!

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Re: Drew Brees wants to “save the game of football” with flag football
 

We have touch rugby...................for players over seventy!!!:nutkick:

Re: Drew Brees wants to “save the game of football” with flag football
 

But y'all still "touch" with your fists, right?

Re: Drew Brees wants to “save the game of football” with flag football
 

Flag is a great way for the young generation to learn the fundamentals of the game first off.

I played flag from 14-17, then played 2 years of youth full contact, then moved up to the senior team.

Those years at flag really helped me learn the fundamentals of route running and receiving, I then learned the contact stuff at youth level and had 2 years to prepare to play with grown men.

Re: Drew Brees wants to “save the game of football” with flag football
 

The only ones this could be bad for is the linemen. No substitute for the battle in the trenches in flag football.

Re: Drew Brees wants to “save the game of football” with flag football
 

Good thought. There'd need to be some different rules for the trenches although everybody could probably get by with bicycle helmets.

Re: Drew Brees wants to “save the game of football” with flag football
 

Diz,

You are just showing off :p.

Re: Drew Brees wants to “save the game of football” with flag football
 

There's no way! I can't be showing off surely, nowhere in there did I mention my 12 receiving TD's in my rookie season...oh wait....

Haha in all seriousness though, I think kids can afford to learn the contact stuff at a later date, getting them use to running, catching and throwing first in my opinion is a good way to introduce the sport without threatening major injury.

Re: Drew Brees wants to “save the game of football” with flag football
 

Actually, rugby players rarely fight. The penalties are too severe now but in the old days before player safety was all the rage we were allowed to express our opinions and fight like Hell!


As a referee there is zero tolerance for unsportsman like conduct. There is a definite spiriit of the laws that we adhere to.

We had to cut down on running around naked to clean up our image too.........:broccoli:

Re: Drew Brees wants to “save the game of football” with flag football
 

Rugby,

Did your teams ever do the HAKA pre game?

Re: Drew Brees wants to “save the game of football” with flag football
 

No. It is almost impossible to recreate the energy required to do the Haka. It is a beautiful way of intimidating your opponents brefore you take the pitch and kick their ass. The New Zealand All Blacks are the toughest rugby team in the world. I've seen them play several times and the Haka is intimidating and will leave you with goose bumps.

The best Haka I've seen though was a youth rugby team.......they nailed it!

Re: Drew Brees wants to “save the game of football” with flag football
 

I gotcha.

The reason I asked is because there is a local 6A Power House High School football Team (Euless Trinity) literally a mile away from me that does this EVERY PRE GAME/POST GAME for the last decade or so. There is a huge Polynesian influence in this area and I swear these are some big, intimidating young men. They've won at least 3 State titles but look at the size of these boys (clip below). The O line is massive .. year after year.

You're right though, that HAKA ritual dance can be intimidating to the visitors.