As parents, many of us struggle with the decision to let our kids play football. After all, it is a very physical sport, and none of us wants to see Junior get hurt.

Besides the potential for injury, though, there are other things to consider before committing your child to a season on the gridiron.

Jobe Lewis goes over all the points you should consider when deciding if football is right for your kid.

Is Football Right for Your Kid? originally appeared on About.com Football on Friday, March 12th, 2010 at 01:13:57.

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Let's face it. Whether the stereotype is fair or not, football players aren't highly regarded for their intelligence (not to say there aren't a lot of smart guys playing the game). And as a result, the large amount of time they spend in front of a microphone answering questions can lead to some very amusing moments.

In honor of these blunderers, About Football has put together a collection of the more comical quips to escape the lips of college and pro football players, as well as coaches and announcers alike over the years. Read more...

Football's Funniest Quotes originally appeared on About.com Football on Thursday, March 11th, 2010 at 01:54:06.

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Because of the way things unfolded as evidence was released the first time Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was accused of sexual assault, I've been holding back on expressing an opinion on the latest similar accusations, which stem from an incident that allegedly took place in Milledgeville, Georgia. As things unfolded the first time, the evidence seemed to suggest the supposed victim had an agenda, so I'm keeping an open mind toward both parties until the facts come out in this case. There is one conclusion, however, that I have come to grips with.

Big Ben seems to be a 40-watt bulb in a 100-watt world.

Assuming he is completely innocent of these latest accusations (which is a big assumption at this time), he should realize that he is a target for those who are seeking an easy payday and should avoid situations that might again put him in that position. Apparently, though, he didn't learn much from the first incident.

If, however, he is anything less than innocent of these charges (which is also a huge assumption until the facts come out) then he is something much, much worse than a little on the dense side.

At the Least, Roethlisberger Guilty of Poor Judgement originally appeared on About.com Football on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 12:48:36.

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Despite the fact that Notre Dame posted a less-than-mediocre record during Jimmy Clausen's tenure as quarterback of the Fighting Irish, he is considered to be one of the top signal-callers in this year's NFL Draft class. Most draftniks currently rank him second behind only Oklahoma's Sam Bradford. But there is a small contingent that actually thinks he is the best available this year.

I'm not among that minority, however.

One thing that makes Clausen attractive to NFL scouts is that he has played in a pro-style offense throughout his collegiate career, and he's a relatively accurate passer. Of concern to me, though, is the lack of velocity he has downfield, which sometimes causes him to either float his passes or to lengthen his delivery, both of which give defenders more time to react.

In the right system I believe he can be successful at the NFL level, but I don't see him as the top-ten, can't-miss prospect that he is touted by some to be. Read more...

Featured NFL Draft Prospect Jimmy Clausen originally appeared on About.com Football on Monday, March 8th, 2010 at 20:22:19.

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The Chicago Bears kicked off an uncharacteristic spending spree over the weekend by signing long-time Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers -- the plum of this year's free-agent class -- to a six-year deal that is expected to pay him about $40 million over the first three years of the contract. And while the Bears will undoubtedly be criticized for overpaying a 30-year-old defensive end who tends to disappear at times, there's no denying he's a huge improvement over what they had in 2009.

In fact, it can be argued that Peppers is the best pure pass rusher the Bears have fielded since Richard Dent suited up for them in the 1980s.

Granted, this move shows more than a hint of desperation Read more...

Bears Land This Year's Top Free Agent originally appeared on About.com Football on Sunday, March 7th, 2010 at 19:04:37.

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Umpire Garth DeFelice appears to be landing a nice right cross on St. Louis Rams running back Kenneth Darby during the team's week 16 contest in 2008 with the San Francisco 49ers. DeFelice actually knocked Darby to the ground on the play as he tried to avoid being run over by the much younger athlete, but this photo captured by Dilip Vishwanat makes it appear as if DeFelice has landed a knockout punch despite the fact that Darby has a football helmet on.

So, of course, this photo just cries out for a "Caption This". Be sure to post your contribution in the comments section.

(By the way... doesn't this photo sum up the Rams' last couple seasons perfectly?)

Photo: Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

Caption This: Knockout Punch originally appeared on About.com Football on Thursday, March 4th, 2010 at 08:33:25.

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Football officials... they're the men on the field we all love to hate and complain about. But without these keepers of the rules, a football game could not progress with any sort of structure or sanity.

Officials play a very important role in the game, from keeping things moving along to making sure the athletes don't unnecessarily hurt each other. Officials are responsible for monitoring the game clock and play clock, enforcing the rules of play, and recording all rule infractions.

You often hear them referred to by the general term of referee, but there is actually only one referee on the field during a game. Each official (usually seven in college and NFL games) has his own title and assigned responsibilities. Read more...

And if you've ever wondered what it takes to become an NFL official, we have all the details.

Photo: Eliot J. Schechter / Getty Images

Officials, Referees, and Umpires... What's the Difference? originally appeared on About.com Football on Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 at 02:40:36.

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Things like work ethic, intensity, and knowing your assignment on every play can be equally, if not more important than your physical skills.

Jobe Lewis recently took a look at some of the more important factors in overcoming a lack of raw talent. Read more...

Advice for Young Football Players: Control What You Can Control originally appeared on About.com Football on Monday, March 1st, 2010 at 09:30:38.

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He's won two national championships and is one of the more decorated players coming out of the college ranks. None of that, however, means a thing for Tim Tebow when it comes to making the jump to the NFL.

Despite the athleticism Tebow displayed as quarterback of the Florida Gators, there is one major concern that I feel will make his transition to the NFL a very difficult one, and could lead to him eventually switching to a different position at the pro level.

He has a loop in his throwing motion big enough to drive a Volkswagon through. Read more...

Tebow Will Struggle in NFL originally appeared on About.com Football on Sunday, February 28th, 2010 at 13:13:12.

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Often you'll hear announcers refer to a defense as being either good or bad at staying at home and covering their gap assignments. But they don't usually go into detail as to what exactly that means. Jobe Lewis has taken the liberty of doing just that.

Jobe has put together a quick description and illustration of where the a, b, and c gaps are to aid in your understanding of how a player reads and reacts to his assignment.

So check it out...

Photo: Jay LeVasseur - www.appliedartstudio.com

Understanding Gap Assignments originally appeared on About.com Football on Saturday, February 27th, 2010 at 02:35:08.

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