Can girl play in the NFL?

[hudagph]

I just heard that this girl who played in highschool is going to be drafted to college men's football. Apparently she's wicked good, but I thought girls have there own professional league how is she going to play college men's football?

[kenyan_cheena]

Only in P.Rico.

[Steve509]

Originally Posted by hudagph

I just heard that this girl who played in highschool is going to be drafted to college men's football. Apparently she's wicked good, but I thought girls have there own professional league how is she going to play college men's football?

I don't see it any time soon. The only two position I can possibly think a female could play is a place kicker or punter. Even then the competition is so intense that only the very best(arguable) 32 players get a roster spot at that position.

The NFL is just a different beast than the college level, and the transition gap for players is even more difficult than those going from H.S. to college. Although if the talent is there, and she proves she can play with men and contribute with high success, than more power to her(but I don't see it happening).

[chucksabr]

Women will never, ever, ever play in the NFL. Ever. The best of them are simply not as good as the best of the men, which is who makes the NFL.

The only way a woman makes the NFL is if it becomes a disgraced and then marginalized league existing on the periphery of the American sportscape, like WWE/WWF has.

[Goody]

Originally Posted by chucksabr

Women will never, ever, ever play in the NFL. Ever. The best of them are simply not as good as the best of the men, which is who makes the NFL.

The only way a woman makes the NFL is if it becomes a disgraced and then marginalized league existing on the periphery of the American sportscape, like WWE/WWF has.

That's kind of sexist, you don't know what kind of freak of nature or talent might be out there, or out there in the future. Now that there is less discrimination, gender roles are less defined, and people haves ways of being given a chance... who tells what could happen.

[rudel.dietrich]

This is newsworthy but not new in an of itself.

There was a female kicker for the University of New Mexico in the mid 2000s
Let me try and find an article about her.

[rudel.dietrich]

Katie Hnida - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I had forgotten about what she had to endure at the University of Colorado and their sexual assault scandal from that era.

This is also another reason why it is harder for a female to play in mens sports. Sexual assault and rape are huge issues on college campuses and her time at Colorado seems to have been a nightmare.

[Goody]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

Katie Hnida - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I had forgotten about what she had to endure at the University of Colorado and their sexual assault scandal from that era.

This is also another reason why it is harder for a female to play in mens sports. Sexual assault and rape are huge issues on college campuses and her time at Colorado seems to have been a nightmare.

Great research and interesting read (haven't read it yet)...

[Goody]

Ok started reading the article, and due to the timelines I'm wondering how much (or not) that film with Kath Ireland as a kicker was influenced by these events... I think it came out about the same time.

Ok back to reading.

Edit: She's from Littleton, CD high school? Is that the Columbine area from the massacre stuff?

Edit 2: oh, she had mono... ok never had that one.

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

Sexual assault and rape are huge issues on college campuses ...

Actually there is some debate about the true frequency of such events on college campuses. Certain oft-mentioned 'statistics' on how often such crimes occur may be considerably overstated according to some analysis. (Much depends on the specific definition used to define such acts.)

[Goody]

Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange

Actually there is some debate about the true frequency of such events on college campuses. Certain oft-mentioned 'statistics' on how often such crimes occur may be considerably overstated according to some analysis. (Much depends on the specific definition used to define such acts.)

From my experience in the military, where its a similar situation of mixed but male dominated.... it only happens where the females and males around allow it to happen. Which I never witnessed... in 14 years of service in barracks and and drunken situations where it could happen....

I heard about it happening, rumors. I saw it close to happen... stopped it or the females stopped it before I had to...

Food for thought... but I was in a "smart" part of the army. Telecom. Maybe amongst grunts and and random cooks and supply people it happened more often... Apparently it did.. even male on male according the the rumors we heard about our field artillery neighbors at my last post. But if you have smart people, caring people, women who take care of and respect themselves... this stuff doesn't happen.

Oh... that girl in the article had MONO... right... how about we stop coddling people who make bad decisions and put themselves in bad situations?

[chucksabr]

Originally Posted by Goody

That's kind of sexist, you don't know what kind of freak of nature or talent might be out there, or out there in the future. Now that there is less discrimination, gender roles are less defined, and people haves ways of being given a chance... who tells what could happen.

This is not sexism. This is the reality of recognizing basic physical differences between men and women.

It's not that I don't want women in the NFL. It would be great to see women in the NFL. It's always great to see women make inroads into the various endeavors of human achievement that have traditionally been dominated by men, including business, the military and government. I wish women dominated American government, because we would almost certainly see less war. (A sexist statement itself, I know, but I do believe that would be the case.)

But come on, let's be real here. It's obvious to everyone without an ideological agenda that the very best physical specimens among the female gender simply do not stack up against that of the male gender, as it pertains to playing any of the four professional sports. The fastest of them are not as fast; the strongest of them are not as strong; the biggest of them are not as big; and no woman who is the height and weight of a typical NFL player is, to be straight, an athlete capable of moving like an NFL player. If such a woman existed we would certainly have heard of her, and here in the year 2015, if there was ever any woman who was good enough to play professional football or basketball or baseball at the very highest levels, we certainly would have heard of her, and there would certainly be at least a debate about her, if not an actual opportunity for her. But where is that debate? Nowhere, because that woman does not exist.

It is not sexist to recognize that men are athletically superior to women, on balance, meaning the top 10% of male athletes are superior to the top 10% of female athletes; the second 10% of male athletes are superior to the second 10% of female athletes; the third 10% etc., and so on, until you get to the segment of people who are physically challenged, and then the differences between the genders are not as stark, if any.

That is not sexism. That is reality. Look, I'm a flaming liberal who's possibly left of Lenin, but I'm not so ideologically rigid that I reject obvious reality in the service of gender affirmation.

[chucksabr]

You want proof? Ask any really great female athlete, like college All American level, and ask her whether they think the best female athletes are capable of playing in the NFL, NBA or MLB. And if she thinks that woman exists, ask her who it is.

EDIT: This did not come off the way I thought it would. What I meant to say is, if you ask a really great female athlete whether there are any women who could play in the highest professional leagues, she will almost certainly say there is not, because she is most likely to understand the basic physical differences that would prevent it.

But if a great female athlete did think there is a female who could play at that level, I'd be curious to know who they think would qualify.

[RchW]

Take a look at Hayley Wickenheiser; probably one of the best women athletes in recent times. Her attempts to play pro hockey with men topped out at the 3rd tier in Finland and Sweden. A brief sojourn in the Finnish 2nd tier lasted 10 games. Several top female tennis players have struggled to win single games or even points from lower ranked male players.

For both men and women athletic ability does not progress linearly, it's more like a logarithmic scale. Not suggesting that each level is 10X better but it is a multiplier, not a few % points that separates each level from the next.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayley_Wickenheiser

[BaseballMan]

I wouldnt want a mixed gender league. Its tough to lose players to injuries but having to replace a woman due to pregnancy is another thing to consider.

[MorseMoose]

Originally Posted by BaseballMan

I wouldnt want a mixed gender league. Its tough to lose players to injuries but having to replace a woman due to pregnancy is another thing to consider.

chucksabr isn't necessarily sexist, but this most definitely is.

Though, I would argue with chucksabr that there are girls/women that could have success in the major sports but it won't happen for several years for several reasons. One major reason is that they will continue to not be welcomed (as evidenced by a few in this thread). Another reason is the competition they play in not being on par with their male counterparts. They could play on the male side of things, but again...reason #1 stands in the way. Reason #3, because of the risk of not being welcome, they probably make more money and are appreciated more in their own women's league.

It will happen, I can just about guarantee it. There's plenty of examples of women outdoing men in various athletic achievements. It's only a matter of time until they make it into a male's professional sport. And I'll gladly welcome the day just like all of the other barrier firsts that have (and will soon be) broken.

[RchW]

Originally Posted by BaseballMan

I wouldnt want a mixed gender league. Its tough to lose players to injuries but having to replace a woman due to pregnancy is another thing to consider.

I've played mixed gender leagues in many sports and never once thought of pregnancy as a reason not to have them or not to participate.

[chucksabr]

Originally Posted by BaseballMan

I wouldnt want a mixed gender league. Its tough to lose players to injuries but having to replace a woman due to pregnancy is another thing to consider.

You're joking, right? Because this reads as though you're joking.

[RchW]

I read this multiple times. Not sure what point you are making about sexual assault. Some of these comments suggest to me that you consider women responsible for certain aspects of what may or may not happen. I vehemently disagree with you and perhaps that's not what you meant. Correct me.

Originally Posted by Goody

From my experience in the military, where its a similar situation of mixed but male dominated.... it only happens where the females and males around allow it to happen.

Curious how you know the above given what you say below. How does the far more common case of sexual assault that occurs with no witnesses involve the female allowing it to happen? Are women held to a different standard of behavior? Poor judgement, drunkenness anger and love are often cited by men as mitigating factors in their criminal behavior. Women can certainly use the same excuses, right? What behavior by women leads to sexual assault as you say above?

Originally Posted by Goody

Which I never witnessed... in 14 years of service in barracks and and drunken situations where it could happen....

I'd bet large amounts that most people haven't witnessed sexual assaults. I'd be very concerned if you said anything differently.

Originally Posted by Goody

I heard about it happening, rumors. I saw it close to happen... stopped it or the females stopped it before I had to...

Best case scenario, I suppose. Was any punishment handed out for the attempt? I guess what I'm trying to understand is if multiple situations occur that need intervention or belligerence, shouldn't something be done to change things?

Originally Posted by Goody

But if you have smart people, caring people, women who take care of and respect themselves... this stuff doesn't happen.

I don't doubt that smart caring people are less likely to put themselves in bad situations. You obviously saw a few potential assaults as you say above. So smart and caring people don't prevent bad situations 100% of the time.

Shouldn't men also take care of and respect themselves and their women colleagues too? Curious why women get singled out. Would it not make sense that a woman showing signs of personal issues just like a man, should receive extra care attention and concern, instead of suggesting that her behavior may be responsible for her own sexual assault.

Originally Posted by Goody

Oh... that girl in the article had MONO... right... how about we stop coddling people who make bad decisions and put themselves in bad situations?

What on earth does having mono and tonsillitis have to do with bad decisions? This is completely bizarre.

[chucksabr]

Originally Posted by MorseMoose

chucksabr isn't necessarily sexist, but this most definitely is.

Though, I would argue with chucksabr that there are girls/women that could have success in the major sports but it won't happen for several years for several reasons. One major reason is that they will continue to not be welcomed (as evidenced by a few in this thread). Another reason is the competition they play in not being on par with their male counterparts. They could play on the male side of things, but again...reason #1 stands in the way. Reason #3, because of the risk of not being welcome, they probably make more money and are appreciated more in their own women's league.

It will happen, I can just about guarantee it. There's plenty of examples of women outdoing men in various athletic achievements. It's only a matter of time until they make it into a male's professional sport. And I'll gladly welcome the day just like all of the other barrier firsts that have (and will soon be) broken.

Would you please provide us a few examples of women who have outdone the most elite athletic men in athletic achievements?