I agree, they need to figure something out.

Right now, as yardo mentions, you’re only allowed to have one player on the field with a radio receiver. And ianthealy mentions the durability … that is actually an issue that has been the subject of discussion. Quarterbacks do get hit, but if it’s a linebacker or a defensive lineman, you’re talking collisions every play. If a guy like Nate Webster has the in-helmet radio, then the damn thing is falling to the ground entirely every now and then. But here’s the thing — it doesn’t necessarily have to be a front-seven guy with the receiver. Everyone huddles up, so why couldn’t it be a cornerback who has less contact? Certainly Champ Bailey possesses more than enough acumen and leadership gravitas to be the man relaying the call from the sidelines or booth, and he’s on the field enough.

Yes, the radios can be replaced. But it’s not as simple as popping one receiver back out and another in … sometimes the whole wiring system has to be redone, which is more than could be fixed between plays.

Frankly, though, I’m with Bates … the defense ought to have radios. And if they can’t have them, then the offense shouldn’t. I know the reality of the situation, that rules and legislation will always favor the offense, because people want touchdowns, high scores, fireworks, seashells, balloons and pretty plays to market. To me, though, it’s an issue of fairness … and the only way to ensure that is by balance. Today it’s a radio transmitter for offensive players; tomorrow it’s 12 men on offense versus 11 on defense. Sure, that’s an exaggeration, but it’s only to make a point.

And I wonder what Paul Brown would think of all this? He, of course, was the man who first installed a radio receiver in a player’s helmet, some 51 years ago.

The argument is based around only ONE player on each side of the ball having a headset. Such is the quarterback on offense. Same rule would apply on defense. Only one defensive player would have a headset.

Green Dots: That’s the reason for the green dots this year. If you notice the QB has a green dot on the back of his helmet to specify to the refs that he has the radio equipment. Atlanta was said to run certain formations where Matt Schaub would line up as a receiver and Michael Vick was the QB or vice-vursa. Well, there’s your problem. You have two headsets on the field at the same time which now is a violation and may have been then as well but how are the refs supposed to tell? They can’t just stop everything and tell everyone to take off their helmets.

It sounded like the solutions were getting way to complicated to solve at the owners meetings and there were a few people that weren’t about to just let it fly. So, they voted it down.

We’ll have to see what happens in the offseason.

Andrew, you might have a lot more insight to the matter and could possibly comment? Maybe we’re way off base but that seems like part of the issue.

Another possibility is that they could use different encryption sets for the various defensive headsets, so they are selectively broadcasting commands to the individual players on the field… the downside is that those guys not on the field would want to turn their radios off to avoid the static.

The main issue has been the defensive rotation and controlling who and how many people have the radio equipment. People rotate in and out of the linebacker position a lot more than the QB. Whereas a team may have two or three QB’s they have a lot more linebackers. Different packages and different schemes for different teams; the middle linebacker may not always be in.

That’s been the control issue. They talked about it on NFL Network last night. Supposedly that was the reason they shot the idea down in the owners meetings this previous summer.

They’ll review it more and come up with some sort of solution especially after the Patriots fiasco.

I’m not saying I don’t want it to happen, because it would definitely make things easier, but there are too many ?’s right now.

Ian