The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Rachel Bachman cites a study as saying that flag football, which is widely popular among children and young teens, actually "produces higher injury rates" for those players than tackle football. A study by the Univ. of Iowa "examined 3,794 players in grades 2-7 in two tackle football leagues and one flag football league." Tackle football players in the study "reported 2.6 injuries per 1,000 exposures, compared with 5.77 injuries per 1,000 exposures in flag football." While tackle football players "reported concussions at a slightly higher rate, the difference with flag players wasn’t statistically significant" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 2/14).
BYE WEEK BLUES? In DC, Isabelle Khurshudyan notes if it were up to Capitals coach Barry Trotz, he "would make some tweaks" to the NHL's bye week. Trotz said, "When you come out of the bye week, the first couple games that you play should be teams that are having the bye week at the same time with you because I think your level of play and where you are after a couple games, it’s different" (WASHINGTON POST, 2/14).
DALE YEAH! In Chicago, Jordan Owen notes Chicagoland Speedway is offering a "full refund on tickets" to its Sept. 17 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race -- if Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins the Dayonta 500 on Feb. 26. Fans who "purchase a single-day NASCAR Cup Series ticket between now and the Daytona 500 will receive a complete refund following the race if Earnhardt wins" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 2/14).
