nfl injured reserve rules

with niners putting nick moody on i.r and using their sole designation to recall, and some questioning whther that was a wise use of their 1 recall designation, does anyone know why the nfl doesnt have injury rules more like baseball's disabled list? why does a guy who is hurt and put on i.r. have to be out for the year...seems the team has to pay him anyway so why not leave him a chance to return?

Glad they at least give you 1 now, was 0 up until a few years ago. My guess would be it's so teams don't put a bunch of players on they don't want to lose at cut time?

Found this.. My guess was right.
"One reason IR rules became so rigid over the years is that teams like the Raiders and Redskins in the 80's used it to hide young talent. Players were told to fake injuries so the team can hoard young talent. And it occasionally is still being done, but it's not as prevalent. Coaches would instruct players to take a dive in the last pre season game and then then they got placed on IR. Then they would practice on the scout team for the entire year after taking just a week off to fake nurse the fake injury. With the expansion of the practice squad there is less need for this maneuver and the penalties from the Commissioner's office are much bigger."

I think they need to change the rule and allow a few more players to come back. Just monitor the guys on IR a little better. Make sure teams aren't putting on guys with fake injuries. I'd like then to change the inactive 7 rule as well. Cut that down to 3-4 players. Causes guys who are bubble players to not be able to play.

Originally posted by Gore_21:
Glad they at least give you 1 now, was 0 up until a few years ago. My guess would be it's so teams don't put a bunch of players on they don't want to lose at cut time?

Found this.. My guess was right.
"One reason IR rules became so rigid over the years is that teams like the Raiders and Redskins in the 80's used it to hide young talent. Players were told to fake injuries so the team can hoard young talent. And it occasionally is still being done, but it's not as prevalent. Coaches would instruct players to take a dive in the last pre season game and then then they got placed on IR. Then they would practice on the scout team for the entire year after taking just a week off to fake nurse the fake injury. With the expansion of the practice squad there is less need for this maneuver and the penalties from the Commissioner's office are much bigger."

I think they need to change the rule and allow a few more players to come back. Just monitor the guys on IR a little better. Make sure teams aren't putting on guys with fake injuries. I'd like then to change the inactive 7 rule as well. Cut that down to 3-4 players. Causes guys who are bubble players to not be able to play.

good find...maybe they could amend the rule to allow a callback from i.r for any player that played a certain amount of snaps the prior year....you dont put a crabtree or other starter on ir to hoard young talent