This game is too intense nowadays.
Either that, or people sit out as soon as they feel the slightest discomfort. Or a bit of both.
Back in the days mad guys played 80 game per year 6 years in a row then started to fall off and have serious injuries all the time
Too much wear. Overuse injuries.
Growing up, brehs would play football/wrestling in fall, basketball or soccer in winter and track or baseball in spring. Gen Z athletes specialize too early. Plus side is they seem more polished at an earlier age....but their bodies are more worn down. And these dudes live clean.
Compare to guys like MJ who played 80 games a year, fukking all kinds of pawgs, drinking, smoking and gambling all night. These young guys read books, play Call of Duty, smoke weed, sleep 10 hours/night AND STILL need load management.