I was having an extensive conversation with a client of mine over this whole concussion uproar (she had just seen the movie). I told her I find it very hard to believe these players somehow couldn't know the toll this violent game would take on their bodies. It's not like we haven't seen the documentaries showing Jim Otto and his struggles to get out of bed after an extensive career in the NFL. Didn't Jerome Bettis put an elevator in his house on the staircase so he wouldn't have to walk downstairs? And I believe Namath walks with crutches, doesn't he? You wouldn't need to be a rocket scientist to know these hits would also take its toll on your brain. In addition, a poll was done some years ago asking about 100 NFL players if they were given a choice to have all the fame and fortune they currently have knowing they would die at 50, would they trade it for a normal life where they lived to be 80. Over 90% chose 50. Sounds to me like they really don't care. And of course, the final trump card would be that the information is out there now at how damaging this game can be with the lasting impact of head trauma. With that said, why is it that only one player that I know of (his name escapes me, but he played for the 49ers) has stopped playing because of it? Wouldn't you think these players would be leaving in droves if they cared so much and were so concerned about it?
i think he played linebacker for the niners chris borland i believe...
My son plays pop warner and other organizations in the youth tackle organizations. I always pray to the lord that he stays healthy and injury free. Its so fortunate that he came out of this football season healthy. He plays QB and linebacker. I think after youth sports. I'm considering him changing to other sports. scary shit nowadays especially kids being bigger and faster.
My son plays pop warner and other organizations in the youth tackle organizations. I always pray to the lord that he stays healthy and injury free. Its so fortunate that he came out of this football season healthy. He plays QB and linebacker. I think after youth sports. I'm considering him changing to other sports. scary shit nowadays especially kids being bigger and faster.
That was the other point of contention with a 2nd client...that parents would stop allowing their kids to play football, there would be less college players playing football, and that the pool would eventually dry up. One of the comments made about Borland was that the 49ers made a mistake in their scouting by drafting a player that was smart enough, that he could basically due something else with his life (as opposed to an inner city youth). I personally don't think the talent pool would dry up, I just think it would fundamentally change to kids like these inner city youth that had nothing else going for them in life (similar to how many of them turn to boxing). Regardless of what they do to the helmets and other equipment, I just think it's unpreventable (you simply can try to make it safer). Heck, hockey players apparently get concussions just from falling on their behinds on the ice, so it sounds like simply a hard tackle could have the same jarring impact.
That was the other point of contention with a 2nd client...that parents would stop allowing their kids to play football, there would be less college players playing football, and that the pool would eventually dry up. One of the comments made about Borland was that the 49ers made a mistake in their scouting by drafting a player that was smart enough, that he could basically due something else with his life (as opposed to an inner city youth). I personally don't think the talent pool would dry up, I just think it would fundamentally change to kids like these inner city youth that had nothing else going for them in life (similar to how many of them turn to boxing). Regardless of what they do to the helmets and other equipment, I just think it's unpreventable (you simply can try to make it safer). Heck, hockey players apparently get concussions just from falling on their behinds on the ice, so it sounds like simply a hard tackle could have the same jarring impact.
And yeah, I think many of these guys are already warped by the time they get to the NFL.
Some guys don't care. Some go by the motto you only live once. Some think, that can't happen to me. But I do know a couple guys that back when we were around 20, told me they want to Live for the next 30 years. Not wait until their old to Live. Said they don't plan on living past 50. Scary thing is they were serious about it. There will always be guys like Chris Borland or the ones that don't even make it that far that decide this isn't the life for them. Others crave it. And in case anyone is wondering, those guys that didnt plan to live past 50 are in their late 30s now and still kicking. But I will be surprised if they have a 60th bday.
Gents, the specific condition , CET, and it's precise symptoms and how they manifest is something no player could have envisioned. If he could have I cannot help but feel that poll would have gone differently. Getting busted up over and over in a collision sport especially as a lineman, linebacker, safety, ST gunner or a running back -whereby one needs the hyperbaric chamber on a weekly basis, a steady dose of massage treatments or an elevator in the house- is one thing but the head trauma is a vastly different degree of negative fallout that this sport brings in droves and hence the change of rules in leading with the head.
The average longevity of a NFL player is currently 54 years old but the one stat it fails to factor is how many of those are caused by suicide and exactly why.
The average longevity of a NFL player is currently 54 years old but the one stat it fails to factor is how many of those are caused by suicide and exactly why.
