NFL retirements & CTE

[juanbenae]

seems like more & more players are retiring due to the information now available on the brain trauma factor of CTE. some have made enough money having played for a number of years at a high level after being a high draft pick, such as the jets' dbrickashaw (sp?) ferguson who announced his retirement today. with in the last couple weeks others have done so as well, a cornerback who's name escapes me that is around 5 years in, or the bills linebacker player from Stanford that called it quits after one year. im wondering how this will change the game in the coming years. both in the NFL & youth sports.

will the high impact positions such as linemen, receivers, running backs , linebacker and defensive backfield see more of these early retirements? the average career is short as is, but the top flight players that can earn a lifetime's money in just a few years may be more opt to leave the game. could this lead to $30 million quarterbacks and a bunch of other disposable young player having to play on the cheap? will any of the new rules help curb this danger?

CTE is very interesting and how it is changing the sports landscape from the highest levels down to youth sports. feeling somewhat proud having been maybe the last of the kids that never wore a helmet on my bike unless I was racing bmx...

jb

[widgeon13]

Don't know how it will change the game but my guess would be by the time they retire the damage is done.

[rfuerst911sc]

I think this action by some players will ultimately drive more innovation in helmet design. I have to think there is enough study data between football, hockey and various racing divisions that a better and safer helmet can be designed. Most would argue that changing the rules to lower/eliminate " big hits " would ruin the games then the next best thing is to lower/eliminate the affect of the big hits when it comes to protecting the noggen. Will the future have air bag helmets ? Or helmets that sacrifice their structure to protect the wearer ? Time will tell .

[berettafan]

based on the way NFL players behave on the field i'd think brain damage would be damned difficult to discern from existing conditions.

[Arizona_928]

My high school coach played for two pro teams. Used to talk to him about it, and what's it's like. Very humble man he was, and simply stated. You just get too old and it's hard to compete with the young kids. He retired and has been a pe/football coach for last 15 years or so.

I think it's an excuse to quit... Most of those guys have been playing ball since they were young kids. You love to hit hard and make people miss... However, as I have noticed watching some nfl games is that some of them aren't in it for the game... Either way they're payed too much. Watch them all make the standard (300k?), And you'll see the sport come back....

[Ziggythecat]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

I think this action by some players will ultimately drive more innovation in helmet design. I have to think there is enough study data between football, hockey and various racing divisions that a better and safer helmet can be designed. Most would argue that changing the rules to lower/eliminate " big hits " would ruin the games then the next best thing is to lower/eliminate the affect of the big hits when it comes to protecting the noggen. Will the future have air bag helmets ? Or helmets that sacrifice their structure to protect the wearer ? Time will tell .

You should watch the movie Concussion.
They talk about a woodpecker, that has a cushion around it's brain that protects the brain from the repeated hammering.
We lack any cushioning, so when the head gets hit, the brain keeps moving, hitting the inside of the skull
No helmet in the world can stop that from happening, all it can do is protect the skull itself.
The death of the game has already started, with more and more parents refusing to let their kids participate in football, choosing non contact sports instead.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Ziggythecat

?...
The death of the game has already started, with more and more parents refusing to let their kids participate in football, choosing non contact sports instead.

The US will be totally converted to the metric system before football is dead IMO.
I agree with all of the safety measures being implemented, but life has risks, and humans are risky

[Ziggythecat]

Dead may be an exaggeration, because for many, it's the only path they see to scholarships and maybe the big time.
However, parents are more and more refusing to let their kids get involved in the sport.

It's not a mater of a broken leg, or dislocated shoulder, as those are risks you can recover from.
It's having the brain deterioration of a. 90 year old at the age of 30., with depression and loss of brain function.

Would you let you young boy play football, banging heads for the entertainment of the crowd ?
How about boxing ?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Most of these guys are not at the peak of their careers, I think it's attention as much as anything else. Considering that an 18 year old can have his brains blown out or any other variety of catastrophic injury for just over minimum wage in the military, it's very difficult to feel sorry for any professional athlete. You place your bets and take your chances.....

[Ziggythecat]

The risks of being killed or injured in war have been known since time began.
The risks of permanent brain injury from football have only recently come to light...with the NFL doing their best to hide the facts.
Watch Concussion, and let us what you conclude.
It was even dumbed down by the NFL lawyers.
Plus, Will Smith has an outstanding performance.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Sorry guys, but a fictional Hollywood movie is not a factual data source.

[Ziggythecat]

The X-rays, the brain biopsies and the work of neurologists who study the brain are the basis of the movie.
The fact that it was made into a drama, based on the work of the Doctor that discovered and connected the dots of CTE doesn't change the facts.
Haven't heard anyone dispute the findings...except the NFL execs.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a form of tauopathy, is a progressive degenerative disease found in people who have had a severe blow to the head. The disease was previously called dementia pugilistica (DP), i.e. "punch-drunk", as it was initially found in those with a history of boxing. CTE has been most commonly found in professional athletes participating in American football, association football, ice hockey, professional wrestling, stunt performing, bull riding, bicycle motocross, rodeo, and other contact sports who have experienced repeated concussions or other brain trauma. Its presence in domestic violence is also being investigated. It can affect high school players who have played for just a few years.[1]

[onewhippedpuppy]

I'm not debating the science, but Will Smith doesn't make documentaries. And if you think Hollywood doesn't add drama or take liberties with facts for the sake of entertainment you're a fool.

[Ziggythecat]

Skip the movie, and do a bit of reading.
Tell me what you find that disputes the facts.
We do not have the brains of woodpeckers, and repeated concussions have consequences.
The disease is unknown, except for those that suffer repeated blows to the head.

Is there a reason you want to deny that CTE exists , or what causes it ?

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by Ziggythecat

Would you let you young boy play football, banging heads for the entertainment of the crowd ?
How about boxing ?

You have obviously never played the game... It's not entertainment of the crowd, it's the camaraderie of 11 athletes on the field working in unison... It's teamwork, brotherhood, speed, and timing. Almost as choreography of ballet... NFL is quite dirty... Watch college ball. You can see the teamwork...

The risks are out there, but are you going to let fear rule over your life, or let alone your kid's life??

BTW i'm more frightened of Second-impact syndrome vs CTE...

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by AZ_porschekid

You have obviously never played the game... It's not entertainment of the crowd...

^^^^ This. Though I was only an average athlete, we played sports because we loved to play the game and nothing more. As a teen, we played tackle pickup games every Sunday during the fall, and we beat the chit out of each other with no helmets or pads, much more so than playing organized ball. Don't know how many concussions I had as a youngin', more than I can count doing all kinds of stuff. You can't eliminate risks or NO parent would let their 16 year old drive....our stupidity on Sunday afternoons didn't come close to THAT risky behavior. Change the rules, mitigate the risks, and carry on IMO. This is a good discussion...I'm not arguing about the risks, but that's what life is...YMMV.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Ziggythecat

Skip the movie, and do a bit of reading.
Tell me what you find that disputes the facts.
We do not have the brains of woodpeckers, and repeated concussions have consequences.
The disease is unknown, except for those that suffer repeated blows to the head.

Is there a reason you want to deny that CTE exists , or what causes it ?

You obviously aren't reading my posts. I never denied that it was an issue, only that citing a Hollywood movie as factual was stupid. As the father of a 12 year old that is passionate about football I have done plenty of reading, but the factual kind.

Originally Posted by KC911

^^^^ This. Though I was only an average athlete, we played sports because we loved to play the game and nothing more. As a teen, we played tackle pickup games every Sunday during the fall, and we beat the chit out of each other with no helmets or pads, much more so than playing organized ball. Don't know how many concussions I had as a youngin', more than I can count doing all kinds of stuff. You can't eliminate risks or NO parent would let their 16 year old drive....our stupidity on Sunday afternoons didn't come close to THAT risky behavior. Change the rules, mitigate the risks, and carry on IMO. This is a good discussion...I'm not arguing about the risks, but that's what life is...YMMV.

I didn't play organized sports as a kid, but played plenty of pickup games. Between football and baseball I can easily pick out five instances of having concussion symptoms. Catching and a bat to the forehead, line drive to the eye when pitching, flipped onto my head when playing football. In high school I didn't have anything to keep me out of trouble so I drank........a lot. The things I did in high school should have landed me in jail or dead, mostly because I had nothing to occupy my time and keep me out of trouble. Given the choice between my sons living my teenage years or playing tackle football, I'll take football every time.

[impactbumper]

Okay your little tackle games on a Sunday afternoon and impacts/hits on professional football are completely different things.

I love football. I do not see it going away soon. BUT, wait for another generation... I do not see it staying as popular but evolving into something else.

CET is a serious issue. But it is a risk they take for either money or passion


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[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Most of these guys are not at the peak of their careers, I think it's attention as much as anything else. Considering that an 18 year old can have his brains blown out or any other variety of catastrophic injury for just over minimum wage in the military, it's very difficult to feel sorry for any professional athlete. You place your bets and take your chances.....

Right on. Football is dangerous. The NFL is basically the modern day's gladiator games. If you don't want to get hurt don't play.

Life is risky. It's an unfortunate truth. We cannot legislate or engineer out all of the risk in life, but it appears we are trying.

[jcommin]

Originally Posted by Nickshu

Right on. Football is dangerous. The NFL is basically the modern day's gladiator games. If you don't want to get hurt don't play.

Life is risky. It's an unfortunate truth. We cannot legislate or engineer out all of the risk in life, but it appears we are trying.

True but I think you will see changes to contracts athletes sign. There will be clauses for head injuries, insurance/disability adders. There will be an open acknowledgement of risk.

And I'm sure those that watch the sport will pay for that "risk".