Might it say something about the folks who send their kids into football too young, then keep up the fascination with the “sport”, and ignore the carnage that results? If it wasn’t for the “fans”, the money, and the damage to players wouldn’t be there.
The NFL has been accused of ignoring player concussions, which lead to long-term brain damage. There have been better, safer helmets available for years – maybe decades – now, which have never been implemented by the NFL.
Nothing new about this, by the way – if you want to be horrified, look up retired NFL players, and see how many of them are effectively crippled and have little or no money in terms of pensions or retirement funds from the “company” that crippled them.
Now it is, churchill. Go back a few years, and they were paid much less, and had no retirement to speak of, and were kicked out by 40, having been in a physical job, generally having few qualifications for anything else (thanks to the shameful dumbing down of college requirements for the football teams) and crippled for being physical any more.
While Congress does convene some questionable committee hearings, this is not one of them. Their bigger concern in this issue is the effect repetitive trauma to the head has on younger players, those in college and high school, who are not highly compensated like NFL players for subjecting themselves to this risk. As more and more research establishes the link between football head injuries and CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), it will be interesting to see if colleges and the NCAA are eventually held responsible for these type of injuries in former players.
@ Lolapoo The college students are already being exploited. They play the game while the network, schools, and sponsors all make money from their blood, sweat, and tears. All the students get in return is the privilege to play for the school that is basically pimping them out for a chance to play in the NFL.
And don’t even get me started with those “gifts” that get these kids thrown out of college if the NCAA ever found out.
I don’t know, Howie, the injuries today are more crippling. Not to mention the size of these guys. It used to be a 300 pound tackle barreling down at you was an anomaly. Now it’s normal. And a recent report (heard it on radio - can’t remember where) said that better helmets may actually encourage more brain-rattling tactics. So I don’t think I want to play that kind of flag football.
d_legendary1 over 14 years ago
Is he trying to say that NFL players are underpaid?
Dtroutma over 14 years ago
Might it say something about the folks who send their kids into football too young, then keep up the fascination with the “sport”, and ignore the carnage that results? If it wasn’t for the “fans”, the money, and the damage to players wouldn’t be there.
wilburpan over 14 years ago
Why can’t GoComics figure out the difference between Drew Sheneman’s and Don Wright’s editorial cartoons?
Motivemagus over 14 years ago
The NFL has been accused of ignoring player concussions, which lead to long-term brain damage. There have been better, safer helmets available for years – maybe decades – now, which have never been implemented by the NFL. Nothing new about this, by the way – if you want to be horrified, look up retired NFL players, and see how many of them are effectively crippled and have little or no money in terms of pensions or retirement funds from the “company” that crippled them.
Motivemagus over 14 years ago
Now it is, churchill. Go back a few years, and they were paid much less, and had no retirement to speak of, and were kicked out by 40, having been in a physical job, generally having few qualifications for anything else (thanks to the shameful dumbing down of college requirements for the football teams) and crippled for being physical any more.
Lolapoo Premium Member over 14 years ago
While Congress does convene some questionable committee hearings, this is not one of them. Their bigger concern in this issue is the effect repetitive trauma to the head has on younger players, those in college and high school, who are not highly compensated like NFL players for subjecting themselves to this risk. As more and more research establishes the link between football head injuries and CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), it will be interesting to see if colleges and the NCAA are eventually held responsible for these type of injuries in former players.
MurphyHerself over 14 years ago
Boxers are certainly subject to this, too. Men and their sports, sigh.
d_legendary1 over 14 years ago
@ Lolapoo The college students are already being exploited. They play the game while the network, schools, and sponsors all make money from their blood, sweat, and tears. All the students get in return is the privilege to play for the school that is basically pimping them out for a chance to play in the NFL.
And don’t even get me started with those “gifts” that get these kids thrown out of college if the NCAA ever found out.
cdward over 14 years ago
I don’t know, Howie, the injuries today are more crippling. Not to mention the size of these guys. It used to be a 300 pound tackle barreling down at you was an anomaly. Now it’s normal. And a recent report (heard it on radio - can’t remember where) said that better helmets may actually encourage more brain-rattling tactics. So I don’t think I want to play that kind of flag football.
comYics over 14 years ago
Oh yeah, I guess there so busy getting to play, they dont actually think about how come they have padding on.