Former Card resigns because he refuses to 'cheerlead' for the sport which is linked to ALS, CTE, etc

[Brian in Mesa]

'Football isn't safe for the brain': Veteran ESPN and ABC analyst Ed Cunningham resigns because he refuses to 'cheerlead' for the sport which is linked to ALS, dementia and CTE

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/a...alyst-Ed-Cunningham-resigns-brain-safety.html

Revered football analyst Ed Cunningham has resigned from commentating for ESPN and ABC saying he refuses to support the sport in light of studies linking it to devastating brain diseases.

The 48-year-old, who played for the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks, has spent 20 years carving out a career in sports journalism.

But on Wednesday, he announced he is stepping away from one of the top jobs in broadcasting, with immediate effect - citing concerns about the safety of football.

'In its current state, there are some real dangers: broken limbs, wear and tear,' Cunningham told the New York Times. 'But the real crux of this is that I just don't think the game is safe for the brain. To me, it's unacceptable.'

His words come amid a growing swell of research showing concussions and head injuries in the contact sport dramatically increase a player's risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases.

And Cunningham has first-hand experience: two of his former teammates have committed suicide, Dave Duerson and Andre Waters. Post-mortem examinations revealed both had CTE, which can cause aggression, depression and suicidal thoughts.

Speaking to the Times on Wednesday, Cunningham said: 'I take full ownership of my alignment with the sport. I can just no longer be in that cheerleader's spot.'

He insisted he is not anti-football.

However, he said the relentless rate of injury in every game started to grate, as he heard about an increasing number of players with football-related health issues off the field.

'I've had teammates who have killed themselves. Dave Duerson put a shotgun to his chest so we could study his brain,' he said.

Cunningham said he hopes his stance will trigger further scrutiny into the links between football and brain disorders.

But it comes at an awkward time for the NFL.

Last month, the franchise cut ties with the National Institutes of Health study into concussion after years of feuding over critical researchers.

Despite vowing in 2012 to invest $30 million in brain injury research, the football league has only paid $18 million, and its contract will expire at the end of August.

The move came two years after a huge row between the two organizations over Boston University neuroscientist Robert Stern, who is a vocal critic of the NFL and received a chunk of the NIH grant to examine former players.

Just days before the NFL and NIH announced the end of their partnership, Dr Stern's research team published the explosive report, revealing 110 out of 111 deceased NFL players had signs of CTE in post-mortem examinations.

 

[Mainstreet]

If the man is doing it for the right reasons, it's hard to criticize him.

I will be waiting to hear more about the subject.

 

[splitsecond]

Who?

 

[SissyBoyFloyd]

Would a parent tell his kid to go practice getting into head on car crashes so one day you can make millions as a crash test dummy? Is football really any different from a health standpoint? I think not.

But will fans ever protest it. No! They like too much seeing other people getting their brains scrambled every Sunday, and Saturday, and now Monday, Thursday, and Friday too. It is just too much fun seeing our favorite players turning their brains into mush.

If they would actually show the retired players and what they look, feel, and have to live like, instead of just talking about it, I think people would stand up more and demand it stops. The NFL would despise that, just like they hate to see any real medical reports stating the truth. They are like Trump, simply pretending anything they don't like as 'fake news' and ignoring it.

Let's be real. If we cared more for these players than we do out own pleasure, we would top it and learn to enjoy the multitude of other great sports. Maybe it will have to start with the schools banning football. It will be hard though as long as there is a buck to be made. The Universities being the worst of all, would really put up a fight.

 

[ajcardfan]

Football won't die. But over time talent will dilute, as it did in boxing, if they can't resolve the brain problem. And it is a real problem.

 

[GatorAZ]

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[Southpaw]

Players are their own worst enemy. See Vontaze Burfict and the reduction of his suspension. The NFL will not control themselves. It's the $$$$$$$$$$$

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Let's be real. If we cared more for these players than we do out own pleasure, we would top it and learn to enjoy the multitude of other great sports. Maybe it will have to start with the schools banning football. It will be hard though as long as there is a buck to be made. The Universities being the worst of all, would really put up a fight.

Agreed lets be real. So please SissyBoyFloyd, stop reading right here as if I am talking to you personally. I am going to reply to this comment, and you do whatever you feel is right, but below, that is my rant on this topic, because I find this current witch-hunt to be a very shallow situation in regards to saying this is all in the name of "health at your profession." Your post above is well written, and I respect it but the topic is about 3+ years old now, and I personally am tired of the illogical P.C. crapola that has been put out about it.

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Yup. Because no other sports have injuries or brain injuries. right ? Might as well get rid of rugby, hockey, MMA, boxing, basketball, lacrosse, and wrestling too. You ever see what can happen to people playing those sports ? That "multitude" of sports you mention is going to slim down, considerably. But, hey there are always video games right? They are healthy and safe right ?

And why stop at sports, what about obesity then ? Are we going to take on the "be proud of your body" movement, because obesity is just as dangerous to people ?

If we are REALLY, REALLY concerned about people's health does that mean we will stick to the 40 hr work week, create universal free health care for all, have nurses at every job to measure blood pressure, and heart rates, make sure all people have a standard of living to receive top nutrition, and ban anything and all things deemed "bad for you health".

Because if you say "Ban Football! And you should feel bad about yourself for even watching it." I sure hope to hell those same people are INFURIATED there is no universal health care, angry at the labor laws, besides themselves about income inequality. Because if they are not then this guilt trip they are putting on people who watch and support football is nothing more than a convenient truth for some reason, that I could not tell you for the life of me, that has nothing to do with "player safety".

Because I will say this, when I see someone get hurt in football, I care. I care as much as the police man who got injured, or the fireman, or the person that just tripped fell and hurt themselves, I care for any person who is hurt and suffering as much as one can in this world. To imply I and other football fans do not is a complete assumption, and guilt trip tactics.

So, yes, if someone thinks I am a "bad person" for enjoying contact sports. I am fine with it. There opinion means very little, to nothing, to me in the end so they are free to enjoy their hoiler than thou attitude, that I find to be ridiculously idealistic, and unrealistic.

I care more about letting these players make their own choices about what they want to do with their lives, and what opportunities we take on. Singling out football is an example of a convenient truth at its finest. You know why football is being singled out ? Because there is money in it to sue the league, and because people like it. And if there is one thing people in America LOVE to do is be a wet blanket, and ruin what they see other people enjoy that they do not understand.

So, if Ed Cunningham, and anyone else wants to stop watching football. GO RIGHT AHEAD. Just do not strain yourself patting yourselves on the back about it. Just do not take the opportunity of others away, or my choice to watch whatever I deem fit for my entertainment in the process. Because if we want to start playing the game where we are going to decide the good and bad of everything on this planet, and rip down, destroy, and irradicate from the face of the earth whatever is deemed "bad" in the court of public opinion, then you better hope what you find to be your "pursuit of happiness" is not next on the list.

Call that rant straw manning, off topic, ridiculous, or whatever you want. That is my thoughts on this ridiculous witch-hunt, and convenient truth to public safety of our countrymen.

It is one thing that people have an opinion about is, but I will be damned if I sit here and have people brow beat, and shame football fans, while there is SO MANY OTHER cases of complete disregard for human safety out there. All I see this now is a witch-hunt mixed with people looking to be holier than thou.

Signed, A man who payed money to play a contact sport for 15 years, and has no issue taking responsibility for my choices and living with the repercussions of the damage done to my body, both inside and out. I would not have traded those years, and experiences for anything in my life, and I feel we would cheat people to deprived them to have the choice to do the same. Judge me all you want, but I NEED an outlet, and especially in my younger years. And I can tell you, I am at a point in my life right now where I cannot play contact sports, and there is a void, a void that nothing can fill, because there is something about contact sports that fills an instinct, a need for violence, what ever have you. If you do not have that need, I understand, but just try and respect that while I may not know how you feel and why you would not want to go out on a rugby field, that you respect that you may not understand why I do need to go out on that field, and that is my pursuit of happiness. Its not like I am just tackling people at random in the street. I am going to an organized situation with a group of people that made their own decision to go out and play a sport where we are going to beat up each other a little bit, and then go drink and laugh about it. Its great. You may not think so, but it is for me.

OK. I am done with my rant. Fire away, since those are some strong opinions, and controversial ones at that, so I am sure to catch fire for it. And again, all respect to SissyBoyFloyd, just using the topic, nothing personal to him, and completely understand his side of the situation. Just making my own case.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Football won't die. But over time talent will dilute, as it did in boxing, if they can't resolve the brain problem. And it is a real problem.

Institute rugby tackling.

I wonder if the Seahawks, who use that technique and still are touted as one of the best defenses in the league has had less concussion issues. Its not a fix but its a start.

 

[LittleDavis]

I started my day being offended that a school will not allow students to wear redskins clothing. It is deemed to be a "racist slur." After some thought I realized, yeah, it probably is a racist slur and I grew up watching The lone Ranger and playing with plastic Cowboys and Indians(we don't use that term to reference Native Americans anymore) toys.

I'm willing to evolve.

I have loved football my entire life. I played(FB and MLB) up to and a little college but injuries took their toll. At 44, I have lower back problems, my right shoulder and right knee aren't right and I am always, at least, uncomfortable. I don't blame football for my ailments but football definitely exacerbated the physical toll on my body. Now, they start these kids at 7-8 years old doing a rigorous program that we didn't start until High School. These kids are getting injuries that will affect the rest of their lives. My son is twelve and I hope he doesn't play. He started at 10 but my father had just died and he was sensitive to the coaches(whom in my opinion were just as interested in making a name for themselves as teaching the kids) yelling like drill sergeants and I agreed with him that not playing that year was the right decision. He plays soccer and basketball. I hope his passions take him away from competitive sports. To be honest, I have spent a lot of my life being entertained by sports.

Anyway, I would bet there is no football within the next twenty five years or we will have devolved to watching people kill each other. Who knows?

 

[NJCardFan]

No one puts a gun to their heads to play football. Those who play it, even back in the day, knew the dangers. That said, this rant by this guy is hypocrisy. These are grown ass men playing a violent sport on their own accord. Case in point: I work in one of the most dangerous and stressful jobs there is. I know the risks. I know that on any given day I can get shanked in the neck. Have feces and urine thrown on me. Any given day I can be taken hostage or worse. I accept those risks and I don't whine about it when something goes down. I do my job with the notion of making sure there is minimal harm to anyone including the inmate. I also took this job knowing the long term effects, effects like the highest suicide rate of any other profession. The highest divorce rate. Highest rate of substance abuse. Knowing that the average post retirement life span is just a few years maximum. I accept those risks. So, if you're afraid of the risks of playing football, don't play it. Or if you do, don't whine about the long term effects of it. It's that simple.

 

[NJCardFan]

Too late for that. People have been doing that for thousands of years.

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It's been going on long before and after the Romans. Hell, how many people forked out $100 this past weekend to watch 2 men punch each other in the face? Violence sells. How many of the top 10 grossing movies every year are sappy love stories?

 

[LittleDavis]

No one puts a gun to their heads to play football. Those who play it, even back in the day, knew the dangers. That said, this rant by this guy is hypocrisy. These are grown ass men playing a violent sport on their own accord. Case in point: I work in one of the most dangerous and stressful jobs there is. I know the risks. I know that on any given day I can get shanked in the neck. Have feces and urine thrown on me. Any given day I can be taken hostage or worse. I accept those risks and I don't whine about it when something goes down. I do my job with the notion of making sure there is minimal harm to anyone including the inmate. I also took this job knowing the long term effects, effects like the highest suicide rate of any other profession. The highest divorce rate. Highest rate of substance abuse. Knowing that the average post retirement life span is just a few years maximum. I accept those risks. So, if you're afraid of the risks of playing football, don't play it. Or if you do, don't whine about the long term effects of it. It's that simple.

This argument does not work for me. I have a hard time empathizing with you. I appreciate that you are a prison guard. That is your right to have that job but I see what you did there. Your job is statistically the most unforgiving job there is and that is the argument that you use to promote your own position on football players and the medical/neurological knowledge advancements that have helped people evolve in their decision making. Yet, you criticize and even Say "whine"...actually, you lost me there...invalid argument.

 

[LittleDavis]

It's been going on long before and after the Romans. Hell, how many people forked out $100 this past weekend to watch 2 men punch each other in the face? Violence sells. How many of the top 10 grossing movies every year are sappy love stories?

We are not yet watching people kill each other. Caligula liked to watch people be executed while he ate lunch. We aren't that sick...yet.

 

[NJCardFan]

We are not yet watching people kill each other. Caligula liked to watch people be executed while he ate lunch. We aren't that sick...yet.

So did Fidel Castro and Che Guevara and they're revered in certain circles.

 

[NJCardFan]

This argument does not work for me. I have a hard time empathizing with you. I appreciate that you are a prison guard. That is your right to have that job but I see what you did there. Your job is statistically the most unforgiving job there is and that is the argument that you use to promote your own position on football players and the medical/neurological knowledge advancements that have helped people evolve in their decision making. Yet, you criticize and even Say "whine"...actually, you lost me there...invalid argument.

So you're telling me that these men don't know that there's a possibility of being injured? Football has been around for over 100 years and the NFL is approaching it's 100th anniversary. Football as a collision sport is no secret. Chuck Bednerik's fingers went everywhere but straight and he never whined a single day about it. But my point is, if these men are claiming that they didn't know that there would be long term effects of very large bodies running into each other at high rates of speed they are either woefully ignorant or very dishonest. To further expound on my point, these players complaining about the long term effects of knocking heads for 10 years or so would be like me complaining that I got hurt in a "code". The gripes we do have are with the department cutting down personnel and eliminating positions cutting back on response but that's a different subject.

 

[Cardiac]

Agreed lets be real. So please SissyBoyFloyd, stop reading right here as if I am talking to you personally. I am going to reply to this comment, and you do whatever you feel is right, but below, that is my rant on this topic, because I find this current witch-hunt to be a very shallow situation in regards to saying this is all in the name of "health at your profession." Your post above is well written, and I respect it but the topic is about 3+ years old now, and I personally am tired of the illogical P.C. crapola that has been put out about it.

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Yup. Because no other sports have injuries or brain injuries. right ? Might as well get rid of rugby, hockey, MMA, boxing, basketball, lacrosse, and wrestling too. You ever see what can happen to people playing those sports ? That "multitude" of sports you mention is going to slim down, considerably. But, hey there are always video games right? They are healthy and safe right ?

And why stop at sports, what about obesity then ? Are we going to take on the "be proud of your body" movement, because obesity is just as dangerous to people ?

If we are REALLY, REALLY concerned about people's health does that mean we will stick to the 40 hr work week, create universal free health care for all, have nurses at every job to measure blood pressure, and heart rates, make sure all people have a standard of living to receive top nutrition, and ban anything and all things deemed "bad for you health".

Because if you say "Ban Football! And you should feel bad about yourself for even watching it." I sure hope to hell those same people are INFURIATED there is no universal health care, angry at the labor laws, besides themselves about income inequality. Because if they are not then this guilt trip they are putting on people who watch and support football is nothing more than a convenient truth for some reason, that I could not tell you for the life of me, that has nothing to do with "player safety".

Because I will say this, when I see someone get hurt in football, I care. I care as much as the police man who got injured, or the fireman, or the person that just tripped fell and hurt themselves, I care for any person who is hurt and suffering as much as one can in this world. To imply I and other football fans do not is a complete assumption, and guilt trip tactics.

So, yes, if someone thinks I am a "bad person" for enjoying contact sports. I am fine with it. There opinion means very little, to nothing, to me in the end so they are free to enjoy their hoiler than thou attitude, that I find to be ridiculously idealistic, and unrealistic.

I care more about letting these players make their own choices about what they want to do with their lives, and what opportunities we take on. Singling out football is an example of a convenient truth at its finest. You know why football is being singled out ? Because there is money in it to sue the league, and because people like it. And if there is one thing people in America LOVE to do is be a wet blanket, and ruin what they see other people enjoy that they do not understand.

So, if Ed Cunningham, and anyone else wants to stop watching football. GO RIGHT AHEAD. Just do not strain yourself patting yourselves on the back about it. Just do not take the opportunity of others away, or my choice to watch whatever I deem fit for my entertainment in the process. Because if we want to start playing the game where we are going to decide the good and bad of everything on this planet, and rip down, destroy, and irradicate from the face of the earth whatever is deemed "bad" in the court of public opinion, then you better hope what you find to be your "pursuit of happiness" is not next on the list.

Call that rant straw manning, off topic, ridiculous, or whatever you want. That is my thoughts on this ridiculous witch-hunt, and convenient truth to public safety of our countrymen.

It is one thing that people have an opinion about is, but I will be damned if I sit here and have people brow beat, and shame football fans, while there is SO MANY OTHER cases of complete disregard for human safety out there. All I see this now is a witch-hunt mixed with people looking to be holier than thou.

Signed, A man who payed money to play a contact sport for 15 years, and has no issue taking responsibility for my choices and living with the repercussions of the damage done to my body, both inside and out. I would not have traded those years, and experiences for anything in my life, and I feel we would cheat people to deprived them to have the choice to do the same. Judge me all you want, but I NEED an outlet, and especially in my younger years. And I can tell you, I am at a point in my life right now where I cannot play contact sports, and there is a void, a void that nothing can fill, because there is something about contact sports that fills an instinct, a need for violence, what ever have you. If you do not have that need, I understand, but just try and respect that while I may not know how you feel and why you would not want to go out on a rugby field, that you respect that you may not understand why I do need to go out on that field, and that is my pursuit of happiness. Its not like I am just tackling people at random in the street. I am going to an organized situation with a group of people that made their own decision to go out and play a sport where we are going to beat up each other a little bit, and then go drink and laugh about it. Its great. You may not think so, but it is for me.

OK. I am done with my rant. Fire away, since those are some strong opinions, and controversial ones at that, so I am sure to catch fire for it. And again, all respect to SissyBoyFloyd, just using the topic, nothing personal to him, and completely understand his side of the situation. Just making my own case.

 

[LittleDavis]

So you're telling me that these men don't know that there's a possibility of being injured? Football has been around for over 100 years and the NFL is approaching it's 100th anniversary. Football as a collision sport is no secret. Chuck Bednerik's fingers went everywhere but straight and he never whined a single day about it. But my point is, if these men are claiming that they didn't know that there would be long term effects of very large bodies running into each other at high rates of speed they are either woefully ignorant or very dishonest. To further expound on my point, these players complaining about the long term effects of knocking heads for 10 years or so would be like me complaining that I got hurt in a "code". The gripes we do have are with the department cutting down personnel and eliminating positions cutting back on response but that's a different subject.

Did you start your profession at the age of 7-8? I would say that these young men have no clue about the totality of effects to their bodies. When I played in college there was very little time to think. Exercise at 6:00, class until 2, workout or practice until 5 or 6 and a meeting. If you haven't been through the whirlwind(and I can only imagine what a 23 year old NFL player goes through) you probably are ignorant to the lack of time they have. I wouldn't assume to know what being a prison guard is but my ex's father was one and my girlfriends brother is one. I respect both men but they don't see the world the way I do.

 

[Mainstreet]

Yup. Because no other sports have injuries or brain injuries. right ? Might as well get rid of rugby, hockey, MMA, boxing, basketball, lacrosse, and wrestling too. You ever see what can happen to people playing those sports ? That "multitude" of sports you mention is going to slim down, considerably. But, hey there are always video games right? They are healthy and safe right ?

Some of this.

I love football but the effort should always be there to make the game safer.

Perhaps rugby tackling is not a bad idea as you suggest with the protection of helmets and pads.

 

[SissyBoyFloyd]

I will just add that some nations evolve. Even the Romans banned gladiator fighting which appeared to be their national sport for centuries. When intelligent discovery shows us the negative and harmful things about something, most times we usually try to curb or do away with that thing in our society. Other times, our leaders make the unpopular decision to ban such activity. Just like in Rome, even though the populace loved 'the games'. After all, not all gladiators were slaves. Some Romans gave up their freedom to become a gladiator so they could be famous.

Some people resist change, whether it be racism or even something like smoking. They use the term freedom to justify their stupidity. True grown men should be free to choose to do what they want. However intelligent leaders, parents, teachers, and men of science and medicine, should guide our children (and our less intelligent or childish adults) toward things that are less harmful and lead to a healthy positive result and life.

Thank goodness we live in a free society where as adults we can make our own choices. But let's be real, some choices are down right ignorant, especially when you have so many rewarding alternatives to choose from.

I always wondered why anyone would choose a life profession of being a prison guard. Prisons have no choice but to be in prison once sentenced after being found guilty of a crime. But why would someone who doesn't have to be, choose to be in prison, even if it is only 8 hours a day. What kind of mindset would choose going to prison every day over a classroom, a science lab, a sports desk, flying a plane, selling cars or homes, or any other of the great professions that are safer and pay a lot more. I sure don't have an answer. It appears it takes all kinds though to make our existing society work. Like the old saying, 'someone has to do it', and there always seems to be those that will.

I am sure there are psychological reasons too deep for me to explore or understand. Why anyone would, when they have so many better choices, choose to put themselves in constant danger is certainly beyond me, whether prison guard, mine worker, or some other professions. I think to myself often what makes us do what we do? Football is started by parents who allow or direct their children into it, and maybe eventually will have to end by them. After all, its the parents who could have bought the child a science kit instead of a football when they were 6 or 7. Education and understanding does often change things, even if it does it very slowly over generations.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I will just add that some nations evolve. Even the Romans banned gladiator fighting which appeared to be their national sport for centuries. When intelligent discovery shows us the negative and harmful things about something, most times we usually try to curb or do away with that thing in our society. Other times, our leaders make the unpopular decision to ban such activity. Just like in Rome, even though the populace loved 'the games'. After all, not all gladiators were slaves. Some Romans gave up their freedom to become a gladiator so they could be famous.

Some people resist change, whether it be racism or even something like smoking. They use the term freedom to justify their stupidity. True grown men should be free to choose to do what they want. However intelligent leaders, parents, teachers, and men of science and medicine, should guide our children (and our less intelligent or childish adults) toward things that are less harmful and lead to a healthy positive result and life.

Thank goodness we live in a free society where as adults we can make our own choices. But let's be real, some choices are down right ignorant, especially when you have so many rewarding alternatives to choose from.

I always wondered why anyone would choose a life profession of being a prison guard. Prisons have no choice but to be in prison once sentenced after being found guilty of a crime. But why would someone who doesn't have to be, choose to be in prison, even if it is only 8 hours a day. What kind of mindset would choose going to prison every day over a classroom, a science lab, a sports desk, flying a plane, selling cars or homes, or any other of the great professions that are safer and pay a lot more. I sure don't have an answer. It appears it takes all kinds though to make our existing society work. Like the old saying, 'someone has to do it', and there always seems to be those that will.

I am sure there are psychological reasons too deep for me to explore or understand. Why anyone would, when they have so many better choices, choose to put themselves in constant danger is certainly beyond me, whether prison guard, mine worker, or some other professions. I think to myself often what makes us do what we do? Football is started by parents who allow or direct their children into it, and maybe eventually will have to end by them. After all, its the parents who could have bought the child a science kit instead of a football when they were 6 or 7. Education and understanding does often change things, even if it does it very slowly over generations.

Wow! Really well put there, and it wasn't even a poll. But seriously, well done.

What you say in bold is better than I could have said it. If you use your same words and ideas in bold, and just turned it 180 degrees you would have what I wonder about in the same way just from a different angle.

I am sure there is a prison guard somewhere wondering how a teacher can deal with all those kids, or how a guy can sit in a cubicle all day.

Even my own job, which is quite the toxic workplace, there are days I wonder why I do it, and then when I look around at the alternatives, it makes sense.

Regardless, good post!

 

[NJCardFan]

I always wondered why anyone would choose a life profession of being a prison guard. Prisons have no choice but to be in prison once sentenced after being found guilty of a crime. But why would someone who doesn't have to be, choose to be in prison, even if it is only 8 hours a day. What kind of mindset would choose going to prison every day over a classroom, a science lab, a sports desk, flying a plane, selling cars or homes, or any other of the great professions that are safer and pay a lot more. I sure don't have an answer. It appears it takes all kinds though to make our existing society work. Like the old saying, 'someone has to do it', and there always seems to be those that will.

For starters, we're not guards. We're officers. Corrections Officers to be precise. But to answer the question, because of the benefits, pay, etc. But Rugby is right. There are a host of vocations one has to question one's sanity or desire. Like, who signs up to be the guy to clean port-o-potties? Or people who clean houses after murders or bodies that have been sitting around for a while? Or who wants to be a cop in Detroit? Chicago? And the answer of "someone's got to do it" is 100% correct.

 

[LittleDavis]

I have loved football my entire life. I played(FB and MLB) up to and a little college but injuries took their toll. At 44, I have lower back problems, my right shoulder and right knee aren't right and I am always, at least, uncomfortable. I don't blame football for my ailments but football definitely exacerbated the physical toll on my body. Now, they start these kids at 7-8 years old doing a rigorous program that we didn't start until High School. These kids are getting injuries that will affect the rest of their lives. My son is twelve and I hope he doesn't play. He started at 10 but my father had just died and he was sensitive to the coaches(whom in my opinion were just as interested in making a name for themselves as teaching the kids) yelling like drill sergeants and I agreed with him that not playing that year was the right decision. He plays soccer and basketball. I hope his passions take him away from competitive sports. To be honest, I have spent a lot of my life being entertained by sports.

Anyway, I would bet there is no football within the next twenty five years or we will have devolved to watching people kill each other. Who knows?

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/nfl-preview-week-heres-nfls-reign-atop-heap-jeopardy-161330616.html

 

[Finito]

Football won't die. But over time talent will dilute, as it did in boxing, if they can't resolve the brain problem. And it is a real problem.

Talent in boxing is as good as it's ever been its just not covered like it was in the 80s with the rise of the NFL and NBA.

 

[WisconsinCard]

Talent in boxing is as good as it's ever been its just not covered like it was in the 80s with the rise of the NFL and NBA.

I think the talent pool is so diluted due to all the belts. It does not lead to making great fights. The thing that has happened is that the American heavy weight talent pool is weak. They say the next great American heavy weight is playing TE in The NFL.