The Dangers Of Concussions In Professional Football

Generally people think that the NFL should adjust the game, and its rules to increase player safety, statistics clearly show that too much adjusting has been done and the NFL is suffering because of it. Too many rules have been changed for player safety and the current changes being discussed, like getting rid of the kickoff, are going to far and the game is not like it was. Players sign contracts and are aware of the risks they put themselves at when playing the game of football at a professional level. Referees are throwing more flags and the NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, is handing out a record high of fines. These adjustments by the National Football League are going too far and some rule changes need to be reverted back to their previous rules.

A Need for Change Anticipation builds while players’ line in formation. Electric seconds pass while the quarterback yells the play. Shockingly, the players’ crash together in an explosion of energy, aggression, and sod. Televisions across America play this scenario over and over every Sunday during football season. Enthralled by the sheer athleticism and excitement of the sport, fans watch religiously, eyes glued to the screen.

After researching this topic extensively as well as talking to Dr. Peter Deluca who now acts as the head team physician for the Philadelphia Eagles I have come to the conclusion that concussions are a problem that are not controllable by the NFL. Dr. Deluca explained that these athletes are using the most up to date technology in the world as far as their padding and helmets go and unless hitting is completely eliminated from the NFL concussions is a problem that you will see not only within the NFL but also with every contact sport. Major traumatic brain injuries are something that needs to be taken more seriously especially in youth sports as well as in highs school. I strongly believe that there is more that the NFL can do to help protect these athletes and these athletes should be compensated for the injures that they sustain over the course of a given career. Some other things that I believe that NFL should consider to make the game safer include, Eliminating kickoffs, having a mandatory sit out period after sustaining a major traumatic brain injury, having more support programs for athletes who suffer from concussion issues such as short and long term memory loss and PTSD and lastly, Larger fines for helmet to helmet hits.

However, it's understood that there are ways to attempt to make the sport safer, all while having it still be just as fun/entertaining. Updating the "armored" pads the athletes wear, making amends to some of the rules, different methods of training, are all ways to make things even just the slightest bit safer than they already are. In case you weren't already aware, though you might've been, football is one of, if not the, leading causes of head/sports-related injuries. Like what's said in the above paragraph, in 2005 to 2006, over 500,000 head injuries were recorded nationally, "nationally" being in the U.S. Researchers from the Center for Injury Research and Policy conducted a study to compare injuries (that word's getting redundant, isn't it?)

Almost one hundred and forty-eight years has passed since the first football game. During that span, there has been numerous leagues of all ages formed, the popularity has skyrocketed in and out of the United States, and as a plethora amount of people played, a higher amount of people sustained injuries. Fast forward to today’s time, and a major topic with the media is the NFL, the concussion scandal, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and player safety. As an Athletic Trainer and medical provider, there are aspects of every football game that create a sense of anxiety. Big hits and kickoffs are exhilarating for the spectators; however, Athletic Trainers see thunderous impacts and full speed collisions jarring the brain, damaging the body, and decreasing player safety.

Do you remember Sean Taylor? If so, you remember him as former Washington Redskins free safety who was famously known for his big hits. He sadly passed away at the age of 24, but what we don’t truly know is that is when the NFL started to change the way the game has been played because NFL players deserve to have a healthy life and be safe. In 2009 the NFL put in place the “NFL Gameday Concussion Protocol” which put in affect “the rules and regulations on players to keep them safe,”(Stites, Adam). This was the biggest change that happened and Roger Goodell stated to ESPN the day that it was first put into place “... too help the players from suffering life threatening injuries, because they as human beings, deserve to have the right to live a healthy life after football,”(Seifert, Kevin)

An open letter to Roger S. Goodell, Commissioner of the National Football League, from Lester Grinspoon M.D. I am among the millions of people who enjoy football as a spectator sport. However, I am becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the growing specter that many of these athletes will pay the price of developing Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) to a greater or lesser extent as they grow older. I believe that any change in the rules of the game which would accommodate these concerns would also diminish its popularity. I also believe that attempts to improve protective equipment can only go so far without seriously diminishing the skills and capacities of the player.

NFL Concussion Case The lawsuits made against the NFL are rising topics in today's mainstream media. The NFL is being accused of failing to provide information linking football related head injuries to permanent memory loss, brain damage, and other long term health issues related to concussions. Many former players have came forward who were diagnosed with some type of health issue, which were medically said to be caused by repeated blows to the head and concussions they have obtained throughout their professional football careers. Some even developing (CTE) Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy which is a neurodegenerative disease found in people who have had multiple head injuries.

Couches tell the player to not leed with there head because you can get a concussion they tell them to hit with there shoulder pads if all football players follow this rul people will not get concussions. So football is a safe sport people just break the rules and thats when people get hurt. Football is all about having fun and yes it can be a rough sport but if people dont have a high pain tollureanse then the dont need

Violent America – assignment A “Thirty years from now I don’t think it [the NFL] will be in existence”. It comes to no one’s surprise that the contact sport American football is very violent. We have all seen the massive amount of protective gear the players wear, and in spite of this, an estimated 1,2 million football-related injuries occur every year. Many of these are of course common injuries seen in other, less violent sports, but still 5% of those 1,2 million injuries are concussions, which can affect brain function on a long term basis. However, is this major problem acknowledged in media, is there any chance in change, and what would ultimately end of the NFL?

Furthermore, the regulatory gear the players have to wear has been improved over the years. When football first started the only protection on their heads was a wool stocking cap(NFL,1). This helmet provided very little protection. Another significant factor from when football first began is that the players were not as big and strong and the games were most likely just played for fun and not for competition. Now players have helmets made of hard plastic with padding.

Within the article, “Would you let your son play football” on ESPN.com states, “The issue of player safety and concussions would have a very real, very fresh face.” This is significant because once a football player dies they are examined, which the majority of football players have serious injuries in their brains. Although many brain injuries are found due to football, there is not much awareness that is spreaded to warn people about these risks. After the life of playing football, many things become f=difficult as you adjust to the life without football.

There has also been many rule changes in the NCAA and NFL that makes football safer.

Football: The Injury Hysteria As the years have gone by the National Football League has become more and more aware of the devastating side effects due to injuries, especially those of which occur to the head. Due to the rising interest in football related injuries and head trauma the game of football has undergone many changes to minimalize these effects. Whether it has been advancements in rehabilitation techniques, equipment, or simple rule changes the game is becoming safer for everyone involved. Although the necessary precautions have been implemented the players are still fearful about the long term effects football could potentially have on their future.

Football is a fun sport to watch and play for some people. but some people don’t realize how dangerous it can be. It can cause head injuries. So we can take more precaution to keep players safe and not push them to hard. We could even change rules to limit player.