By: JINX GRAND.
Although it significantly flew under the radar as far as headliners go, a devastating tragedy occurred that has extreme reverberations on the game of football. Charles Youvella, a high school player in Arizona, died recently due to a brain injury suffered during a game. While my condolences go out to the family, this sad story magnifies the sport of football and the danger that obviously comes when playing the game.
While the spotlight is always on the NFL, and rightly so, the scary truth is that the game is dangerous all the way from high school to the pros. In fact, a study published by the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council showed that the reported concussion rate for the average high school football player is nearly twice that of a college player, and far outpaces that of other high school sports. Concussions are a serious problem.
However, please realize that deaths aren't the norm when it comes to football. But, head injuries clearly are. It is almost becoming a weekly event now to hear and read former NFL players speaking out about their mental and head issues after their careers. Not even a week ago, Tony Dorsett, Hall-of-Fame Dallas Cowboys running back, was diagnosed with CTE -- the degenerative brain disease that may be the gloomiest three letter abbreviation attached to sports. CTE is the same disease that Junior Seau, the former NFL linebacker that committed suicide in 2012, suffered from. Also last week, legendary Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw told USA Today that he was suffering from depression and memory loss.
And those are just three names.
The connection between the Youvella death and the Bradshaw/Dorsett news is revealing: head injuries don’t just happen at the pro level. If you play football – as hard as it may be to grasp – you could become another statistic.
With all of those things in our minds, the million dollar question for the NFL isn’t whether they’re going to match the $20 billion number in revenues commish Roger Goodell wants, isn’t going to be what their next TV deal is… No. It isn’t any of that.
The million dollar question for Roger Goodell and the National Football League is how they will stop post football issues for the players.
This article started with the Youvella death, but it ends with the NFL’s next move. Because, while short term attendance and support for the sport should be through the roof, I have serious questions about the long term outlook of the game. When parents have to make the decision on what sport their offspring plays, how readily will they pick football? What will happen when parents start directing their children to sports that won’t result in the health issues a good majority of football players deal with? I have heard many former players say that “you know what you signed up for when they agreed to play the game,” but will we see a decline in the amount of people that want to sign that dotted sheet?
The NFL recently issued a $765 million settlement to former players suffering from post-career issues, but that simply won't be enough.
Just think: by playing baseball or basketball you can get more money and less serious long term issues.
Roger Goodell is going to have a lot of questions fired his way as far as the future of the sport is concerned. But, to be totally honest with you, I’m not even sure Goodell has answers as to what the game of football will become.
PHOTOS: EURweb.com (top), Deadspin.com (bottom).
Although it significantly flew under the radar as far as headliners go, a devastating tragedy occurred that has extreme reverberations on the game of football. Charles Youvella, a high school player in Arizona, died recently due to a brain injury suffered during a game. While my condolences go out to the family, this sad story magnifies the sport of football and the danger that obviously comes when playing the game.
While the spotlight is always on the NFL, and rightly so, the scary truth is that the game is dangerous all the way from high school to the pros. In fact, a study published by the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council showed that the reported concussion rate for the average high school football player is nearly twice that of a college player, and far outpaces that of other high school sports. Concussions are a serious problem.
However, please realize that deaths aren't the norm when it comes to football. But, head injuries clearly are. It is almost becoming a weekly event now to hear and read former NFL players speaking out about their mental and head issues after their careers. Not even a week ago, Tony Dorsett, Hall-of-Fame Dallas Cowboys running back, was diagnosed with CTE -- the degenerative brain disease that may be the gloomiest three letter abbreviation attached to sports. CTE is the same disease that Junior Seau, the former NFL linebacker that committed suicide in 2012, suffered from. Also last week, legendary Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw told USA Today that he was suffering from depression and memory loss.
And those are just three names.
The connection between the Youvella death and the Bradshaw/Dorsett news is revealing: head injuries don’t just happen at the pro level. If you play football – as hard as it may be to grasp – you could become another statistic.
With all of those things in our minds, the million dollar question for the NFL isn’t whether they’re going to match the $20 billion number in revenues commish Roger Goodell wants, isn’t going to be what their next TV deal is… No. It isn’t any of that.
The million dollar question for Roger Goodell and the National Football League is how they will stop post football issues for the players.
This article started with the Youvella death, but it ends with the NFL’s next move. Because, while short term attendance and support for the sport should be through the roof, I have serious questions about the long term outlook of the game. When parents have to make the decision on what sport their offspring plays, how readily will they pick football? What will happen when parents start directing their children to sports that won’t result in the health issues a good majority of football players deal with? I have heard many former players say that “you know what you signed up for when they agreed to play the game,” but will we see a decline in the amount of people that want to sign that dotted sheet?
The NFL recently issued a $765 million settlement to former players suffering from post-career issues, but that simply won't be enough.
Just think: by playing baseball or basketball you can get more money and less serious long term issues.
Roger Goodell is going to have a lot of questions fired his way as far as the future of the sport is concerned. But, to be totally honest with you, I’m not even sure Goodell has answers as to what the game of football will become.
PHOTOS: EURweb.com (top), Deadspin.com (bottom).
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