The dark side of the NFL

PerfesserR

Do not attempt

posted: 2/9/2010 at 9:38 AM

Long article but really disturbing. What a price NFL players pay for our entertainment: concussions and the NFL's denialism.

"Able to function despite imminent catastrophe"

"The most common question from potential entrants is 'I do not know if I can do this' to which I usually answer, 'that's the whole point'.--Paul Charteris, Tarawera Ultramarathon RD.

✓ Ice Age 50 Mile WI 12 May

Tahoe Rim Trail 50 Mile NV 21 Jul

JFK 50 Mile MD 17 Nov

srlopez

Giddyup.

posted: 2/9/2010 at 9:54 AM

This is a sad effect that most people don't know about, although this year concussions were talked about more than they used to be.

+5 to Ravenclaw for "denialism".

Ultima tastes like failure.

MilkTruck

posted: 2/9/2010 at 10:00 AM

NFL really any different than dog fighting? asks Malcom Gladwell.

Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.

kencamet

posted: 2/9/2010 at 11:00 AM

I saw this article which I thought was interesting ... considering banning the 3pt stance for linemen. Not really sure how many linemen get concussions due to the 3pt stance. Seems like more of the high speed collisions in the open field would cause concussions.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/02/07/three-point-stance-could-get-the-boot/

srlopez

Giddyup.

posted: 2/9/2010 at 11:09 AM

Ah, yes. Two different things, really. The high speed collision would be the "catastrophic hit" on a single play. The 3-pt stance means lots of not-catastrophic headshots over the course of the game. Kind of like boxing and how a boxer gets punch drunk after getting pasted in the head too many times.

We see pictures of QBs and WRs getting taken out by the snot cleaner play, but it would seem a whole lot more veterans are suffering than this. Like linemen.

Ultima tastes like failure.

PerfesserR

Do not attempt

posted: 2/9/2010 at 11:42 AM

Sort of like stress fractures vs. broken bones. Gradual, cumulative stresses can be just as (or more) damaging and more insidious.

"Able to function despite imminent catastrophe"

"The most common question from potential entrants is 'I do not know if I can do this' to which I usually answer, 'that's the whole point'.--Paul Charteris, Tarawera Ultramarathon RD.

✓ Ice Age 50 Mile WI 12 May

Tahoe Rim Trail 50 Mile NV 21 Jul

JFK 50 Mile MD 17 Nov

MoBramExam

posted: 2/9/2010 at 1:11 PM

Do not know any former pro players, but do have some friends and co-workers who played at college level. Not a single one does not have some sort of knee, back, or hip problem. Most have at least one "concussion" story.

Its a violent, violent sport. (So is boxing, so is hockey, so are several others -- including, to some degree, us pounding our feet and legs on the hard pavement mile after mile.) My friends traded their bodies for a college education. The pros trade their bodies for a livelihood. They gotta know that going in?

harelip22

posted: 2/9/2010 at 4:06 PM

Quote from MoBramExam on 2/9/2010 at 1:11 PM:

They gotta know that going in?

Sure, but those 8-year-old youth-league players sure are gullible.

Like I was, until in high school I quit being a stupid quarterback to become a stupid cross-country runner.

What the hand dare seize the fire?

The dark side of the NFL (Read 548 times)