The NFL was once a league built around the big devastating hits now wants them out of the game for good. A new way of playing the game has been implemented with safety being the key point being coached around the NFL. This has even led to current players question if they should just wear flags or play two hand touches.
Now how did the league get to this point? The main reason is the newest medical technology and the understanding of brain trauma related to concussions. This along with the lawsuit that was filed by the players that the NFL withheld information about the effects that concussions would have on a player's body. The league and the players agreed to a $765 million dollar deal to give money to the players that have been involved in the lawsuit as well as the families of players lost due to injuries.
One of the most familiar names involved in all the concussions talks is former Pittsburgh Steeler Mike Webster. Webster who was proven disabled before retiring from the NFL lived out of his pickup truck and spent the remainder of his life battling dementia, amnesia and depression. After he passed away in 2002 at the age of 50 his brain was studied and later diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy or otherwise known as CTE.
Webster isn’t the only player known to have CTE as former players, Chris Henry, Dave Duerson and Junior Seau both had it as well after their brains were examined. Henry who died after falling out of the back of a pickup truck was the first of known active players that suffer from CTE while still playing. Seau who was one of the best players in his generation died after he took his own life. Like Seau Duerson took his own life as well. All three of their brains were studied and all three shown the brain disease. Other players that were diagnosed with CTE after autopsies were performed include Terry Long, Justin Strzelczyk and Andre Waters.
Then you have Troy Aikman who was forced to retire early from the game of football. Aikman who left the 1993 NFC Championship game after taking a knee to the head had to be taken to the hospital. He told his agent at the hospital he couldn’t even remember playing in the game and asked him multiple times what he was doing in there after his agent had told him minutes earlier.
Just a few years back we had Jacked Up on ESPN devoted to the big hits around the NFL. The league sold videos of the big hits as well and now they want it changed! Now we have huge fines and flags being thrown for any hit that looks vicious. The league is trying everything possible to change the game for the safety of the players but can they change it to the point that players won't get hurt?
Football will always be a violent sport as long as you have players running full speed at each other with helmets on their heads as protection. The positive side is the league continues to make changes to make the game safer for the future stars of the league.
Now how did the league get to this point? The main reason is the newest medical technology and the understanding of brain trauma related to concussions. This along with the lawsuit that was filed by the players that the NFL withheld information about the effects that concussions would have on a player's body. The league and the players agreed to a $765 million dollar deal to give money to the players that have been involved in the lawsuit as well as the families of players lost due to injuries.
One of the most familiar names involved in all the concussions talks is former Pittsburgh Steeler Mike Webster. Webster who was proven disabled before retiring from the NFL lived out of his pickup truck and spent the remainder of his life battling dementia, amnesia and depression. After he passed away in 2002 at the age of 50 his brain was studied and later diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy or otherwise known as CTE.
Webster isn’t the only player known to have CTE as former players, Chris Henry, Dave Duerson and Junior Seau both had it as well after their brains were examined. Henry who died after falling out of the back of a pickup truck was the first of known active players that suffer from CTE while still playing. Seau who was one of the best players in his generation died after he took his own life. Like Seau Duerson took his own life as well. All three of their brains were studied and all three shown the brain disease. Other players that were diagnosed with CTE after autopsies were performed include Terry Long, Justin Strzelczyk and Andre Waters.
Then you have Troy Aikman who was forced to retire early from the game of football. Aikman who left the 1993 NFC Championship game after taking a knee to the head had to be taken to the hospital. He told his agent at the hospital he couldn’t even remember playing in the game and asked him multiple times what he was doing in there after his agent had told him minutes earlier.
Just a few years back we had Jacked Up on ESPN devoted to the big hits around the NFL. The league sold videos of the big hits as well and now they want it changed! Now we have huge fines and flags being thrown for any hit that looks vicious. The league is trying everything possible to change the game for the safety of the players but can they change it to the point that players won't get hurt?
Football will always be a violent sport as long as you have players running full speed at each other with helmets on their heads as protection. The positive side is the league continues to make changes to make the game safer for the future stars of the league.
