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NY Times today has an article about the results of research on Ken Stabler's brain. He was found to have had CTE, just like Junior Seau, Mike Webster, Dave Duerson, and many many other athletes from contact sports.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/04/sport ... v=top-news

No one is questioning the need for Daniel Ochefu to sit for an extended period this week, due to the concussion he got in practice last week. This is a great development because in the past there was some resistance to believing that there were long term serious effects due to concussions and repeated blows to the head.

I've always followed all 4 major sports, plus tennis, etc, but my favorites are baseball and college hoops. I used to be a big football fan too, but have come around to really disliking it... an exciting game, but the punishment that the average NFL player endures is insane. I really am surprised that no one has lost their life in an NFL game, and I know that it's happened in lower level competition, high school and all... paralysis, Darryl Stingley back in 78... just a brutal sport.

My sons are 10 and 13, and they play baseball and soccer. I don't let them head the ball in soccer (during the couple of times i coached the U14/U12 rec teams). Baseball hasnt been a problem although an errant throw in practice hit my 13 year old in the head last year and had him seeing stars. I won't let them play hockey and football, but especially football. I'm surprised so many parents that i know overlook the concussion issue.

I haven't gotten to see the Will Smith movie yet, but I've heard that it's a must see. The NFL has a history of lying about this issue. They have too much to lose. Sickening. With Stabler here, it shows that even quarterbacks can be affected.

I was wondering how many of you would play or let your children play football nowadays?

Do you know what gets glossed over in this CTE issue is the effects of steroids combined with it. Steroids cause violent and suicidal behavior even before you add in the concussions. Some say steroids leaves athletes more vulnerable to CTE. No one brings this up, it's always just the concussions.

http://www.beyondthecheers.com/can-ster ... ons-worse/

https://www.quora.com/Are-steroids-play ... n-injuries

Both of my boys played (as did I) and I hope my grandsons follow our lead. I didn't allow either to play pee-wee football, instead waiting till junior high. Both played all 6 years (with the younger turning down D3 opportunities) and wouldn't trade the experience.

Now saying that....I kept a close eye on how the teams/program was being run. I was a teacher and coach of different sports at the same school, so I had pretty close contact. I made sure that the boys were coached well and properly equipped. I probably had a few concussions while playing organized sports....but probably had more playing pickup games - are we going to bubblewrap kids and keep them on a couch?

NJRedman wrote:Do you know what gets glossed over in this CTE issue is the effects of steroids combined with it. Steroids cause violent and suicidal behavior even before you add in the concussions. Some say steroids leaves athletes more vulnerable to CTE. No one brings this up, it's always just the concussions.

http://www.beyondthecheers.com/can-ster ... ons-worse/

https://www.quora.com/Are-steroids-play ... n-injuries

I'd be interested to know if football players use steroids at a higher rate than other popular sports. Don't have time to read those articles at the moment as I've somehow managed to get roped into jury service.

You can get a concussion playing any sport, BBall, Soccer or even wrestling (I got a few from that myself). You can't worry about it, you just have to make sure people are aware of the dangers and the proper protocol to deal with them when they do happen.

Football players don't even take the most punishment but make the biggest stink out of everybody. You don't see pro fighters crying about this, you rarely see former hockey players crying about this, rugby players almost never cry about this. Only football players. The bottom line is that the people getting these issues are playing at a very high intensity level, such a high level that they know what they're getting themselves into and should realize that's the cost of doing sports like this over doing school and getting money through business work. I've boxed at a very high level since I was 11 and played lacrosse since I was 12 I understand the consequences of playing those sports and don't cry about it neither should the football players.

Sorry for the rant but it bugs me that football players get portrayed as the toughest athletes of all, when they're far from it and are closer to whiny guys that can't accept consequences of their game.

NJRedman wrote:You can get a concussion playing any sport, BBall, Soccer or even wrestling (I got a few from that myself). You can't worry about it, you just have to make sure people are aware of the dangers and the proper protocol to deal with them when they do happen.

Believe they think the repetitive smaller head shots in football that happen all game also add up, which you don't see in most other sports. So, I think that's a difference. It's pretty hard to argue that football doesn't cause more head trauma than most other sports. Hockey players have had some issues with it but not to the extent of football.

Regarding soccer, their is a concern with young kids (developing brains) heading the ball often in practice, etc.

MUBoxer wrote:Football players don't even take the most punishment but make the biggest stink out of everybody. You don't see pro fighters crying about this, you rarely see former hockey players crying about this, rugby players almost never cry about this. Only football players. The bottom line is that the people getting these issues are playing at a very high intensity level, such a high level that they know what they're getting themselves into and should realize that's the cost of doing sports like this over doing school and getting money through business work. I've boxed at a very high level since I was 11 and played lacrosse since I was 12 I understand the consequences of playing those sports and don't cry about it neither should the football players.

Sorry for the rant but it bugs me that football players get portrayed as the toughest athletes of all, when they're far from it and are closer to whiny guys that can't accept consequences of their game.

In what sport do players take more repetitive punishment other than boxing (or MMA, etc.)?

Rugby players don't take the repetitive head shots all game because they don't wear helmets. They also generally don't hit with their head. They get concussions, but not at the rate of football.

As for hockey, they've had plenty of guys put a shotgun in their mouth after their career. It just doesn't happen at the same rate as football.

Not sure how old you are, but I played lacrosse as well and also hockey. Concussions never crossed my mind back then, even when a kid on the field got one. People are educated about it now.

Boxing, yeah, that's a clear one.

Agree that anyone starting to play football now should be well aware of the long-term risks. Not sure that was the case even 15 years ago.

ChelseaFriar wrote:

MUBoxer wrote:Football players don't even take the most punishment but make the biggest stink out of everybody. You don't see pro fighters crying about this, you rarely see former hockey players crying about this, rugby players almost never cry about this. Only football players. The bottom line is that the people getting these issues are playing at a very high intensity level, such a high level that they know what they're getting themselves into and should realize that's the cost of doing sports like this over doing school and getting money through business work. I've boxed at a very high level since I was 11 and played lacrosse since I was 12 I understand the consequences of playing those sports and don't cry about it neither should the football players.

Sorry for the rant but it bugs me that football players get portrayed as the toughest athletes of all, when they're far from it and are closer to whiny guys that can't accept consequences of their game.

In what sport do players take more repetitive punishment other than boxing (or MMA, etc.)?

Rugby players don't take the repetitive head shots all game because they don't wear helmets. They also generally don't hit with their head. They get concussions, but not at the rate of football.

As for hockey, they've had plenty of guys put a shotgun in their mouth after their career. It just doesn't happen at the same rate as football.

Not sure how old you are, but I played lacrosse as well and also hockey. Concussions never crossed my mind back then, even when a kid on the field got one. People are educated about it now.

Boxing, yeah, that's a clear one.

Agree that anyone starting to play football now should be well aware of the long-term risks. Not sure that was the case even 15 years ago.

First in football you aren't technically supposed to lead with your head, that's a more modern issue that is the coaches' and players' own fault. If they tackled like they did back in the day they'd reduce their head injury risk. I'm not sure it's possible for us to look up the exact concussion numbers of football vs rugby but I respectfully disagree. Obviously the numbers will be higher overall for football due to the number of players but you'd need to look at a percentage of players same with hockey.

Why do not as many hockey players put a gun in their heads? They're playing on a harder surface with harder boards, considerably longer season, longer length of career, it seems odd? But I do know that a few have it just goes back to me thinking football players are "woe is me" types.

I'm 25, and personally I've been thinking of concussions for years, it's why I care a lot about defense in boxing which I still do. I'm not sure if you or I are the minority in our teen focus on injury risks but that's the type of person I am.

First in football you aren't technically supposed to lead with your head, that's a more modern issue that is the coaches' and players' own fault. If they tackled like they did back in the day they'd reduce their head injury risk. I'm not sure it's possible for us to look up the exact concussion numbers of football vs rugby but I respectfully disagree. Obviously the numbers will be higher overall for football due to the number of players but you'd need to look at a percentage of players same with hockey.

Why do not as many hockey players put a gun in their heads? They're playing on a harder surface with harder boards, considerably longer season, longer length of career, it seems odd? But I do know that a few have it just goes back to me thinking football players are "woe is me" types.

I'm 25, and personally I've been thinking of concussions for years, it's why I care a lot about defense in boxing which I still do. I'm not sure if you or I are the minority in our teen focus on injury risks but that's the type of person I am.

Regarding tackling with the head, 100% agree it's a modern issue and regardless of who is at fault, it's simply an issue. It's the direction the game took, unfortunately.

Hockey: do not have the repeated, smaller headshots on every play that football linemen, linebackers and tight ends have. Not even a comparison. When a hockey player does get laid out, it's a massive blow, that I agree on. But the volume of head contact is much smaller by nature of the sport. I'm friends with a retired NHL enforcer (15 NHL seasons, Stanley Cup Champion) so I'm definitely sympathetic to the wear and tear on the body that hockey takes.

Rugby: Agree to disagree. Never played it but I've been to Six Nations matches at Twickenham in London as well as college matches. I simply do not see the volume of head contact play-after-play that I see in football.

I have 18 years on you so that might have something to do with it. If/when I'm involved in teen sports it will definitely be a focus for me. When I was a kid, it wasn't talked about much.

BTW, I have no skin in the game. I didn't play football. I have a 18 month old son and I doubt he will play. Though my cousin's kid is currently being recruited by D1 football programs heading into his senior year in HS so I hope it doesn't impact him.