Nov 8, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) runs for a touchdown while hit by Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) during the first quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Concussions and the NFL Horizon
Either the world of football finds a safer way to play the game without the near-certainty of brain damage for certain positions or the immediate and sharp decrease in youth sports involvement is inevitable. Because even detailed modern concussion protocols don’t always work.
As Americans, we love watching football on Saturdays and Sundays (and Monday and Thursday), but as a parent myself, I don’t think I’m rushing to sign my kid up for tackle football. I can’t be alone in that.
That would probably be mitigated some if you could assure me that the repeated head injuries associated with the sport had lessened drastically or gone away altogether.
If that happens, I’m guessing it’ll be due to making more sports non-contact like soccer. Playing soccer is fine, but how many Americans are watching Major League Soccer four times a week?
We would have to manage to reach a middle ground. Parents sign their children up in youth leagues. However, everyone acknowledges that concussions are going to happen and they have ruined many athletes lives, but we can take precautions to prevent them. We could elongate the trajectory of hard and fast sports.
A lot could probably be done with adding more rules into both sports, or changing the current rules to dramatically reduce contact, but I think it’s more likely that the average fans’ mind just comes to an acceptance on the issue. One way or another. That’s up to you. Football is gonna football.
Next: Wes Walker