Kevin McKee

KINES 141
Project #2
December 5, 2014
Concussions in the NFL
Football has been a major part of American culture for years now, and many people have
made great living because of it. Football is bigger than just a game, it is a lifestyle,
entertainment, advertisement, gambling, and a part of culture. For years football was known and
celebrated for its fast pace and hard hitting action that helped attract fans. Now, football is facing
a major crises with its player safety and there is trying to change the game for the better.
Currently in football, the word concussion seems to be just as frequently used as
touchdown. Because of footballs aggressive and in fact dangerous matter at which it is played,
concussions have always been a part of it. According to WebMD, a Concussion is:
a type of traumatic brain injury that is caused by a blow to the head or body, a fall, or
another injury that jars or shakes the brain inside the skullIts important to know that
after a concussion the brain is more sensitive to damage.
Football of all levels have these head problems mostly because of the helmet to helmet hits that
plays register. Another very important factor is that players, especially in the NFL, are getting
much bigger and faster than before and the game hasn't progressed the same way.
Now concussions are very dangerous, but in the NFL the real issue seems to be CTE.
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, CTE, is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain
according to Boston Universitys medical research and it is found in athletes who have a history

of brain injuries. So if players continue to get concussions and other violent hits during football,
they have an enormous risk of getting CTE. This disease can be very dangerous and even deadly
as well cause loss of memory, confusion, aggression, depression, dementia and other dangerous
brain diseases. This is such a problem in football, and after a recent 2013 study , according to
PBS Frontline, 79 NFL players brains were studied and 76 of them showed signs of CTE. These
numbers are very scary and prove that CTE can affect any player no matter what position or if
they have a know history of head injuries.
Historically, Football has always been dangerous, rough, violent, yet popular and
entertaining. Even years ago head injuries in football was well known and medically examined.
In 1933 the NCAA's medical handbook warned schools that concussions were taken and treated
way to lightly. In 1937 the American football coaches Association declared that can cause
players should be taken out of the game immediately. A very important fact to be noted was that
in 1952 a study by the New England Journal of Medicine stressed the players who suffered three
concussions or more should leave football for ever for their own safety. It was only in 1994 that
the NFL fully of knowledge the dangers of concussions for the first time. With this report they
formed a committee that would study brain trauma and help record the injuries suffered and
results by many NFL players throughout the years. As these injuries he came or more prevalent
in the NFL they took matters into their own hands in 1999 as their retirement board quietly
begins to get out millions and disability payments to players who suffered concussions and
various football injuries. This action was very decisive to show people that the NFL knew that
there was an issue with concussions yet didn't want to admit it or change any of their ways. Into
thousand three the study of retired football players in the NFL showed the players suffering from

multiple concussions double their risk of depression and other life-threatening diseases in the
future. Then in 2005 a survey of NFL players found that their history of concussions made those
players five times as likely to suffer cognitive impairment. 2008 an NFL commission again
found a survey that former players will suffer Alzheimers and dementia at a rate of 19 times
higher than non-football players between the ages of 30 and 49. Finally the most recent report in
2013, the NFL settled the lawsuit against them for $765 million for former players who suffer
concussions and other injuries that they were suing for.
The history and data has been here for years and it's crazy to see how the NFL still has
not fully admitted that there is a big problem. Years have gone by players have died but the NFL
still continues to make money at the end of the day. Many players after the retirement from the
NFL are not receiving the proper medical care that they need to sustain a healthy lifestyle. Their
injuries can be life debilitating and even called self harm which is been seen throughout the year.
The sad reality of this issue is that there were thousands of football players every year who suffer
and many more to kill themselves or others and it all can be prevented. Just a list of a few NFL
players who have been involved in incidents 20 years or suicide and doctors said later they found
that CTE is a strong proponent and all them. Chris Henry, Jovan Belcher, Darryl Talley, Tony
Dorsett, Brett Farve, Junior Seau, Mike Webster, Justin Strzelczyk, Lew Carpenter, Louis
Creekmur, John Grimsley, Terry Long, John Mackey, Ollie Matson, Andre Waters, Tom McHale,
and Jim McMahon
Enough is enough with the NFL, they need to admit that there is a serious issue in league with
head injuries and they need to take responsibility before more lives are lost and lives are affected
rather than money lost.

Yes, football is a violent sports, and yes players everywhere know the risks when they
sign up. One of the real problems here is that the leagues are not protecting their own players.
Protecting the players can include, safer rules with player safety in mind, improved helmets and
equipment, better medical treatment and precautions, a form of healthy care or after football
insurance, and finally the most important factor is not letting money affect these decisions.
Now not everyone believes that the NFL and other football organizations should change
their safety guidelines, and see that head injuries are truly a problem. Many feel that this issue
has been fixed and the NFL has done everything possible and in its power to help players.
Currently in the NFL, the number of concussions are down (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/
frontline/sports/nfl-sees-a-drop-in-concussions-but-problems-linger/), revenue in the NFL is the
most its been in years because of fan popularity as well as sponsorships, and finally participation
is up. Many believe that football will die out because of parents pulling their kids out due to
safety issue. Yes, that is very true even Lebron James has said that he would not let his sons play
football (http://time.com/3584387/lebron-james-youth-sports-football/). In fact, pop warner and
pee wee football may be down for the time being, but High School Football participation levels
are at record highs (http://www.nfhs.org/articles/high-school-participation-increases-for-25thconsecutive-year/).
Leading into my other argument and a great reason why High School Football
participation is at a high is because Football = Money. High School athletes see how college D1
athletics means big bucks and even though player are not paid currently, they are treated very
well and can earn college scholarships. College Football is a platform to get scouted and seen by

NFL teams and if you are drafted, your income can be triple. Sure this is a full proof system for
kids to look up too especially because the average NFL career only lasts about three years.
Regardless, money powers all especially in the NFL where their Commissioner Rodger Goodell
gets paid $44 million a year and the NFL makes a total of about $9 billion annually and why the
NFL settled this concussion lawsuit for only $765 million to the players..
Culturally, Football is very very important in America. Even as they try to expand even
more to cities like Los Angeles and London, the NFL loves money. People say that the NFL will
only throw money at these situations but once sponsors pull out and they loose money will they
actually change their ways. This may very well be true, but it doesnt look like they are going to
be facing a financial issue anytime soon. Gambling is slowing being approved in more and more
states and in many professional leagues, and fantasy football is massive culturally. These games
inside the game is a big part of American pop culture. Similar to the NFLs mindset, the
American people will only react if their pockets are affected. Currently, fantasy football and
gambling are up, NFL merchandise is at a high and fans are experiencing a great generation of
NFL football lately, what could go wrong. We and the NFL need to make changes and show
everyone including celebrities, athletes, and everyday people that concussions and CTE is
extremely dangerous and we must act now.
To Conclude with my opinion, when I was growing up, my mom did not let me play
football because she feared I would get hurt. Now her fears were probably that I would break a
bone, or get a concussion. Today, parents do not let their children play football because they fear
concussions and other life altering head injuries. Where did football make this huge turn where
concussions are the ultimate casualty of the game. Has football really changed, is the game

faster, are players getting bigger in youth football? Football is a dangerous sport, just like in
action/motor sports, you know the risks when you sign up. Now it's time for Little League, Pop
Warner, Heads Up Football, NCAA, and the NFL to make the right changes to secure football's
longevity. These changes have already been seen and are being developed in all levels. Leagues
are enforcing stricter rules, protecting the players during and after their careers, and improving
the helmets and pads. At the end of the day it is going to be hard to kill off football because of it's
mass appeal and insane yearly revenue. With commercials, Fantasy Football, merchandise, and
other sources of revenue, the NFL isn't facing a money crisis so this concussion crisis falls
behind. The NFL and it's owners make so much money and all their advertisements during the
game keep the players paid fairly well. In my opinion, the money is the main reason football is
on the decline. Owners, coaches, players, and ADs are paid royally but health and safety do not
see the same amount of money.
Even though the NFL is taking small steps to change, youth football is and needs to make
the most changes. Even though youth football is taking steps to better safety, it is still facing the
issue of losing the parents approval. Youth football drop in population doesn't affect the NFL, but
Youth Football = NFL. It may not hurt the NFL right this second, but if more and more children
stop playing football, it will be the NFLs problem soon. Youth Football needs to change it's game
with new rules, better equipment (pending funding), and a safer approach to save footballs
future.
I believe it can be done and football will be changed with the players in mind.

Source / Bibliography

1. http://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-blog/index.ssf/2014/12/
former_buffalo_bills_lb_darryl.html
2. http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-cowboys/headlines/20131106-dallas-cowboyslegend-tony-dorsett-confirms-he-shows-signs-of-cte.ece
3. http://deadspin.com/a-timeline-of-concussion-science-and-nfl-denial-1222395754
4. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sports/nfl-sees-a-drop-in-concussions-butproblems-linger/
5. http://www.nfhs.org/articles/high-school-participation-increases-for-25th-consecutive-year/
6. http://time.com/3584387/lebron-james-youth-sports-football/
7. http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-09-12/if-the-nfl-were-a-real-business
8. http://www.forbes.com/fdc/welcome_mjx.shtml

What is CTE? CTE Center | Boston University. (n.d.). Retrieved December 5,

2014, from http://www.bu.edu/cte/about/what-is-cte/
Concussion: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention. (n.d.).
Retrieved December 5, 2014, from http://www.webmd.com/brain/tc/traumaticbrain-injury-concussion-overview

Scholarly Article:
http://nflconcussionlitigation.com/?page_id=1011