Safety Brought to the Fore

By Ryan Reed

"You want your kids to do whatever they want to do, but I was very emphatic about him not playing football, that he do something else." This line, which sounds like a quote from a worried mother, actually comes from Harry Carson, a Hall of Fame linebacker from the New York Giants. He is one of many former NFL football players that has come out to discuss the medical dangers of playing football, specifically the effects of concussions on the brain as people become older.

Over the past year and a half, three very high profile former NFL players have committed suicide, all of whom suffered concussions during their playing days. The loss includes Dave Duerson, Ray Easterling and the most recent, Junior Seau, who took his own life last week at the age of 43.

The first two were known to have suffered from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, which is a disease of the brain as a result of repeated blows to the head. It is a degenerative condition that is usually manifested in memory loss, aggression and deep depression. Furthermore, it can only be diagnosed after death with a brain biopsy, so it is difficult for a player to know if they suffer from it. If Seau's brain shows signs of CTE, there will likely be a bigger push for concussion testing and new safety rules.

Hall of fame quarterback Troy Aikman has predicted the end of football as an organized sport in the coming years. He believes that with increased research on concussions and head injuries, people will become less likely to allow their children to play such a violent sport. This will lead to a diminished popularity in football from the lowest level up, as people will stop playing and lose interest. The death of such a caring, enjoyable character like Seau will only expedite that process.

The league is already in the midst of a large-scale safety reform. The starting line of the kickoff was moved forward five yards in an attempt to take a high risk play out of the game. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has cracked down on the Saints organization that was running an illegal bounty system. This is exactly the opposite of what Goodell wants, especially since he is already facing over 1,400 lawsuits from previous players over health concerns. The fact that he suspended one player and a head coach for the whole season, as well as giving out lesser suspensions for three other players, shows that he means business for player safety.

Unfortunately, it is too late for someone like Junior Seau, whose head may have been hit one too many times during his career. What we can all hope is that his suicide will lead to positive change in the NFL which places more emphasis on the safety of players, from the bottom up.

Ryan Reed is a freshman history major and an associate reporter for The Santa Clara.