Football is a
known to be a dangerous sport that can result in a very serious injury at any
point of play. With this in mind participants acknowledge the threat of
potential injury. The sport has been around for years, first starting in 1869.
As the year have went on the game of football has changed drastically but the
one thing that has remained constant is the threat of serious injury.
In an effort by
the National Football League (NFL) to clean up the sport and limit the risk of
injury, the way that player play the game have been modified. The NFL has made
it their mission, headed by Commissioner Roger Goodell, to keep the players as
safe as possible. Head to head tackles have become a big NO NO, In the NFL,
charging players hefty fines or even suspensions if done. The most common
injury that many players receive, unknowingly, is termed a traumatic brain
injury, which is better known as a concussion according to the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. A concussion, though not too serious on
sight, can result in a life long problem of memory loss. This is especially
true for those players who receive multiple concussions throughout the stint of
their careers.
In a statement
made on an ESPN talk show, former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner stated that he
rather his kids not play football due to the heightened risk of injury. A
statement that he was later chastised for making from past and current players.
Former New York Giants receiver Amani Toomer lashed out at Warner stating that,
“Kurt Warner needs to keep his opinions to himself when it comes to this.
Everything that he's gotten in his life has come from playing football. He
works at the NFL Network right now. For him to try and trash the game, it seems
to me that it's just a little disingenuous to me." Along side Toomer many
other player have stated their dislike of Kurt Warners comments on the sports.
A little harsh?
I think so. There is no doubt that American Football is by far the greatest
sport in America. But for players to be in an uproar about Warners concerns
about his children well-being is just not right. He has the right to his
opinion and people should respect that. At the end of the day Kurt Warner, if
possible, just wants to protect the safety of his kids. I’m Just Saying!
