Just read an article relating to depression in ex-NFL players either because of short-lived careers which led to financial ruin or long-term injuries. It is something the NFL does not like to discuss, the same goes for the fans, but the reality of it all is to much to ignore. Junior Seau has become one of the biggest names in this when he committed suicide because he had developed a degenerative neurological condition during his time in the NFL. He was known as extremely outgoing and positive through his entire NFL career and upon retirement that changed fast.
Hopefully the NFL studies more into issues with brain damage from playing football and more extensive testing is done. While it is a great sport and the players love playing it, the injuries are getting worse as players get bigger and hit harder. A long NFL career could leave a player jobless and with life-altering injuries at the age of 32 or 33. That is far to young to be dealing with extreme depression because of the hard transition from the NFL life to a normal life. Fortunately it does seem as if the NFL has made more of an effort to understand and prevent some of these injuries in recent years.
I always say “if all you have to give to the world is your body, then don’t anything to give at all”. I say that because most people are unable to compete professionally in their late 30’s, early 40’s. You can a regular non-physical job for fourty years though. I played college ball and the toll it was taken then were mounting. I feel sorry for a lot of football players because they will live a life of pain and suffering for a short football career.
ReplyDeleteI am a huge NFL like most people and this issue is very depressing. I wrote a paper on this for a class a year or two ago and its is a very interesting and tragic problem. Many players that have had long careers in the NFL show some signs of long term brain problems as well as the disease associated with repeated concussions CTE. There is a good PBS documentary on the topic called League of Denial that traces the NFL's history with dealing with player concussions.
ReplyDeleteHey Mark,
ReplyDeleteI agree that this issue is saddening. However, football has always been recognized as a dangerous and violent game. The players are aware of the consequences when they sign their contracts (usually pretty nice contracts). Anyways, I think the brutality of MMA cage fighting is more disturbing. Only time will tell what long term effects result from cage fighting - but I imagine there will be some brain trauma.
Nick