erod
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Leigh Steinberg, Troy Aikman's agent, recounted his time with Troy in the hospital after he was concussed in the NFC Championship game in '93. "What are we doing here?" Troy asked, then was told by Steinberg of the days events. "Did we win?" Yep, and the two celebrated.
"What are we doing here?" Troy asked again, several minutes later. It wasn't the last time Troy asked Steinberg that same question the rest of the day. To this day, Troy has no memory of that game whatsoever.
Seven days later, Troy played in the Super Bowl.
For those that saw the PBS special, "A League in Denial", you watched another nail, perhaps several nails, get driven into the coffin of the NFL. The game won't exist at all soon, at least in any recognizable form. Troy believes that, and I do, too.
A Harvard study insists that football players of all ages are scarring their brains, called CTE, making for what will be a potentially miserable life down the road, perhaps one that will even lead to drug addiction, family abandonment, and even suicide. Dave Duerson, Junior Seau, Mike Webster....the stories keep rolling in.
No doubt the NFL rushed to settle the lawsuit with the former players before the airing of this documentary, which likened the NFL to the tabacco industry.
However, as sure as I am of the impending demise of the NFL, I'm also sure this "science" is being ramrodded down our throats long before real conclusions can be made. Much like global warming or global cooling or whatever is going on, scientists nowdays seem so determined to prove the outcome they want to be, rather than the truth of what actually is, based on outside pressures to do so.
Aikman pointed out that he's been through numerous tests since, and all have come out "excellent", with no signs of resulting damage. He also mentioned that many scientists claim that there is actually no proof of the existence of CTE. Much study needs to be done, although the Harvard scientists seem to want so badly for their research (and no doubt, the money that will follow) to be absolutely true.
Some questions that need to be asked, but aren't: What percentage of players actually have "CTE" versus the typical person? What role does PEDs, drugs, or other lifestyle choices have in health of these players later on? Why are so many players seemingly unaffected? Does CTE lead to dementia for certain? Is it even proven to be related?
Regardless of the answers to those questions, the implications are already in fast action.
The NFL is changing their rules like underwear. Equipment is almost sure to drastically change soon. Fines for hits to the head, and precautions taken after one, are rising rapidly to keep up with the public relations whirlwind.
Perhaps more alarming to the NFL, people are pulling their kids out of football in large numbers and sending them to the soccer fields. Hysteria has set in, despite the large number of dads that played football through high school and perhaps college that are relatively just fine after the fact.
It's only going to take one - just one - successful lawsuit against a high school, a college, or a professional team. The house of cards will come crashing down, and football as we know it, will be over.
There will be no Peyton Mannings and Tony Romos. Kids from those kinds of families will send their sons in a different direction altogether. It'll be a sport left for the same athletes drawn to MMA or boxing.
My problem is that these enormous conclusions are being drawn from so little evidence and early research. Only a relative handful of brains have been studied, and the actual cause of brain damage, or the uniqueness of it compared to the general population, has not been accounted for. Yet, these early findings are being cited as absolute fact to serve the purpose of a lawsuit and a research group that seems bias toward a conclusion not yet proven.
Either way, the mob effect is well under way. Can't put toothpaste back in the tube.
Enjoy these final seasons of the NFL. There aren't many left.
"What are we doing here?" Troy asked again, several minutes later. It wasn't the last time Troy asked Steinberg that same question the rest of the day. To this day, Troy has no memory of that game whatsoever.
Seven days later, Troy played in the Super Bowl.
For those that saw the PBS special, "A League in Denial", you watched another nail, perhaps several nails, get driven into the coffin of the NFL. The game won't exist at all soon, at least in any recognizable form. Troy believes that, and I do, too.
A Harvard study insists that football players of all ages are scarring their brains, called CTE, making for what will be a potentially miserable life down the road, perhaps one that will even lead to drug addiction, family abandonment, and even suicide. Dave Duerson, Junior Seau, Mike Webster....the stories keep rolling in.
No doubt the NFL rushed to settle the lawsuit with the former players before the airing of this documentary, which likened the NFL to the tabacco industry.
However, as sure as I am of the impending demise of the NFL, I'm also sure this "science" is being ramrodded down our throats long before real conclusions can be made. Much like global warming or global cooling or whatever is going on, scientists nowdays seem so determined to prove the outcome they want to be, rather than the truth of what actually is, based on outside pressures to do so.
Aikman pointed out that he's been through numerous tests since, and all have come out "excellent", with no signs of resulting damage. He also mentioned that many scientists claim that there is actually no proof of the existence of CTE. Much study needs to be done, although the Harvard scientists seem to want so badly for their research (and no doubt, the money that will follow) to be absolutely true.
Some questions that need to be asked, but aren't: What percentage of players actually have "CTE" versus the typical person? What role does PEDs, drugs, or other lifestyle choices have in health of these players later on? Why are so many players seemingly unaffected? Does CTE lead to dementia for certain? Is it even proven to be related?
Regardless of the answers to those questions, the implications are already in fast action.
The NFL is changing their rules like underwear. Equipment is almost sure to drastically change soon. Fines for hits to the head, and precautions taken after one, are rising rapidly to keep up with the public relations whirlwind.
Perhaps more alarming to the NFL, people are pulling their kids out of football in large numbers and sending them to the soccer fields. Hysteria has set in, despite the large number of dads that played football through high school and perhaps college that are relatively just fine after the fact.
It's only going to take one - just one - successful lawsuit against a high school, a college, or a professional team. The house of cards will come crashing down, and football as we know it, will be over.
There will be no Peyton Mannings and Tony Romos. Kids from those kinds of families will send their sons in a different direction altogether. It'll be a sport left for the same athletes drawn to MMA or boxing.
My problem is that these enormous conclusions are being drawn from so little evidence and early research. Only a relative handful of brains have been studied, and the actual cause of brain damage, or the uniqueness of it compared to the general population, has not been accounted for. Yet, these early findings are being cited as absolute fact to serve the purpose of a lawsuit and a research group that seems bias toward a conclusion not yet proven.
Either way, the mob effect is well under way. Can't put toothpaste back in the tube.
Enjoy these final seasons of the NFL. There aren't many left.
