Those of my readers that know me, or the ones that have at least seen me, know that I don’t have the physique for playing the game of football.  Yea, I’ll admit I am a little overweight, and sort of round about the middle, but by no means, am I a linebacker.  I don’t even know if they make shoulder pads in my size.  Do they make an xxsmall?

Nevertheless, I enjoy watching the game at all levels of play, whether it is High School, College, or the NFL. The game is full of timing, skill, anticipation, acrobatics, head movements, body movements, and at times, a little “ballet” like.  (I know my inbox will be filled after that statement).

If you doubt what I say, the next time you tune in to a football game on the TV, turn “OFF” the sound and watch.  Don’t watch the football, watch the linemen, and the linebackers, as they shift and move to better their position.  Some are “on their toes”, while others are “flat-footed”.  The ball is hiked.  The running back comes flying out of the backfield.  Almost in unison, you will observe that the linemen, and the linebackers turn their heads in the direction of the ball carrier, while trying to throw off their blocker.  It’s precision, it’s dramatic.

Still don’t believe me?  Watch Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers, Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens, Brian Urlacher of the Chicago Bears, or DeMarcus Ware of the Dallas Cowboys.  Arguably, four of the greatest linebackers in the game today.

Even go back a few years.  Do you remember these names?  Lawrence Taylor, Dick Butkus, Jack Lambert, Ray Nitschke, Chris Hanburger, Mike Curtis, Nick Buoniconti, Sam Huff, Junior Seau.  The list goes on and on.  All the players named, both today and yesterday, loved the game and played when they were healthy, as well as hurt.  They would get their “bell rung” and hobble over to the bench for a play or two.  Some coach, assistant coach, or even one of their teammates, would come over to them and say something like: “Man, we’re getting killed out there”, or “You’re our star player, we need your help out there”, or “You’re OK, get on in there and support your teammates”.

Off they’d go.  Back into the battle.  Playing with the same reckless abandonment.  They thought that they had to be there.  The owner, the coaches, their teammates, and especially the fans, expected them to play. They played hurt, not thinking of their health, or their future.  Afterall, the team doctor said they were OK to play.  Football is a brutal sport.

The NFL currently has over 2000 lawsuits filed by former players that claim that the NFL allegedly withheld information that mental debilitation could result from all the beatings to the head.  These suits were filed in just the past six months.

One of the suits was filed by former Washington Redskin great, Art Monk.  Monk claims that the NFL didn’t do enough to educate players about, or protect them from, these dangers in the past.   I just recently talked to Art after a book signing.  He seemed fine, and friendly as always, but he obviously is concerned about his future health.

Super Bowl MVP, retired Quarterback Kurt Warner has stated that he would have reservations about his children playing the game.  Baltimore Ravens safety Bernard Pollard was quoted on Houston’s Sports Radio 610 AM, “I know what my body has been through.  I’m 27 years old.  I take care of myself, but it’s a violent sport.  I don’t want him to have go through it.  I don’t want to see my son with a concussion.”  In another interview, New York Giants defensive end, Osi Umenyiora stated that “I know when I’m 45, there is a strong chance I’ll be in a wheelchair.”

Current and former players of the NFL are concerned, and you and I, as fans, should be too.  The NFL in the last two seasons has instituted new regulations to try and lessen the head injuries.  But, are they doing enough?

Chicago Bears Dave Duerson, Atlanta Falcons Ray Easterling, and San Diego Chargers Junior Seau, have all committed suicide in the past twelve months.  Easterling, and Seau, in the last thirty days.    Were these suicides possibly caused by head injuries (concussions) during their playing days?  The wives of  Duerson, and Easterling, seem to think so.  Boston University’s Center of Traumatic Encephalopathy seems to think so.  BU has studied the brains of over 20 former players, and have observed significant trauma that could cause memory loss, insomnia, dementia, and other mental disorders.

There are people that are going to say that the players should already know that football is a violent game.  If the players are concerned about getting hurt, or suffering life altering injuries, then they should have been taxi drivers, or teachers, or (God forbid) politicians.  What these advocates of violence don’t understand is the love of the sport that these modern day “Gladiators” possess.  It’s the teamwork, the comradery, the passion, that drives the players.

Yes, they know that they are going to get hurt, but the NFL needs to do more to protect them.   Possibly have the three leading equipment manufacturers, Riddell, Schutt, and Xenith bid against each other to develop better head and neck protection.  The competition alone will help to design and test safer equipment much faster.

The NFL needs to follow the lead of the most violent sport in the United States today…….NASCAR racing.  It required deaths on their “playing field”, before NASCAR started to regulate safer equipment.

In January of 1964 at Riverside International Raceway, Joe Weatherly was involved in an accident.  Joe’s head went outside the car and hit a concrete retaining wall, killing him instantly.  NASCAR mandated safety nets.

Also, in May of 1964, at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Glen “Fireball” Roberts slammed backwards into a concrete retaining wall, flipped upside down, and burst into flames.  He was pulled from the burning car by fellow driver Ned Jarrett, but five weeks later died from his injuries. NASCAR mandated flame retardant coveralls, and safer fuel tanks.

Over the next few years, NASCAR mandated the five point harness, on board fire extinguishers, and contoured racing seats.

August 11, 1991, on the road course at Watkins Glen International, Jimmy Means and JD McDuffie collided at the fast entrance to turn 5.  As the two cars slid off the pavement, McDuffie lost all of his brakes, hit the tire barrier at great speed, and was catapulted upside down against the safety fence.  The race car then slammed to the ground on its roof, killing McDuffie.  NASCAR mandated safer tire barriers, better catch fences,  gravel pits to slow the cars down, and stiffer roll cages.

Even though the sport lost drivers Neil Bonnett, Rodney Orr. John Nemechek, Kenny Irwin, Jr, and King Richad Pettys grandson Adam Petty, to crashes with the unsafe concrete barriers, not much was accomplished until 2001.

February 18, 2001.  Daytona International Speedway.  The “Intimidator”, Dale Earnhardt, Sr. was running in third place on the last lap of the prestigious Daytona 500.  The cars running 1-2 were owned by Earnhardt, and driven by his son, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and longtime friend, Michael Waltrip.   Was Earnhardt blocking for his front running cars?  Maybe.  Entering turn 4, Sterling Marlin clipped the left rear fender of Earhardt’s car.  As Earnhardt tried to gain control of his spinning car, Kenny Schrader, with no place to go, rammed the passenger side and pushed Earnhardt almost head-on into the outside wall at 160mph.  Dale Earnhardt lost his life that day due to a Basilar skull fracture.  And NASCAR lost its greatest ambassador.

Earnhardt, Bonnett, Nemechek, Petty, Irwin, and McDuffie, all died from a Basilar skull fracture.  A neck and head restraint called a Hans Device was developed and made mandatory.  Today, NASCAR has implemented softer, safety barriers that line the concrete walls at each track they race on.  They have added full face helmets, Nomex fire suits, boots and gloves, padded roll cages, form fitting padded seats, kill switches, fuel bladders, improved 5 and 6 point harnesses, reinforced window nets, and a host of safety regulations, to keep these modern day chariot drivers as safe as possible.

Is the NFL going to wait until their players start dropping dead on the playing field from head and neck injuries?  I know that is an extreme statement, but something needs to be done.  Now, in 2012, before the next football season starts, it’s time for the NFL to step up.  Pete Rozelle needs to take a stand and say that the NFL knows how violent and dangerous the game of football is.  And, that research and development of newer, safer head and neck protection will begin immediately.  And, that the playing surface itself will be studied to see if the impact can be lessened. And finally, that the NFL, and Team owners are setting up a fund to help the former players who may now be suffering the effects of brain trauma.

I know.  I know.  I know what you all are thinking.  This old man has finally flipped his lid.  First, he compares football to ballet.  Then, he compares it to auto racing.  But, I’m here to tell you, that if the game of football doesn’t become safer for the players soon, the Moms and Dads in this country are going to forbid their youngsters from playing.  It’s happening here.  It’s happening now.  Check your local PeeWee league this fall.

Til we meet again.

FB  05/15/12