Argumentative Summary: Are We Being Protected?
Are We Being Protected?
According to Ken Belson of The New York Times (2014) one in three NFL players is affected by brain trauma. The New York Times has also stated that NFL players are eight times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s or dementia than the general population. The NFL has come across a rise in concussions over the past decade. Over the past three seasons there have been over 690 recorded concussions throughout the league. Not only are current players being affected, but so are retired players. 87 of 91 deceased NFL players were found to have Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE, after years of concussions and hits to the head during their NFL careers. CTE is a brain disease with symptoms of memory loss, aggression, confusion, …show more content…
Rather than fines and later game suspensions, the NFL should enforce in game benching. This rule would force a player to sit out for the rest of the game if they gave an illegal hit. This would make coaches much wearier and force them to coach their players about legal hits. The NFL should also do more than just punishments of other players but they should speak with sports networks that often show these illegal hits in their top plays. Sportcenter on ESPN is an example that has a segment in their show called “SC Top 10”. Many time illegal hits have been shown on this top 10 because they are glorified by fans and considered jaw-dropping. The NFL has worked with these networks about fans that streak during games, so they should work with them on illegal hits. By doing so these hits won’t be given much attention and eventually lose …show more content…
It would be absurd if one thought that the NFL would not have enough money to support the research. The NFL is a $45 billion franchise. It would be a fraction of what they make with the amount of money they would donate to support research for concussions and head trauma in the league. All the fines that the NFL collects from illegal hits or celebrations could used to protect their players on a deeper level. The NFL was recently sued $675 million by retired NFL players and families with head trauma and brain diseases. By helping research develop gear that will be much safer for players to use and play in this would help prevent them from being sued more money for future retirees. If the NFL truly cares about its players like they preach, then they should be taking stronger actions than they have now. The NFL should be enforcing stronger punishments and investing more money towards research of concussions and head trauma in the league. This would better the NFL and its players by making it a much safer league. In the end players want to remember their time on the field, not forget it from not being protected
According to Ken Belson of The New York Times (2014) one in three NFL players is affected by brain trauma. The New York Times has also stated that NFL players are eight times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s or dementia than the general population. The NFL has come across a rise in concussions over the past decade. Over the past three seasons there have been over 690 recorded concussions throughout the league. Not only are current players being affected, but so are retired players. 87 of 91 deceased NFL players were found to have Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE, after years of concussions and hits to the head during their NFL careers. CTE is a brain disease with symptoms of memory loss, aggression, confusion, …show more content…
Rather than fines and later game suspensions, the NFL should enforce in game benching. This rule would force a player to sit out for the rest of the game if they gave an illegal hit. This would make coaches much wearier and force them to coach their players about legal hits. The NFL should also do more than just punishments of other players but they should speak with sports networks that often show these illegal hits in their top plays. Sportcenter on ESPN is an example that has a segment in their show called “SC Top 10”. Many time illegal hits have been shown on this top 10 because they are glorified by fans and considered jaw-dropping. The NFL has worked with these networks about fans that streak during games, so they should work with them on illegal hits. By doing so these hits won’t be given much attention and eventually lose …show more content…
It would be absurd if one thought that the NFL would not have enough money to support the research. The NFL is a $45 billion franchise. It would be a fraction of what they make with the amount of money they would donate to support research for concussions and head trauma in the league. All the fines that the NFL collects from illegal hits or celebrations could used to protect their players on a deeper level. The NFL was recently sued $675 million by retired NFL players and families with head trauma and brain diseases. By helping research develop gear that will be much safer for players to use and play in this would help prevent them from being sued more money for future retirees. If the NFL truly cares about its players like they preach, then they should be taking stronger actions than they have now. The NFL should be enforcing stronger punishments and investing more money towards research of concussions and head trauma in the league. This would better the NFL and its players by making it a much safer league. In the end players want to remember their time on the field, not forget it from not being protected