“I’m a big football fan, but I have to tell you, if I had a son, I’d have to think long and hard before I let him play football,” President Barrack Obama said.
“I think that those of us who love the sport are going to have to wrestle with the fact that it will probably change gradually to try to reduce some of the violence,” he added. “In some cases, that may make it a little bit less exciting, but it will be a whole lot better for the players, and those of us who are fans maybe won’t have to examine our consciences quite as much.”
The subject of concussions in professional sports and their lasting effects were perhaps examines as never before during this past football season. We had quarterbacks going down and one even lost his job over a concussion. Then there was the case of Junior Seau who recently passed away after spending 20 years in the trenches of the NFL. He had a lot of problems after leaving the playing field and a post mortem examination reveled indications that he had CTE which stands for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.
That’s what happens when you get your “bell rung” way too many times.
So, the concern by parents over allowing their kids to play football is understandable. But it is a game after all. It is a violent game at times and people do get hurt, always have. That is just part of the game and there are many who would say that if you are afraid of getting hurt, don’t play the game.
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs understands Obama’s view on the dangers playing football. His son is only 4 years old at this point but Suggs said that his son would be allowed to play if he chooses to play. “It would have to be his choice. Football isn’t for everybody. If my son came to me and said Dad, I want to play football, then I would let him play.”
Ravens Safety Ed Reed agreed with the sentiment.”I am with Obama. I have a son. I am not forcing football on my son. If he wants to play it…..I can’t make decisions for him.
All I can do is say, “Son, I played it so that you don’t have to.”
