NFL: Nearly 1 in 3 Players Develop Severe Brain Trauma

[fairweatherfan]

The NFL's week from hell continues - after years of denial, the league released actuarial estimates as part of their brain trauma lawsuit settlement.  Those estimates indicate nearly 1 in 3 retired players have or are expected to develop severe neurological impairment, and at "notably younger ages" than the normal populace. 

Interests representing the players suing the league came out with a modestly higher but similar estimate.  Terrible.  This is getting into ex-wrestler levels of saddening.


http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/13/sports/football/actuarial-reports-in-nfl-concussion-deal-are-released.html?

[Eja117]

It's just starting to look like pro sports need to fundamentally change in the US and college too.

It's starting to look a little like a panel of retired congress people and high level guys from other leagues over seas and Fed mediators or something need to help craft some union level stuff and maybe some laws.

This whole year is just getting whacky

[D.o.s.]

This is exactly why the death of football is coming sooner rather than later. As soon as CTE is directly linked to repetitive, mild head trauma, it's turning into curling -- no way anyone insures it.

[wdleehi]

The good thing is this will lead to more NFL money being pored into safety technology to make the game safer on all levels.

[blink]

Yeah, the NFL problems keep on getting bigger.  I am just glad that the truth of the situation is coming out.  Hard to know if this is a turning point in the NFL doing more to protect the players (develop better helmet technology?), or if it could have bigger impacts to the league. 

What I would like to know is how much of the brain trauma is from the player's years in the nfl, versus when they were playing high school and college football?  There are over a million high school football players.  How at risk are they? 

[Ogaju]

It starts at a very early stage I don't think you can absolve the Colleges. It is amazing how these large interests get away with not paying college football players.