Obama: ‘I would not let my son play pro football’
January 19, 2014, 10:10 am
By Justin Sink
Read more: https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/195895-obama-danger-of-concussions-in-nfl-no-longer-a-secret#ixzz2qs3d8oMx
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President Obama said that he believed NFL players “know what they’re doing” and understood the impact that concussions could have on their long-term health in an interview with The New Yorker published on Sunday, adding that he would not let his son play pro football.
In August, the NFL agreed to a $765 million settlement in a lawsuit brought against the league by former players. The league did not admit any liability or that brain injuries were the result of playing football, but the money will be split among former players and medical researchers. A federal judge has not yet approved the deal.
Existing research has shown that repeated concussions can be associated with memory loss and behavioral changes. They’re also linked to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive degenerative brain disease.
Why does he always feel compelled to tell us about his hypothetical son?
Really, what is the upside to letting your child play this sport? There are so many better options.
Yes, Cheer leading
All you have to do is look at the players that have retired and see there problems. No i would not let my son play football either.
Concussions have sidelined a lot of kids. Let your kid play and you are responsible for their lifetime problems.
Why take a perfectly developing brain and risk brain injury?
There are a lot of hits and concussions on the way to the pros. And a lot who do not even make it to college play absorb a lot of little head injuries. They all add up and parents look the other way.
These are the same parents who want only healthy food in the cafeteria but let their kids sports that produce multiple little brain injuries – all adding up to problems later in life.
Fine points about the risks of head injuries in football.
Now, can we get back to ranting about Obama?