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NFL player quits over concussion fears

backseatLover12backseatLover12 Posts: 2,312
in A Moving Train
I wonder what this'll do long-term to NFL football…

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/american-football/31918947

Chris Borland: NFL player quits over concussion fears
A rising star of American football has retired after just one season because he fears his health could suffer from the long-term effects of concussion.
Chris Borland, a linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers, quit after talking to concussion researchers and his family.
His four-year deal with the 49ers was reportedly worth around $3m (£2.03m).
The 24-year-old Borland, who suffered two prior concussions before joining the 49ers, was among the top rookies in the NFL last season.
He finished with 107 tackles and two interceptions.
The issue of brain injuries in American football is a hot topic.
A class-action lawsuit involving thousands of former players, filed in 2012, contended that the NFL hid the dangers of brain injury among players while profiting from the sport's violent physical contact.
In February, a US judge refused to accept a proposed settlement between the NFL and the players, saying payment should be expanded for some players and families among other concerns.
Borland becomes one of the most prominent NFL players to quit because of concerns about brain injuries.
Last year Seattle Seahawks receiver Sidney Rice retired at the age of 27 over fears for his long-term health after absorbing so many blows to the head.
Speaking to ESPN's Outside the Lines, Borland said: "I just want to do what's best for my health. From what I've researched and what I've experienced, I don't think it's worth the risk."
San Francisco general manager Trent Baalke said the news was "unexpected", while the NFL insisted "football has never been safer".
Jeff Miller, the NFL's senior vice president of health and safety policy, added he respected Borland's decision and accepted there was still work to do. But he added: "We continue to make progress with rule changes, safer tackling techniques at all levels of football, and better equipment, protocols and medical care for players."
Borland, a history graduate at the University of Wisconsin, plans to further his education and pursue a career in sports management.
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Comments

  • callencallen Posts: 6,388
    Smart guy.
    10-18-2000 Houston, 04-06-2003 Houston, 6-25-2003 Toronto, 10-8-2004 Kissimmee, 9-4-2005 Calgary, 12-3-05 Sao Paulo, 7-2-2006 Denver, 7-22-06 Gorge, 7-23-2006 Gorge, 9-13-2006 Bern, 6-22-2008 DC, 6-24-2008 MSG, 6-25-2008 MSG
  • bootlegger10bootlegger10 Posts: 15,944
    I wonder what his money situation is like. Rich parents? Rich in-laws? It would be tough to walk away from NFL money without a fallback plan. Smart guy though if he is choosing health over money.
  • backseatLover12backseatLover12 Posts: 2,312
    He's planning to go back to school and major in sports management, I heard tonight on a news report. Smart man.
  • Last-12-ExitLast-12-Exit Posts: 8,661
    Good for him. I doubt it will have any impact on the NFL at all since there will be 100 players ready to fill his spot. For every player that decides to retire for whatever reason, there are guys ready to step right in.

    What I'm unsure about is if the NFL is serious about the health of its work force. They talk about player safety, and turn around and propose an 18 game schedule. These owners will do anything to get a couple of extra home games a year.
  • rr165892rr165892 Posts: 5,697
    It will do absolutely nothing to impact the NFL.thousands and thousands will line up to take his place.
    Borland is smart to know his body.But zero impact.Zero!!!!!!
  • Indifference71Indifference71 Posts: 14,844
    Last-12-Exit said:



    What I'm unsure about is if the NFL is serious about the health of its work force. They talk about player safety, and turn around and propose an 18 game schedule. These owners will do anything to get a couple of extra home games a year.

    Yep, Goodell and the owners are a bunch of hypocritical jerkoffs. Sure, they have changed a lot of things when it comes to blows to the head and concussions to increase player safety. But like you said, at the same time they keep talking about adding more games. And they also force every team to play at least 1 Thursday night game 4 days after playing a game the previous Sunday. Anything they can do to make more $$ will always outweigh player safety. Pretty sad.
  • eddieceddiec Posts: 3,881
    rr165892 said:

    It will do absolutely nothing to impact the NFL.thousands and thousands will line up to take his place.
    Borland is smart to know his body.But zero impact.Zero!!!!!!

    Zero Impact? I think the fact that we are talking about it and that it has made national headlines means it already has had an impact. There's so much research going into NFL injuries, especially to the brain, and they are all going to come back with grave results.
    I think we are only at the beginning stages of seeing players being affected later in life.
    The NFL is on its way to becoming like boxing- a sport where only the lowest economic bracket even considers participating.

  • Indifference71Indifference71 Posts: 14,844
    eddiec said:

    rr165892 said:

    It will do absolutely nothing to impact the NFL.thousands and thousands will line up to take his place.
    Borland is smart to know his body.But zero impact.Zero!!!!!!

    Zero Impact? I think the fact that we are talking about it and that it has made national headlines means it already has had an impact. There's so much research going into NFL injuries, especially to the brain, and they are all going to come back with grave results.
    I think we are only at the beginning stages of seeing players being affected later in life.
    The NFL is on its way to becoming like boxing- a sport where only the lowest economic bracket even considers participating.

    The impact won't be immediate, but it will be interesting to see what the NFL looks like in 20 years. It seems like more and more people aren't allowing their kids to play football. I know when I have kids, it would be very hard for me to allow them to play tackle football with everything that is known now about head injuries, long term effects, etc....
  • hedonisthedonist Posts: 24,524
    Yeah, Indifference - I wonder how much of the eventual damage begins when the playing itself does. High school, college-level. By the time they reach the NFL, it's well on its way.
  • WhatYouTaughtMeWhatYouTaughtMe Posts: 4,957
    hedonist said:

    Yeah, Indifference - I wonder how much of the eventual damage begins when the playing itself does. High school, college-level. By the time they reach the NFL, it's well on its way.

    I believe studies have determined the guys who started playing before the age of 12 are more likely to develop concussion related problems later in life.
  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 Posts: 23,303
    give it 20 years.

    football as we know it will not exist.

    they have only been studying concussions in football for about 15 years. There are no long term studies following these guys. part of it is because players were always conditioned to not say anything about head injuries. now, players are more concerned about the long term effects, so they are more willing to report these injuries to medical staff.

    once the long term study data comes out, with subjects in the thousands instead of the hundreds, stronger correlations between repeated head trauma and brain damage later can be drawn.

    bring on all the helmet technology you want. it is not going to change anything. it is not the direct blows to the head, it is the blows that cause coup/countercoup and shearing injuries to the brain. no helmet can prevent that.
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • Indifference71Indifference71 Posts: 14,844
    gimmesometruth27 said:

    give it 20 years.

    football as we know it will not exist.

    they have only been studying concussions in football for about 15 years. There are no long term studies following these guys. part of it is because players were always conditioned to not say anything about head injuries. now, players are more concerned about the long term effects, so they are more willing to report these injuries to medical staff.

    once the long term study data comes out, with subjects in the thousands instead of the hundreds, stronger correlations between repeated head trauma and brain damage later can be drawn.

    bring on all the helmet technology you want. it is not going to change anything. it is not the direct blows to the head, it is the blows that cause coup/countercoup and shearing injuries to the brain. no helmet can prevent that.

    So you think the NFL won't exist in 20 years?
  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 Posts: 23,303
    Indifference71 said:

    gimmesometruth27 said:

    give it 20 years.

    football as we know it will not exist.

    they have only been studying concussions in football for about 15 years. There are no long term studies following these guys. part of it is because players were always conditioned to not say anything about head injuries. now, players are more concerned about the long term effects, so they are more willing to report these injuries to medical staff.

    once the long term study data comes out, with subjects in the thousands instead of the hundreds, stronger correlations between repeated head trauma and brain damage later can be drawn.

    bring on all the helmet technology you want. it is not going to change anything. it is not the direct blows to the head, it is the blows that cause coup/countercoup and shearing injuries to the brain. no helmet can prevent that.

    So you think the NFL won't exist in 20 years?
    not as it is now.
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • PJ_SoulPJ_Soul Posts: 49,954
    I don't see how anyone thinks concussions in the NFL can be avoided given the nature and rules of the game ... Isn't it just a risk the players have to take or not take? Same as the risk everyone takes when they drive their cars?
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • hedonisthedonist Posts: 24,524
    It is a risk - a known one and as such, a deliberate decision - though I think greater (ie, more likely to occur on a semi-regular basis) than driving a car.
  • WhatYouTaughtMeWhatYouTaughtMe Posts: 4,957
    hedonist said:

    It is a risk - a known one and as such, a deliberate decision - though I think greater (ie, more likely to occur on a semi-regular basis) than driving a car.

    That is why we need to protect our little ones before they can make those types of informed decisions. I don't have an issue with grown men banging their head against a wall if they want.
  • WhatYouTaughtMeWhatYouTaughtMe Posts: 4,957
    Well I guess everyone is overreacting! Football is safer than riding a bike! http://m.espn.go.com/nfl/story?storyId=12507025
  • dignindignin Posts: 9,336
    WhatYouTaughtMe said:

    Well I guess everyone is overreacting! Football is safer than riding a bike! http://m.espn.go.com/nfl/story?storyId=12507025


    Glad that's all settled.
  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 Posts: 23,303
    edited March 2015
    my colleagues on the Rams medical staff would probably have something to say about that.

    this guy studied only 153 cases of CTE. that is like a drop of water in the ocean given the millions of people who have played american football. back in the early 1900s, they tried to ban it because people would actually die on the field.

    in his own abstract : "[T]he incidence of CTE remains unknown due to the lack of large, longitudinal studies."

    these studies are in the works now. again, give it 20 years.
    Post edited by gimmesometruth27 on
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • PJ_SoulPJ_Soul Posts: 49,954
    Either way, I'm not sure what the end goal would be.... Do people think that American football should be changed to a non-contact sport or what??
    A lot of sports are intrinsically dangerous. Some much more so than football. So what?
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • callencallen Posts: 6,388
    We have humans going into ring and beating each other to pulp till one "Gives Up". Women welcomed. Hell we pay more $$$$ to see this. We go to bars and cheer with other humans as one bashes his knee into another's face. YEAHHHHH! Get him. Break his nose.

    We love killing the Evildoers

    We love executing our criminals

    We love us some blood and violence.

    God bless The United States of America.
    10-18-2000 Houston, 04-06-2003 Houston, 6-25-2003 Toronto, 10-8-2004 Kissimmee, 9-4-2005 Calgary, 12-3-05 Sao Paulo, 7-2-2006 Denver, 7-22-06 Gorge, 7-23-2006 Gorge, 9-13-2006 Bern, 6-22-2008 DC, 6-24-2008 MSG, 6-25-2008 MSG
  • Indifference71Indifference71 Posts: 14,844
    callen said:

    We have humans going into ring and beating each other to pulp till one "Gives Up". Women welcomed. Hell we pay more $$$$ to see this. We go to bars and cheer with other humans as one bashes his knee into another's face. YEAHHHHH! Get him. Break his nose.

    We love killing the Evildoers

    We love executing our criminals

    We love us some blood and violence.

    God bless The United States of America.

    So what's your point here?
  • callencallen Posts: 6,388
    edited March 2015
    Football will survive. We love us some violence.

    And the wonderful hypocrisy we have in this country pointing out how other cultures are so bad.

    God bless.
    Post edited by callen on
    10-18-2000 Houston, 04-06-2003 Houston, 6-25-2003 Toronto, 10-8-2004 Kissimmee, 9-4-2005 Calgary, 12-3-05 Sao Paulo, 7-2-2006 Denver, 7-22-06 Gorge, 7-23-2006 Gorge, 9-13-2006 Bern, 6-22-2008 DC, 6-24-2008 MSG, 6-25-2008 MSG
  • jeffbrjeffbr Posts: 7,177
    Getting hit repeatedly by 300lb dudes is going to hurt. These guys have short careers, but they make exceptional money, so they're receiving hazard pay, and are willingly participating. The NFL has continued to make rule changes to improve player safety, often at the expense of entertainment. Athletes are now donating their brains to science after they die to study affects of head injury, and technology continues to evolve regarding safety gear, including sensors being put into helmets to monitor impacts. Regarding the original post, it sounds like it was a wise move for Borland to bow out, and I know I was sorry to see Sydney Rice say goodbye as well. But I don't see football going anywhere. Of course it will look different in 20 years. It currently looks quite different from 20 years ago. And 20 years from now there will still be discussions about improving player safety, and we'll hopefully understand a lot more about the brain and about concussions.
    "I'll use the magic word - let's just shut the fuck up, please." EV, 04/13/08
  • lolobugglolobugg Posts: 8,192
    As long as there are poor kids looking for a way out of their situation, the NFL will always thrive. It might look different. the talent level might slip but it will still be around.

    livefootsteps.org/user/?usr=446

    1995- New Orleans, LA  : New Orleans, LA

    1996- Charleston, SC

    1998- Atlanta, GA: Birmingham, AL: Greenville, SC: Knoxville, TN

    2000- Atlanta, GA: New Orleans, LA: Memphis, TN: Nashville, TN

    2003- Raleigh, NC: Charlotte, NC: Atlanta, GA

    2004- Asheville, NC (hometown show)

    2006- Cincinnati, OH

    2008- Columbia, SC

    2009- Chicago, IL x 2 / Ed Vedder- Atlanta, GA x 2

    2010- Bristow, VA

    2011- Alpine Valley, WI (PJ20) x 2 / Ed Vedder- Chicago, IL

    2012- Atlanta, GA

    2013- Charlotte, NC

    2014- Cincinnati, OH

    2015- New York, NY

    2016- Greenville, SC: Hampton, VA:: Columbia, SC: Raleigh, NC : Lexington, KY: Philly, PA 2: (Wrigley) Chicago, IL x 2 (holy shit): Temple of the Dog- Philly, PA

    2017- ED VED- Louisville, KY

    2018- Chicago, IL x2, Boston, MA x2

    2020- Nashville, TN 

    2022- Smashville 

    2023- Austin, TX x2

    2024- Baltimore

  • Last-12-ExitLast-12-Exit Posts: 8,661
    At this point, the NFL is as powerful as any lobby in Washington. Nothing will change. Sure, less parents will let their kids play football, but there will still be an NFL in 20 years and it won't look much different than today's game. Maybe it will be two hand touch for the QB.
  • Jason PJason P Posts: 19,138
    Not sure why he would give up a few years of paychecks after playing the game for free for the most his life.
  • Jason PJason P Posts: 19,138
    Fans of the NFL don't watch it for the violence. That is an absurd notion.
  • Last-12-ExitLast-12-Exit Posts: 8,661
    Jason P said:

    Fans of the NFL don't watch it for the violence. That is an absurd notion.

    Couldn't agree more.
  • callencallen Posts: 6,388
    edited March 2015
    Hahahahahahahah

    Two opposing teams doing battle. Uniforms cheerleaders. Freakin greek coliseum with lions tigers. We haven't progressed much HA

    Add our military fly byes. Woo hoo!!!!
    Post edited by callen on
    10-18-2000 Houston, 04-06-2003 Houston, 6-25-2003 Toronto, 10-8-2004 Kissimmee, 9-4-2005 Calgary, 12-3-05 Sao Paulo, 7-2-2006 Denver, 7-22-06 Gorge, 7-23-2006 Gorge, 9-13-2006 Bern, 6-22-2008 DC, 6-24-2008 MSG, 6-25-2008 MSG
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