In response to RockScully's comment:

This is ridiculous.  Here is my question:   Why aren''t more players from older eras victimized by concussions? WHy is this really only about players who have recently retired? Sure, Alex Karras was affected, but how many others feel the way Karras did? 

It smells sort of like a proactive strike backed by lawsuits to me more than anything else.

I am not making light of this, but could it be these guys made a ton of money, loved the game, and are using this concussion thing as an excuse?

Can't the depression or suicidal thoughts be due to the fact you aren't in control, aren't making millions anymore and maybe are struggling financially?

I have more sympathy for Marc Savard from the Bruins. The guy was absolutely cold cocked on a dirty hit from the blind side, to the point he hasn't played since. His ONLY concussion.  He's depressed, his career is over, he can't skate, can't do physical things, etc, but that was ONE dirty hit.

Why is it that it's about multiple concussions these guys shook off as players and are now looking to almost grasp for excuses as to why they're depressed?

I would suggest having a post career plan, realizing you were lucky enough to play a game at a high level and were lucky enough it paid so well for so long.

Some of these millionaire players need to realize there are millions of people hurting from an economic disaster that has destroyed people's retirements, for example. Or careers.   For the general public to fall for this as some slam dunk excuse for former players' depression is ridiculous.

There is no proof having sustained concussions drives former players to automatic depression and suicide.

You are so far off base a pick off is inevitable!!!

300 pound men are now running sub 4.6 40's 

Steriods and other Legal and Illegal substances over the last few decades has seen an increase in size and speed across the board.

Last but MOST importantly..THE EQUIPMENT!!! Rugby players suffer astronomically lower rates of brain trauma even tho they wear little to no head gear. As someone who played Pop Warner from the late 70 to my one and only tryout in 93, I've seen how the "advancements" in "Protection" have created a sense of invisiblitly in our modern players. We didn't lead with our heads much like rugby players back then because IT HURT!!!

I remember the 1st year we switched from the then tradional removable foam padding in our helmets to the blow up air pads you fit to size by pumping up the pads with a ball pump. Our 1st reaction as kids was to slam our heads into anything we could because it barely hurt at all....(the brain still collides with the inside of the skull which is the cause of the long term damage) 

To compare todays player to even 1990 is absurd and only shows your complete lack of knowledge on the situation. Everyone thought Bernard Pollard was overstating his views but as someone who understands the random piercing pain that comes with more frequency, I agree that something has to drastically change or it will get way worse!!!

In response to RockScully's comment:

In response to danemcmenamin's comment:

In response to LittleTimmy31's comment:

Maybe if the players would fill their helmets with the proper amount of air and tighten the chin straps the way they should be, some of these concussions could be avoided. It seems like every game we see on tv, a helmet flies off someone because the head gear is not set up properly.

Just sayin.....

Just take away the helmets, they're the main problem. I have to say I feel bad for Harrison in fact I feel bad for anyone who thinks they may become a vegetable but at the end of the day they did do it to themselves, you think he didn't feel every single hit he laid on? it would be silly to think otherwise, there had to be some level of suspicion that he was damaging himself at the time. I mean if you smash a helmet off your arm or leg it's going to hurt! Anyway I feel the helmets are the problem, i'd like to see if there are still head to head hits without helmets....I some how doubt it. No more helmet to joint hits either. I mean think about it, what are the helmets protecting against? To me it seems like they're there to protect against helmet to helmet hits. Think about that!  

Go read The Big Scrum: How Teddy Roosevelt Saved Football (great book) and you'll realize helmets are necessary.

Literally, in the early 20th and late 19th century, people were DYING on the field during games or after games because they didn't wear helmets. This was pre-forward pass.

It's the speed, strength and size combo that is really the issue. Also, poor tackling techniques over the past 25 years or so are also at fault.

Hey, its in a book so it has to be real.. What was the national mortality rate back then.  

In response to RockScully's comment:

This is ridiculous.  Here is my question:   Why aren''t more players from older eras victimized by concussions? WHy is this really only about players who have recently retired? Sure, Alex Karras was affected, but how many others feel the way Karras did? 

It smells sort of like a proactive strike backed by lawsuits to me more than anything else.

I am not making light of this, but could it be these guys made a ton of money, loved the game, and are using this concussion thing as an excuse?

Can't the depression or suicidal thoughts be due to the fact you aren't in control, aren't making millions anymore and maybe are struggling financially?

I have more sympathy for Marc Savard from the Bruins. The guy was absolutely cold cocked on a dirty hit from the blind side, to the point he hasn't played since. His ONLY concussion.  He's depressed, his career is over, he can't skate, can't do physical things, etc, but that was ONE dirty hit.

Why is it that it's about multiple concussions these guys shook off as players and are now looking to almost grasp for excuses as to why they're depressed?

I would suggest having a post career plan, realizing you were lucky enough to play a game at a high level and were lucky enough it paid so well for so long.

Some of these millionaire players need to realize there are millions of people hurting from an economic disaster that has destroyed people's retirements, for example. Or careers.   For the general public to fall for this as some slam dunk excuse for former players' depression is ridiculous.

There is no proof having sustained concussions drives former players to automatic depression and suicide.

You are so far off base a pick off is inevitable!!!

300 pound men are now running sub 4.6 40's 

Steriods and other Legal and Illegal substances over the last few decades has seen an increase in size and speed across the board.

Last but MOST importantly..THE EQUIPMENT!!! Rugby players suffer astronomically lower rates of brain trauma even tho they wear little to no head gear. As someone who played Pop Warner from the late 70 to my one and only tryout in 93, I've seen how the "advancements" in "Protection" have created a sense of invisiblitly in our modern players. We didn't lead with our heads much like rugby players back then because IT HURT!!!

I remember the 1st year we switched from the then tradional removable foam padding in our helmets to the blow up air pads you fit to size by pumping up the pads with a ball pump. Our 1st reaction as kids was to slam our heads into anything we could because it barely hurt at all....(the brain still collides with the inside of the skull which is the cause of the long term damage) 

To compare todays player to even 1990 is absurd and only shows your complete lack of knowledge on the situation. Everyone thought Bernard Pollard was overstating his views but as someone who understands the random piercing pain that comes with more frequency, I agree that something has to drastically change or it will get way worse!!!

And many fans whine when they try to install a few rules to protect the players. Duh.

This is ridiculous.  Here is my question:   Why aren''t more players from older eras victimized by concussions? WHy is this really only about players who have recently retired? Sure, Alex Karras was affected, but how many others feel the way Karras did? 

It smells sort of like a proactive strike backed by lawsuits to me more than anything else.

I am not making light of this, but could it be these guys made a ton of money, loved the game, and are using this concussion thing as an excuse?

Can't the depression or suicidal thoughts be due to the fact you aren't in control, aren't making millions anymore and maybe are struggling financially?

I have more sympathy for Marc Savard from the Bruins. The guy was absolutely cold cocked on a dirty hit from the blind side, to the point he hasn't played since. His ONLY concussion.  He's depressed, his career is over, he can't skate, can't do physical things, etc, but that was ONE dirty hit.

Why is it that it's about multiple concussions these guys shook off as players and are now looking to almost grasp for excuses as to why they're depressed?

I would suggest having a post career plan, realizing you were lucky enough to play a game at a high level and were lucky enough it paid so well for so long.

Some of these millionaire players need to realize there are millions of people hurting from an economic disaster that has destroyed people's retirements, for example. Or careers.   For the general public to fall for this as some slam dunk excuse for former players' depression is ridiculous.

There is no proof having sustained concussions drives former players to automatic depression and suicide.

No, no, no.   This is about money. That's what it's about. The NFL has prospered so much the last 10 years, that lawsuits galore and very irresponsible millionaires, whom we just learned blew a lot of their money, became depressed because they lost control. Now, they want to be reimbursed for their sacrifices.

Let me know when Marc Savard commits suicide.

It ain't happening because Marc Savard didn't blow all his money and act like a victim as way to cash in.

Just because a concussion does some damage to the brain, doesn't automatically translate to depression and suicide.  

Some of you are morons galore. 

No, no, no.   This is about money. That's what it's about. The NFL has prospered so much the last 10 years, that lawsuits galore and very irresponsible millionaires, whom we just learned blew a lot of their money, became depressed because they lost control. Now, they want to be reimbursed for their sacrifices.

Let me know when Marc Savard commits suicide.

It ain't happening because Marc Savard didn't blow all his money and act like a victim as way to cash in.

Just because a concussion does some damage to the brain, doesn't automatically translate to depression and suicide.  

Some of you are morons galore. 

In response to BabeParilli's comment:

In response to PATSthebest's comment:

 cigarette smokers get cancer from cigarette smoking? Yet they still do it?

That straw man suffers from the fact that nobody is enticing persons to smoke by offering them millions to do it.

They are enticing them by chemical highs. People just don't smoke for no reason it's because of a chemical high they enjoy. Same as players don't beat their bodies to a pulp because they enjoy it they do it because they enjoy the money that comes with it.

In response to PatsEng's comment:

In response to BabeParilli's comment:

In response to PATSthebest's comment:

 cigarette smokers get cancer from cigarette smoking? Yet they still do it?

That straw man suffers from the fact that nobody is enticing persons to smoke by offering them millions to do it.

They are enticing them by chemical highs. People just don't smoke for no reason it's because of a chemical high they enjoy. Same as players don't beat their bodies to a pulp because they enjoy it they do it because they enjoy the money that comes with it.

And how many billions have tobacco companies paid in damages?

Sometimes saying other people are responsible for their own actions is a convenient way to avoid taking any responsibility yourself.  One of the most profound ethical statements ever made was this in Dostoevsky's Brothers Karamazov: 

For know, dear ones, that every one of us is undoubtedly responsible for all

men—and everything on earth, not merely through the general

sinfulness of creation, but each one personally for all mankind and

every individual man. This knowledge is the crown of life for the

monk and for every man.

It takes a brave soul indeed to take responsibility personally for all mankind and every individual man.  Few of us can live up to that (me the least).  But it's something to think about everytime you're tempted to say "I'm not responsible . . ." 

In response to prolate0spheroid's comment:

Sometimes saying other people are responsible for their own actions is a convenient way to avoid taking any responsibility yourself.  One of the most profound ethical statements ever made was this in Dostoevsky's Brothers Karamazov: 

For know, dear ones, that every one of us is undoubtedly responsible for all

men—and everything on earth, not merely through the general

sinfulness of creation, but each one personally for all mankind and

every individual man. This knowledge is the crown of life for the

monk and for every man.

It takes a brave soul indeed to take responsibility personally for all mankind and every individual man.  Few of us can live up to that (me the least).  But it's something to think about everytime you're tempted to say "I'm not responsible . . ." 

So you're saying I caused Juniors death? Did you cause drunk drivers to drive into poles because you aren't more vocal? You should be arrested for taking responsibility since appearently you have the ability to prevent it. There are certain things in life you can and can't control. I don't have the resources nor ability to change the NFL culture and you have seen me many times on here denounce head hits from our own players, so don't give me that BS. Not a single fan is forcing them to hit people in the head. Not a single fan can force them to cause injury to another player. Not a single fan can do anything about it either because we can't get to them and tell them to stop. Where your statement holds water is looking at the stars in the league. Brady, Brees, Manning, Rodgers those are players that can affect culture change and stand up to take responsibility but all you are doing is trying to shift the blame onto people who have no control over it to begin with. It's the, it's all our faults this happened, mentallity when it isn't. These are grown men not children. They make up their own minds on what is right and what is wrong. If they chose what is wrong that's on them not on me. But, if you want to enact change and feel you are personally responsible for it then what you personally can do is stop watching the games, buying merchandise, and protesting the hits to your hearts content otherwise you are part of the problem according to your own statemente and therefore I don 

In response to PatsEng's comment:

In response to prolate0spheroid's comment:

Sometimes saying other people are responsible for their own actions is a convenient way to avoid taking any responsibility yourself.  One of the most profound ethical statements ever made was this in Dostoevsky's Brothers Karamazov: 

For know, dear ones, that every one of us is undoubtedly responsible for all

men—and everything on earth, not merely through the general

sinfulness of creation, but each one personally for all mankind and

every individual man. This knowledge is the crown of life for the

monk and for every man.

It takes a brave soul indeed to take responsibility personally for all mankind and every individual man.  Few of us can live up to that (me the least).  But it's something to think about everytime you're tempted to say "I'm not responsible . . ." 

So you're saying I caused Juniors death? Did you cause drunk drivers to drive into poles because you aren't more vocal? You should be arrested for taking responsibility since appearently you have the ability to prevent it. There are certain things in life you can and can't control. I don't have the resources nor ability to change the NFL culture and you have seen me many times on here denounce head hits from our own players, so don't give me that BS. Not a single fan is forcing them to hit people in the head. Not a single fan can force them to cause injury to another player. Not a single fan can do anything about it either because we can't get to them and tell them to stop. Where your statement holds water is looking at the stars in the league. Brady, Brees, Manning, Rodgers those are players that can affect culture change and stand up to take responsibility but all you are doing is trying to shift the blame onto people who have no control over it to begin with. It's the, it's all our faults this happened, mentallity when it isn't. These are grown men not children. They make up their own minds on what is right and what is wrong. If they chose what is wrong that's on them not on me. But, if you want to enact change and feel you are personally responsible for it then what you personally can do is stop watching the games, buying merchandise, and protesting the hits to your hearts content otherwise you are part of the problem according to your own statemente and therefore I don 

If you want to hold yourself to the highest ethical standard you accept responsibility for all evil and try to the best of your ability to make it better. Sure no one can solve all the world's problems or act in a perfect way. We're all limited and imperfect as human beings. But the one thing you can do is never say, "Well I'm not responsible, someone else is, and therefore I don't need to care or try." When you dismiss the suffering of any one, you are doing that, and in my opinion acting in an ethically weak and cowardly way.