For a very long time, concussions have haunted all levels of the game of football. And for the most part, those injuries have been overlooked. A concussion can be defined as a collision between a person’s head, and another surface (Miller). Concussions can be found not only be found in the game of football, but also in car accidents and other falls. According to The McGeorge Law Review “A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that occurs when the head or body receives a blow that causes the brain to accelerate and decelerate quickly in the skull.” (Hunsucker). In those cases the contact will more than likely be made with another surface like your steering wheel or the ground. But in the game of football, a majority of concussions occur when a player suffers head on contact with another player.
…show more content…
Sometimes causing a concussion for both players. A concussion is not your everyday injury as well. They do not heal with no lingering effects. Because of this concussions are deemed significant because the long term effects can be devastating. With each concussion that a player suffers, his risk of the disease CTE, increases as well. CTE, formerly known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, is a deadly disease founded by Dr. Bennett Omalu, which is caused by concussions that rots the brain makes one go mad (Miller). It is most common in retired players, many years after they retire from the game. The path to the end of the disease is quite frightening as well as it drives the stricken individual to death via some sort of suicide. Even though players may assume the risk of football, more action should be pursued because players today are still sustaining concussions, the risks of CTE, and the risks of other long term effects that players are, and will, suffer from. Some seem to make the case that these injuries are all a part of the game and should be treated accordingly. They make statements like, injuries happen at every job and they assume the risk as well. Former Chicago Bear great and NFL legend Brian Urlacher also takes a unique stance on the issue. ‘"If you don 't want to play and get concussed, then don 't play," Urlacher said. "It 's your career, it 's your life.”’(Copeland). Brain like many other players in the league, assumed the risk and played out a 13 year career in the NFL. The case has also been made that the ability for being diagnosed for a concussion has gone up due to precautionary measures made by the NFL and other levels (Seifert). Therefore concussions aren’t nearly as bad as they once were, because of both lower standards, and the new technology that the game is now implementing to make the game safer. Essentially, to many, concussions aren’t much to worry about and think that CTE will not affect current players when they age. The scary part is that some of the most influential people are on this side of the issue. Many of the big wig executives, and players of the NFL take this stance in effort to keep the game running smoothly. For many this is their life, and it is as if someone is taking that from them. You would think that concussions are in the past and that we have a cure for them by now. But that is far from the truth. In today’s game concussions seem to be more prevalent than ever. In fact, the number of diagnosed concussions rose 58 percent from 2014 to 2015. That number is a huge jump, and jumped to the highest number of concussions in the past four seasons (Seifert). A concussion is not like your basic injury that many players go through. Nor is it like the devastating ACL tear, which includes a yearlong recovery process in the knee area. The concussion can lead to many long term problems unique from those problems you see in other injuries. Because of those long term problems, you would also think that players would shy away from the game if serious health problems are a potential threat. This however is once again not the case as players take the injury head on, literally. Even with concussions occurring in today’s
Sometimes causing a concussion for both players. A concussion is not your everyday injury as well. They do not heal with no lingering effects. Because of this concussions are deemed significant because the long term effects can be devastating. With each concussion that a player suffers, his risk of the disease CTE, increases as well. CTE, formerly known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, is a deadly disease founded by Dr. Bennett Omalu, which is caused by concussions that rots the brain makes one go mad (Miller). It is most common in retired players, many years after they retire from the game. The path to the end of the disease is quite frightening as well as it drives the stricken individual to death via some sort of suicide. Even though players may assume the risk of football, more action should be pursued because players today are still sustaining concussions, the risks of CTE, and the risks of other long term effects that players are, and will, suffer from. Some seem to make the case that these injuries are all a part of the game and should be treated accordingly. They make statements like, injuries happen at every job and they assume the risk as well. Former Chicago Bear great and NFL legend Brian Urlacher also takes a unique stance on the issue. ‘"If you don 't want to play and get concussed, then don 't play," Urlacher said. "It 's your career, it 's your life.”’(Copeland). Brain like many other players in the league, assumed the risk and played out a 13 year career in the NFL. The case has also been made that the ability for being diagnosed for a concussion has gone up due to precautionary measures made by the NFL and other levels (Seifert). Therefore concussions aren’t nearly as bad as they once were, because of both lower standards, and the new technology that the game is now implementing to make the game safer. Essentially, to many, concussions aren’t much to worry about and think that CTE will not affect current players when they age. The scary part is that some of the most influential people are on this side of the issue. Many of the big wig executives, and players of the NFL take this stance in effort to keep the game running smoothly. For many this is their life, and it is as if someone is taking that from them. You would think that concussions are in the past and that we have a cure for them by now. But that is far from the truth. In today’s game concussions seem to be more prevalent than ever. In fact, the number of diagnosed concussions rose 58 percent from 2014 to 2015. That number is a huge jump, and jumped to the highest number of concussions in the past four seasons (Seifert). A concussion is not like your basic injury that many players go through. Nor is it like the devastating ACL tear, which includes a yearlong recovery process in the knee area. The concussion can lead to many long term problems unique from those problems you see in other injuries. Because of those long term problems, you would also think that players would shy away from the game if serious health problems are a potential threat. This however is once again not the case as players take the injury head on, literally. Even with concussions occurring in today’s