Everyone has heard about players in the NFL getting injured, many of these injuries being along the lines of head trauma and concussions. The mechanism of injury of a concussion produces enough harm alone, but the damage doesn’t stop at the time of impact. Victims may find themselves suffering from permanent brain damage years later. Hundreds of current and former NFL players have experienced concussions, but some of them are facing these long-term effects and are now trying to do something about it.
Over a hundred former players are filing lawsuits against the NFL for hiding from the possible neurological dangers of playing in the league. Those involved with the lawsuits claim that the NFL did not offer enough of a warning to the players about the risks associated with concussions, even though information has been available since the early 1920s. The players argue, though, that the information was not just withheld, but that information offered was misleading. They say that the league knew of the consequences but used biased internal studies, leading the players to believe a much smaller chance existed of suffering from long-term problems.
The biggest concern, in regards to the long-term effects of head trauma, is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). This is a degenerative disease of the brain caused by repetitive head trauma. Variable amounts of time can pass from the time of an accident until notable changes in the brain occur. Memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, depression, and progressive dementia are all associated with CTE.
Many former NFL players have suffered from this degenerative brain disease and unfortunately it has cost many of them their lives. Justin Strzelczyk, a former offensive lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers, died in a car crash caused by hallucinations he was having. Very recently, former NFL linebacker Junior Seau was found dead of a self inflicted gunshot to the chest. The emotional and psychological effects of CTE have taken the lives of many.
Jim McMahon, a former quarterback for multiple NFL teams, is playing a major role in the lawsuit. He tells about his trouble with short-term memory and the problems it has caused him:
Though it is a horrible thing to see these iconic players struggling, some even losing their lives, the NFL is ready to fight the lawsuits. The league has plenty of defenses lined up, however they are hoping for the lawsuits to be dismissed. One of their biggest counterarguments is the assumption of risk that players signed off for before playing in the league. Players learned the game long before playing for the NFL and were aware that the game is intended to chance injuries. There is also no definite cause for any victims’ suffering. Before entering the NFL, players obviously participated in the sport for years prior. There is no evidence that the effects some of these players suffer from are caused directly by their participation in the NFL rather than accidents happening throughout high school or college. Though CTE is caused by numerous accounts of head trauma, doubts are raised that these incidents related to the degenerative brain disease are solely due to partaking in the NFL.
Despite the fact that the players knew the risks associated with what they were signing up for, they cannot be blamed. They are football players, not medical doctors. Their job is to play the game while the leagues job is to care for their players. They have tried to increase the safety of their athletes in December of 2011 by creating a new concussion protocol, which is one step in the right direction, but is not nearly enough. Considering the dangers related to the concussions obtained on a regular basis in this sport, the NFL would benefit, and avoid further lawsuits, if they educated their athletes more and further warned them of the extensive risks they are taking.