Sports Reporters
S.S.
The lawsuit brought against the NFL by some 4,500 former players regarding compensation for concussions has finally been settled. The NFL agreed to pay $765 million for injury settlements, medical benefits for retired players and funding for medical and safety research.
Former players argue that the NFL did not properly warn them of the dangers of concussions, and that the NFL did not do all it could to help the players negatively affected by those injuries.
Should the NFL be held accountable for concussion-related injuries?
E.S.
No. The risk of getting injured will always be there while playing any professional sport, especially in a sport as violent as football. Chances are if you’re going to play football you are going to get hurt sometime during your career. I think it’s foolish that people are holding the league accountable for something they can’t really control.
S.S.
While former and current NFL players know the risk of physical injury is present, the NFL did not do enough while these former players were still in the league, and haven’t done enough for them after retirement. In order to protect the future of the game and its players, the NFL must protect its past to reassure no further damage is done to the players already suffering. The league invests in these players to improve the “business” that is the NFL and it must protect those investments.
E.S.
Should the rules be changed so that football isn’t so violent? Eventually, football isn’t even going to be football anymore. In football, you’re going to get hit hard over and over again. It’s part of the game. So when you take that away what will it become, flag football? Yes, it is unfortunate that ex-players have developed brain injuries, but it’s a well-known fact that concussions are bad for your brain. The NFL has done what they can by making certain tackles illegal.
As a professional athlete making hundreds of thousands of dollars or maybe even millions, they should be aware of the consequences of the game. No one is putting a gun next to these players’ heads forcing them to play football. Why do these athletes think they’re getting paid so much money? It’s because the game is physically demanding and potentially dangerous.
S.S.
Yes, the NFL is definitely changing and creating rules, and concussions will always be a part of the game regardless of those rules. I do, however, believe this $765 million dollar settlement is the best thing for the NFL and its players; past, present and future.
The players needing the most financial help will receive it fairly quickly, money from the settlement put towards research could reduce the frequency and impacts of concussions, and it will bring the spotlight back to the entertainment of the game.
The NFL also grosses between $9 and $10 billion every year, so the settlement paid over several years won’t hurt the league financially.
In the end, players become more protected and the game can continue to be played.
scschroc@mavs.coloradomesa.edu, esuch@mavs.coloradomesa.edu
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