There has been a steady increase in players retiring from the NFL and other contact sports due to do the worry of receiving a life changing head injury. Do you agree with these players decision to leave the game?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/dbrickashaw-ferguson-nfl-early-retirement-no-surprise_us_5707c4d5e4b0c4e26a2273fa
In my opinion it shouldn't matter what the fans think of a player retiring early for his own safety or reasons, it should come down to what that player wants, and if he/she and the organization they play for come to an agreement to terminate or settle the contract they had agreed upon. As the article stated D'Brickishaw Ferguson should be able to make a decision in his own best interest especially when it comes to his own health. It's absolutely ridiculous that fans and organizations cast the player as an outcast if they retired, acting as if they betrayed the entire franchise and acted selfishly. So in conclusion I would love to find a balance where players could prolong their careers without risking their own well-being.
ReplyDeleteIn the end this all comes down to what the player wants. Obviously these players and us fans would rather have these guys play for much longer, but that isn't possible unless the leagues do something about it. The leagues have not made a good effort to fix these problems and it is killing players careers. While I'd prefer some of these players to stay in the game, It isn't my decision and they can do whatever pleases them. I think that the only way to fix this issue is for the leagues to make some major improvements to player equipment.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with the players' decision to leave the NFL in order to preserve their health. However much I want these star players to keep playing, it makes sense why they would leave. The correlation between football and health problems is undeniable. After these players have made millions in the NFL, it doesn't make sense why they wouldn't just retire on the money that they have. To avoid this, the NFL should change some of the rules to prevent these hard hits on the players. For example, in rugby, the players don't even wear helmets and the hits that players take to the head are much less traumatic and happen less often. Management in the NFL should investigate why this happens, however I believe it is because without a helmet hits hurt more and therefore players avoid them.
ReplyDeleteI think it is up to the players decision to leave. Even though there is new technology constantly trying to lower the number of injuries happening in the NFL, it is impossible to be 100 percent safe. I think that players like Calvin Johnson, Marshawn Lynch, and Patrick Willis retiring before 30 is more serious than the NFL will say because they are stopping a sport that they enjoy for health. In conclusion, I do agree with the players decision because if these top players are quitting before 30 years old, there is definitely something wrong.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the other comments that it is totally the players decision to leave. Although it is hard for fans and coaches to see some of their favorite players leaving the game, at the end of the day the player's future health is most important. A lot of players in contact sports who are in their 20s or 30s perfectly healthy now but as they age see serious consequences. This could become a larger trend in which the NFL will have to continue to circulate younger players. To avoid that I think more needs to be done for injuries and equipment.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what the players are deciding to do by leaving early. Millions of dollars is not worth having serious medical conditions down the line such as "brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)". Retiring early helps these player to be able to move on past the game. Football is not gonna be their life forever and planning ahead is a smart thing to do. Players should not be retiring because of doctors telling them that "next hit to my head could possibly kill me”, like in Adrian Coxson case or because there body has started to break down from the game. It all does come down to what the player feels is right for them but I agree that you retire early with money you have and preserve your body in the long run for a enjoyable life ahead.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what everyone has said before me that it is the players decision to leave and only the players decision. It said in the article "Ferguson was a model of durability, playing 10 seasons and never missing a single practice or appearing on the injury report. He started 167 consecutive games with over 10,000 career snaps." Even players that have never had a problem with concussions or injury's are still retiring from the NFl. I think the NFL needs to address this issue. It is a huge risk NFL players are taking just playing in one game. In the end the player wants whats best for him and if its football or retiring for health we all should respect their decision.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with the other comments that it is totally the players decision to leave. Although it is hard for fans and coaches to see some of their favorite players leaving the game, at the end of the day the player's future health is most important. Especially in football there has been many players who have developed cte, making life after football extremely difficult. These players made enough money to where there families are comfortable, and football can lead them to different job oppurtunities. After football these players have jobs being talk hosts, or being involved in football in some way. It is the players life you are talking about so it is totally okay to take off of football and get on with your life, in fear of injury.
ReplyDeleteAs concussion and life-changing injuries are continuing to spiral out of control in the NFL and all levels of football, players are becoming wiser and are starting to make the right decisions. The NFL- being the most competitive level of football- has been in a concussion crisis for many decades. Star players, such as Junior Seau, Mike Webster, and Tyler Sash, are among the most known for CTE related deaths. As research and knowledge on indefinite injuries, like concussions, increases, players are dropping out of the game that they love. The article highlighted the risks of playing and how long-term, thriving lives have become a priority. I believe these players are unequivocally making there right decision, and it should fully be up to them. Stigmatizing these players for focusing on their health is unacceptable and dangerous. Unfotunately, many more players, of all sports, are going to be diagnosed with issues from sports as time goes on. Hopefully awareness will prevail and players will chose what's right for them, not their franchise.
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ReplyDeletePersonally, I do not agree with the descion, however I understand why some people do choose to leave the game with the severity of the injuries. I have been playing football since 6th grade and I simply could not imagine my life without it, and do not think that I could give it up for anything. I did experience a relatively severe head injury at the end of this football season yet I still have the same feelings. The game is too important to me to leave. Yes, the risks are great but I value something that I love now over the future. That may sound crazy to many people but I ask you to try to give up something that you love more than anything in the world. Football is that for me, and it is that for many who play. This is why the sport continues to be popular even with the danger that it comes with.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the players decisions to leave the game early. Like many people have said before me it is their decision to make because it's their body they are putting on the line play after play. Many of these players are deciding against millions of dollars for the chance of staying healthy after their NFL career. For example the article talks about Ferguson who is retiring at 32 even though he could still spend more time in the league and make a lot more money. The players don't want to be plagued with CTE which would destroy their life, so they have the right to leave if they want to.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with the players and the other comments. I feel retirement is the players decision and that fans should not alter on what the player thinks. After reading how that 87 out of 91 players tested positive for CTE, I understand what the player like Ferguson are thinking. Athletes like this want to be able to enjoy their life and not have to suffer from CTE. It isn't right for a player retiring healthy to look like an outcast to the fans. Retiring is completely up to the player and other people should not intervene based on the players decisions.
ReplyDeleteYes I agree with the players decisions to leave the game. It should be the players decision and only the players decision whether he can retire or not. It is also unacceptable for them to get treated poorly for making a sensible decision for their own health. These people are humans and need to think not only about their short term needs, but also about the long term consequences of playing football. If we tear them apart as fans for leaving the game they might play the game and ultimately hurt themselves. As the article stated, "87 out of 91 former NFL players tested positive in September 2015 for the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is believed to stem from repeated hits to the head." If we try to keep players in the game instead of leaving them the option to protect themselves then more and more players will end up with CTE later in their life. It is important to remember that these people are humans and have lives and are not only on earth to entertain us. They have basic rights too and should be allowed to utilize them without regretting it.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with these players' decisions to leave the game early. Over the past couple of years, while some attention has been drawn to concussions in football, there is still not enough focus on the dangers of head injuries. The decision to retire early in order to preserve longterm health and wellbeing is a smart one and while it must be a difficult decision for these players to make, they should be applauded. While they may be missing out on playing the game that they enjoy most in life, and losing their enormous salaries, they are more than football players, and deserve the chance to avoid longterm brain damage.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the players’ decision to leave the game due to risk of brain damage. Ultimately, the player’s health should be the deciding factor in their career. If their health is at risk, like some of the football players who suffered from numerous head injuries, then they should absolutely have control on their contract. Even when the decision for a player to quit professional sports may seem difficult, as they sacrifice their lifestyle and job; but the risk of permanent brain damage outweighs any reason not to retire early.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with players being able to decide whether or not to leave their sport of choice. Injuries to the head can be life threatening and ultimately deadly. We've seen the names of players who have died as a result of these brain injuries (Junior Seau, Mike Webster etc). More than that, players with these injuries are susceptible to diseases involving the brain. Former Jets DT Mark Gastineau recently announced that he has early onset dementia, which is a deteriorative illness. These brain injuries aren't immediate, which is why they are so hard to detect. However later on in life, they can cause bodily harm to players, which has lead to death. That's why having the ability to bow out if you think that you are being affected by a contact sport like football, you should have the ability to bow out. Head injuries aren't the only problem with football either. Former all-star player Calvin Johnson, who abruptly retired in 2015, claimed that NFL teams were abusing prescription drugs to avoid pain and to play through potential injuries. Head injuries may be the most common type of life threatening injury, but being forced to play through injury is a whole different story, and a potential new element in an ever-changing sport. Players clearly should be able to bow out of football if they choose to do so, because there's only so much they can take. Being hit in the head repeatedly has been scientifically proven to cause CTE and other deteriorative illnesses. Sometimes, its safe to hang up the boots and call it quits if you feel that your life could be endangered.
ReplyDeleteI agree with players decision to leave the game early due to concerns of long term head injury from contact sports. Fans may not agree when they hear a player retired after only a few years because they don't actually play the sport so they don't truly understand. These contact sport professional athletes endure painful, repeated hits to the head (specifically NFL). This causes long term injuries like developing CTE or Dementia in a lot of cases. These injuries aren't worth someone staying a couple extra years, only to be at risk of developing these life altering long term injuries.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, I believe that the player must do what they want based on how comfortable they feel with these serious head injuries they could possibly suffer. While many fans may not agree with the decision that these players are making, they have to realize that they are human beings and cannot just take constant hits to the head without any implications. The players retiring at young ages while healthy is just them being cautious for potential injury the next year or just for the sake of saving their bodies from being worn and torn for when they are older. The athletes are constantly getting blocked in the head, hitting with their head, and being smashed against the ground by other 200+ pound men. Like the article said, this is causing long term injuries with players that is affecting their lives in the future. In my opinion these serious injuries could be something that would cause many other players to follow what Ferguson is doing and begin to retire earlier as well.
ReplyDeleteIf a football player is willing to turn down millions of dollars a year to play a sport because of pain, you know that the pain is legitimate. It should be up to the players entirely whether or not they should play, as they have to put themselves and their families ahead of everyone else. As someone born into a family of Detroit Lions fans, I know almost every member of that fan base was thankful for Calvin Johnson's contributions to the team and understood and respected his decision to retire. Football is a completely brutal sport and the NFL tried their best to sweep the several early retirements we've seen under the rug, especially compared to celebratory retirements for other players in other sports such as Derek Jeter and Kobe Bryant. It's obvious that the NFL does not want it's fans to realize the serious, long-term injuries that can result from football, but we have already seen a major decrease in youth football enrollment. Lack of enrollment in football creates a lack of interest and less talent, which could lead to some major problems a few decades in the future for the NFL. I was the only kid out of everyone I knew when I was young who had parents that refused to allow me to play youth football because of injury risk. Although it always upset me at the time, I now understand and thank them for their decision, a decision that is now more common. As football continues to evolve, we will certainly be seeing more injuries and early retirements, which could lead to a decline in the NFL.
ReplyDeleteToday, these athletes are retiring not because of age, but because of injury. Due to the progression of since proving that concussions are extremely dangerous and a person playing football have an increased chance, people are more focused on taking care of their body and not sacrificing their body for the game. These players have worked everyday of their youth and in college to be successful i the NFL and love to play football, but they realize after their fourth or fifth concussion, it is not worth it anymore. Now, these players are stuck in a dilemma that they are concussed which can still have affects on the brain, and they could potentially would need a different jobs. Remember that these athletes went to college to play football and did not have much time to study, so some of these athletes will have to go back to college. I think that the NFL should create a charity for injured athletes who risked their lives everyday for entertainment and if they can't play anymore, it would work as a back up so that they are not left homeless. Also, these athletes rarely get to see their family, it is such a huge time commitment, so if they get injured and have to go back to college, then they will see the children even less. I agree with these athletes to stop playing either for a few years to recover or retiring because if they get more concussions when they retire, they would have to live with the consequences everyday. And these concussions can occur during practice too. I think that they don't leave the game because they don't want to play, it's because they are injured. In addition, it is very hard and emotional to retire while these young athletes are pressured by the community, coaches, and teammates to be the very best. Tom Brady has to live with huge expectations, so if he were to mess up, people would dislike him during his young career. This is the same for these athletes who retire early who have been pressured to succeed everyday ever since they started to play.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree. I believe that football and other contact sports lead to multiple head injuries which overall create mental problems, involving depression and other intense problems. These constant head issues involve traumatic brain damage which also changes your ways of life including loss of IQ, appetite is compromised, and it has lead to suicide in some cases with athletes. If the athlete truly believes it is time to drop their athletic careers, than it is probably for the best and a good idea. No money in the world should compromise your health.
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