The NFL, Congress, & football – The way the game is played
I know, I know, this is an unusual post for me. I do not generally write about sports related issues, but as I begin to hear and read about the hearings held by Congress today, I decided to make an exception.
Those of you who do not know me personally have no idea that I grew up listening to the Oklahoma Sooners and the Dallas Cowboys
on the radio. It was an every Saturday and Sunday tradition for me and my twin brother to sit in our room and tune in the radio. This was in the era of Barry Switzer, Joe Washington, and Billy Sims, Tom Landry, Roger Staubach and Tony Dorsett. The Selmon brothers from Eufaula, Oklahoma and the Doomsday Defense of the Cowboys. I would be lying if I said it wasn’t fun, but even by just listening on the radio, it was clear that football was a violent sport. The very nature of the game insists on hard and fast contact. When two players collide at full speed, even with all the pads and the helmet, someone may very well get hurt.
Now that we have television (some of you do, but I do not), the hard hits are even more evident. Throw in the instant replay that is being utilized and they are seen over and over by the fans and anyone else who happens to be watching the screen. As I have said, I do not follow sports and I do not have a television, but those of you who do, answer this question. Are long scoring plays the only ones that are shown on the replays or do they also show those plays that include a tremendous hit at the end? I think I know the answer, but you can clue me in.
As with any long-term or repetitive activity, there are bound to be repercussions and those are becoming more and more evident. With the advent of studies and data on the long-term damage the hard hitting does to the human body, it is clear that damage is being done, some of it irreversible. Of the most concern is the damage to the heads and brains of former NFL players, those who have had repeated concussions. The NFL has even done it’s own study that shows there may be a link between those concussions and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as other memory afflictions.
Reading through some of the news about the Congressional hearings today, there was one thing that stuck out to me. From The Associated Press:
Gay Culverhouse, former president of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, said that NFL team doctors are not player advocates, and called for an independent neurologist to be on the sidelines.
“Players get to a point where they refuse to tell the team doctor that they have suffered a concussion … (because) they know there is a backup player sitting on the bench, waiting to take their position,” Culverhouse said.
“They are a disposable commodity,” she added. “There is a draft coming up every April and these players fight to hold on to their jobs and they welcome shots and anything else that will keep them on the field. This is, in my mind, inhumane, and I watched it since the early ’70s, and I will tell you that it has not changed.”
If her statement is accurate, then something needs to be done to protect the players. Even if the team doctors are being paid by the team, their first concern should be the players and under no circumstances should the bottom line of the team or the doctor interfere with that priority. If the NFL and the teams allowing that to happen, it is indeed a travesty.
Now to the real question of this post. Can someone explain to me why Congress is getting in the middle of this debate? I know it affects a lot of people, with some the number of NFL retirees numbering over 10,000, but what can they do to fix whatever problem is occurring? Does it even fall under their purview? The only way injuries are going to be avoided is to reduce or eliminate the contact in football. Point of fact, if you take away the contact, you take away some of the allure of the sport, both for the players and the fans. If Congress gets their hands on the issue, all bets are off. Are they going to pass a law that restricts how hard football players can hit each other? Try telling that to Adrian Peterson and see how far it goes. As Texas Representative Ted Poe said about possible Congressional involvement in football, “we’d all be playing touch football”.
The NFL definitely has some problems when it comes to protecting the players and with the team doctors. There is a conflict of interest there. The NFL has made strides in player protection with new rules that are always being implemented. It is a highly competitive sport and most of the contracts aren’t guaranteed so a player feels more pressure to perform every week, which can be a good thing as long as that player isn’t masking a potentially serious injury.
As for congress, it certainly seems like there are more important things for them to worry about. A few years ago they held the hearings on steroid use in baseball. Another waste of time if you ask me.
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Yes, there are certainly issues that need to be addressed. That is why they have the player’s union, is it not? If Congress gets involved, the players will all be running at half speed to prevent injury. I wonder what that legislation will be called?
That is what the players union is supposed to be for. Some would say they are too close to the owners, but still how is this congress’ business? If being involved in this issue delays congress from passing healthcare reform or cap and trade than the diversion is welcome in my book.
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Almost any sport one can play will have some side-effects many which are long term. These guys I’m sure are aware of the chances they take and choose to play the game and thats fine with me. Congress should keep hands off. I’m quite tired of hearing about all the chances I’m taking with the type car I drive, my cell phone on my ear, the food I’m eating—christ their is nothing, and I mean nothing that doesn’t carry a chance of sickness or accident. Maybe I shouldn’t leave the house in the morning for fear of being hit by a falling acorn or limb. Danger is everywhere and nothing we will ever be able to do will decrease that. For in correcting one thing we will create another danger. People make a living on finding danger and politicians get votes by saying they fixed them—bull crap! The sky as always been falling and there is nothing puny man can do about it.
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Oh…I see it coming. A football bailout for injured players! I have a question. Is there ANYTHING that our representatives DON’T think they should be involved in anymore. I mean really…
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Given the attitude of some in Washington, I wouldn’t put a football bailout past them at all.
No worries about editing the post. I got your back on that one.
I’m not in favor of Congress regulating much of anything, the NFL included. Clearly, there are some problems including all of the concussions, some of which leads to brain damage. Better helmuts, stronger rules (you’re tossed from the game and fined if you hit someone in a certain way) and the like can help. But those changes need to come from the pro establishment, not from lawmakers in The Hill.
I can see where this is going: soon, we’ll be watching flag football games instead of the rock ‘em, sock ‘em NFL. After all, the men have been wearing pink a lot lately! (wink*wink)
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My sentiments exactly, Matt. Congress needs to keep their hands off.
This is what I suspect will happen. Look for them to start at a local or collegiate level and work their way up.
If Congress doesn’t take it to football on the college level, then the Knight Commission may due that dirty deed for them. I’ve supplied a link with or beside my name to a recent story about this topic. University presidents are lining up in support too!
Matt Keegan´s last blog ..$80.5 Million Settlement For University of Phoenix Wrongdoings
Good question, Larry-what the heck is Congress doing wasting time on this issue? Ridiculous.
Culverhouse herself seems to bring more questions to issue resolution with this:
“Players get to a point where they refuse to tell the team doctor that they have suffered a concussion … (because) they know there is a backup player sitting on the bench, waiting to take their position,”
This is a violent job for adult men in a highly competitive environment. Does Culverhouse think that an independent neurologist would change the player’s tendency to “man up” in the face of injury? I don’t, not when doing so could make the difference between a starting position and the bench, the bench and unemployment.
Honestly, I logged into this football-related post just so I could say
HOW “BOUT THOSE OREGON DUCKS???? Down go the Trojans-a feat even if they are perennially overrated!