A Fool and His Money Soon Parted

NFL players are dumb.  Why is there such an outrage that the league is going to strictly enforce rules already in place that are designed to protect everyone on the field?  On Tuesday the league announced it was coming down hard on players who use their helmets as weapons.  This is not a new rule; it has been in the books for eons.  The NFL is just taking steps in light of some recent harsh criticism for their lack of action on a disturbing problem in the NFL: neurological damage.

A recent study has shown that multiple concussions is related to Lou Gherig's disease.  If you don't understand how terrible it is to loose all control of your body slowly, ready Tuesdays With Maury.  Now it's a new study so it isn't definitive, but there are also countless other studies showing that repeated hits to the head aren't good for you.  There's also real life (see: Muhammad Ali, and countless other former professional boxers and NFL players.) 

Of course, this means that players will have to change how they play the game.  Heaven forbid.  James Harrison is throwing such a fit about this he is threatening to retire.  Talk about an immature brat.  These are the same players who complain that they are not getting enough health benefits from the union after they retire.  The league is now taking active steps to try to reduce long-term health of these people.  The stink the players are making show that they are arrogant fools who have no concept of anything beyond themselves at that present moment.  If Mr. Harrison leads with his helmet this weekend and damages a vertebra (heaven forbid) his career is over, his contract is void (because the NFL doesn't guarantee contracts) and he will have health bills for the rest of his life that will eat up a lot of whatever he has saved.  This is the classic case of a kid playing with matches because dad told him not to.

It is pretty well proven that leading with the helmet causes injuries.  What I cannot understand is why these players want to hurt each other.  The intimidation excuse is not viable.  You can hit someone just as hard without having to concuss yourself or your fellow player.  Aren't we always told the NFL is a brotherhood?  I don't think a lawyer goes into a courtroom hoping to do permanent brain damage to the opposing counsel, why is it OK for an NFL player to do the same?  It's not.

The other reason the players are being selfish is because they don't realize the message they send when they act like concussion seeking missiles.  America watches football.  America loves football.  America plays football.  Guess what age group has the most football players?  Kids under 18 years old.  They watch every Sunday and see these idiots leading with their helmets, hitting defenseless receivers, trying to hurt each other.  Those kids then go out and whether they consciously do it or not, they try to imitate the pros.  These overgrown babies playing in the NFL can try to say they don't mean to be role models, but they are.  Children under 18 exposed to head injuries while the brain is still developing are really at a huge risk of horrible long term damage.  The players may not like it, but they owe it to the kids (as corny as that sounds).

So in short NFL players, stop being selfish, spoiled, jerks.  You get to play a sport for a living.  The NFL is taking steps to not only protect you, but those who aspire to be you.  They are protecting your livelihood not only so you can keep doing it, but so America doesn't turn on a sport that was threatening to become too barbaric to play.  It is for your own good your helmet can't be a battering ram.  So sure keep on leading with your helmet.  I just don't want to hear it when you have to sit out.  Then I don't want to hear it when you have to retire early.  I especially don't want to hear it ten years from now when you finally feel the effects of the damage you willingly and brashly inflicted on your body.