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[Esch]

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/front...ased-nfl-players-found-to-have-brain-disease/

As the NFL nears an end to its long-running legal battle over concussions, new data from the nation’s largest brain bank focused on traumatic brain injury has found evidence of a degenerative brain disease in 76 of the 79 former players it’s examined.

The findings represent a more than twofold increase in the number of cases of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, that have been reported by the Department of Veterans Affairs’ brain repository in Bedford, Mass.



Researchers there have now examined the brain tissue of 128 football players who, before their deaths, played the game professionally, semi-professionally, in college or in high school. Of that sample, 101 players, or just under 80 percent, tested positive for CTE.

To be sure, players represented in the data represent a skewed population. CTE can only be definitively identified posthumously, and many of the players who have donated their brains for research suspected that they may have had the disease while still alive. For example, former Chicago Bears star Dave Duerson committed suicide in 2011 by shooting himself in the chest, reportedly to preserve his brain for examination.

Nonetheless, Dr. Ann McKee, the director of the brain bank, believes the findings suggest a clear link between football and traumatic brain injury.

“Obviously this high percentage of living individuals is not suffering from CTE,” said McKee, a neuropathologist who directs the brain bank as part of a collaboration between the VA and Boston University’s CTE Center. But “playing football, and the higher the level you play football and the longer you play football, the higher your risk.”

An NFL spokesman did not respond to several requests for comment.

CTE occurs when repetitive head trauma begins to produce abnormal proteins in the brain known as “tau.” The tau proteins work to essentially form tangles around the brain’s blood vessels, interrupting normal functioning and eventually killing nerve cells themselves. Patients with less advanced forms of the disease can suffer from mood disorders, such as depression and bouts of rage, while those with more severe cases can experience confusion, memory loss and advanced dementia.

Among the NFL legends found to have had CTE are Duerson, Hall of Fame Pittsburgh Steelers center Mike Webster and former San Diego Chargers legend Junior Seau. On Monday, ESPN’s Outside the Lines reported that a New York neuropathologist had discovered signs of CTE in the brain of Jovan Belcher. In 2012, the former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker shot and killed his girlfriend before driving to a Chiefs practice facility, where he committed suicide in front of team officials.

The new data from the VA/BU repository — once the “preferred” brain bank of the NFL — comes as thousands of NFL retirees and their beneficiaries approach an Oct. 14 deadline to decide whether to opt out of a proposed settlement in the class-action concussion case brought against the league by more than 4,500 former players.

The research helps address what had been a key sticking point in negotiations — the issue of prevalence. Players in the lawsuit have accused the league of concealing a link between football and brain disease. While the settlement includes no admission of wrongdoing, actuarial data filed in federal court this month showed the NFL expects nearly a third of all retired players to develop a long-term cognitive problem, such as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, as a result of football.

 

[Brakke]

wow only 79 NFL players have passed away? that's p good life expectancy.

 

[StanleyStutters]

I love watching the game, but if I ever have kids, I won't let them play it. It's disturbing how many former players had CTE.

 

[Esch]

wow only 79 NFL players have passed away? that's p good life expectancy.

:lol

should have probably added a "Study:" in front of the topic title.

 

[akira28]

I hope I didn't hurt anyone long term when I played ball. Jesus christ you wouldn't think it was that serious, but that's only because they tell you not to worry as long as you have a helmet and pads.

I love watching the game, but if I ever have kids, I won't let them play it. It's disturbing how many former players had CTE.

I don't like to watch, but I was considering letting my kids play, but now, not till they're at least 10 and up.

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

We're going to get to a point where people realize shit happens in football when you get hit all the time and they either are fine with it or they don't play. I'm not sure where all this is going to go. People race in NASCAR with the realization that they could die in any race, and it's similar in football, but with longer term effects.

Hopefully they keep finding ways to make the game safer, but at a point it's going to be basically signing a waiver that says you are aware of the risks.

I'm still glad I played in high school, because it's a blast, but there is definitely more visibility into the damage it can cause now.

 

[Sphinx805]

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/league-of-denial/

Every NFL fan should absolutely watch this documentary. It made me, as a lifelong fan, question the morality of supporting the NFL altogether.

 

[Gentleman Jack]

I hope I didn't hurt anyone long term when I played ball. Jesus christ you wouldn't think it was that serious, but that's only because they tell you not to worry as long as you have a helmet and pads.

I would never, ever let my kids play contact football. I've gotten into drunken arguments with friends over it. Just not worth the goddamn risk.

The NFL deserves to have its money hollowed out to pay for this.

Of course it won't do shit unless a court orders them to.

 

[Omega]

i always hated how my parents refused to let me play football

glad they didn't now

 

[Esch]

I'm still glad I played in high school, because it's a blast, but there is definitely more visibility into the damage it can cause now.

Yeah, it really was. I occasionally got a headache once or twice a season after a game or practice, makes me nervous in retrospect now that I know the longterm risks associated with it.

 

[Esch]

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/league-of-denial/

Every NFL fan should absolutely watch this documentary. It made me, as a lifelong fan, question the morality of supporting the NFL altogether.

Really good so far, thank you.

 

[levious]

I hope I didn't hurt anyone long term when I played ball. Jesus christ you wouldn't think it was that serious, but that's only because they tell you not to worry as long as you have a helmet and pads.



I don't like to watch, but I was considering letting my kids play, but now, not till they're at least 10 and up.

I really believe full contact/pads needs to stop pre-high school.

 

[ComputerMKII]

How long until this sport is banned?

 

[CrocMother]

How long until this sport is banned?

You can't ban culture.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

The big college schools and the NFL have the money to pay off lawsuits and stave off any sort of meaningful legislation, but what is going to kill them is that we are not that far from smaller colleges and high schools simply not being able to afford having a football program. It's going to kill the talent pool of the game just like it did to boxing.

 

[Elfforkusu]

The 33% actuarial number is completely unacceptable for a major sport. Somebody needs to hold the league's feet to the fire on this -- unfortunately, I'm not sure anyone will.

 

[Fjordson]

Damn. Sad stuff.

I love American football to death, but I myself increasingly conflicted about my fandom these days =[

The big college schools and the NFL have the money to pay off lawsuits and stave off any sort of meaningful legislation, but what is going to kill them is that we are not that far from smaller colleges and high schools simply not being able to afford having a football program. It's going to kill the talent pool of the game just like it did to boxing.

Yep. Basketball could become even more attractive for big time athletic kids.

 

[CassidyIzABeast]

I broke my collar bone playing middle school football and the doctor told me I should stop playing because it wasn't worth the damage it does to your body. Doc was dropping facts only.

 

[GorillaJu]

Man I really genuinely feel for these guys. I wouldn't trade my mental wellbeing for all the money in the world.

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

The 33% actuarial number is completely unacceptable for a major sport. Somebody needs to hold the league's feet to the fire on this -- unfortunately, I'm not sure anyone will.

What can they do though? At what point is there no way to make it any safer? At some point the players are just going to have to accept the risks involved with the game right?

 

[NYCmetsfan]

How long until this sport is banned?

Do we ban boxing or ufc? If more about people having choices and choosing to put themselves in harms way.

Damn. Sad stuff.

I love American football to death, but I myself increasingly conflicted about my fandom these days =[

I love watching the game, but if I ever have kids, I won't let them play it. It's disturbing how many former players had CTE.

I share in this. I get really uncomfortable when people cheer on big hits when its clear damage is being done.

 

[Jonm1010]

The big college schools and the NFL have the money to pay off lawsuits and stave off any sort of meaningful legislation, but what is going to kill them is that we are not that far from smaller colleges and high schools simply not being able to afford having a football program. It's going to kill the talent pool of the game just like it did to boxing.

Good point, then throw on top of that the number of parents that are gonna refuse to let their children play football as these reports continue to pile up about the dangers of tackle football and I am retry confident that in a decade or two football is going to lose it's crown.

 

[Mr.Swag]

My children will play real football

 

[Elfforkusu]

What can they do though? At what point is there no way to make it any safer? At some point the players are just going to have to accept the risks involved with the game right?

They've invested minimal effort and money into trying. All they've done is make some minor rule tweaks after 20 years of denial.

"No way to fix it!" is something you say after you've tried, not before.

 

[ComputerMKII]

Do we ban boxing or ufc?

UFC is banned in my country

 

[Zach]

It's harder and harder to enjoy football.

 

[Ken Masters]

Watch a modern high school football team, players look like adults and they're cracking each other's skulls

 

[orochi91]

How long until this sport is banned?

As soon as alcohol and cigarettes are banned.

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

They've invested minimal effort and money into trying. All they've done is make some minor rule tweaks after 20 years of denial.

"No way to fix it!" is something you say after you've tried, not before.

Well given the whole point of the game is to tackle people, and they've made pads/etc. better and made rules that protect players more (but that also affect the game in what some would say is a bad way), what more do you do?

Basically you can make the tech better and change rules, but you can only do that to a certain extent and then there's nothing more to do.

I agree something needs to be done, but it seems like it's eventually just going to come down to player choice (to play, or not).

 

[Esch]

Do we ban boxing or ufc? If more about people having choices and choosing to put themselves in harms way.

Probably won't have to ban anything. Boxing's brain damage issues got put out in front of the bright lights with Ali and look what happened there.

The big college schools and the NFL have the money to pay off lawsuits and stave off any sort of meaningful legislation, but what is going to kill them is that we are not that far from smaller colleges and high schools simply not being able to afford having a football program. It's going to kill the talent pool of the game just like it did to boxing.

Or this, I guess.

 

[NYCmetsfan]

UFC is banned in my country

Quick google search says for sexism.

You guys still have bull fighting, rugby and boxing

 

[Savitar]

Obviously this is a coincidence.

They probably got brain disease saving orphans from burning fires.

 

[ComputerMKII]

Quick google search says for sexism.

No:

C'est précisément la question de frapper un adversaire au sol qui a posé problème aux ministères des Sports qui ont eu à se pencher sur le dossier. En vertu d'une recommandation du Conseil de l’Europe sur les "pratiques sportives dégradantes", la loi française interdit les frappes au sol, ingrédient indispensable des combats.

(...)

Valérie Fourneyron, envisage de durcir la loi au nom du respect de "l'intégrité physique, de l'adversaire, de la dignité humaine, de la santé et des valeurs éducatives du sport".

http://www.metronews.fr/sport/mixed...t-ils-interdits-en-france/mmjr!WwluVicVCj1X6/

 

[uncredited male]

Rules are going to change and we are going to be getting 100-point games in the future. It will be like in that movie with the co-ed showers and the giant bugs. The one where you rooted for the bugs.

 

[Elfforkusu]

Well given the whole point of the game is to tackle people, and they've made pads/etc. better and made rules that protect players more (but that also affect the game in what some would say is a bad way), what more do you do?

Basically you can make the tech better and change rules, but you can only do that to a certain extent and then there's nothing more to do.

I agree something needs to be done, but it seems like it's eventually just going to come down to player choice (to play, or not).

How do you know "a certain extent" won't be enough to solve the problem?

Bearing in mind that all sorts of interesting measures would be on the table if they got serious. Accelerometers in every helmet? Sure. Enforced maximum limits on the amount of cumulative G forces a player's head is allowed to take each game? Why not? Newer, better ways of cushion the blow? ... etc

If "player choice" is the only option, then yes, pack it all up and shut down the sport tomorrow. But it isn't.

 

[Nairume]

You can't ban culture.

Well, you can.

It's just difficult.

 

[NYCmetsfan]

No:



http://www.metronews.fr/sport/mixed...t-ils-interdits-en-france/mmjr!WwluVicVCj1X6/

Hitting people on the ground is the line they draw? "Human dignity?" I don't like MMA but that seems really weak.

Either way its not for brain injuries.

 

[Esch]

How do you know "a certain extent" won't be enough to solve the problem?

Bearing in mind that all sorts of interesting measures would be on the table if they got serious. Accelerometers in every helmet? Sure. Enforced maximum limits on the amount of cumulative G forces a player's head is allowed to take each game? Why not? Newer, better ways of cushion the blow? ... etc

Can you see any of this hypothetical future crash technology trickling down with to high school or pop warner? Or poorer areas where a lot of the sport's talent seems to come from?


Unless you're advocating for touch or flag football (and fair enough if so).

 

[Elfforkusu]

You can't ban culture.

Not saying Texas would secede, but Texas would probably secede.

Can you see any of this hypothetical future crash technology trickling down with to high school or pop warner? Or poorer areas where a lot of the sport's talent seems to come from?


Unless you're advocating for touch or flag football (and fair enough if so).

Yep. I don't think anyone younger than 17 or 18 should be playing full-contact tackle football, full stop.

 

[CassidyIzABeast]

I think we can add Wes Welker to that list. Dude probably has a lifetime total of 10+ concussions. Austin Collie as well.

 

[Mully]

So I assume as this decade wears on, we'll have more studies that show that CTE is not just limited to football.

In 100-200 years, we will look back on sports, the same way we look back at gladiators during Rome, now?

 

[ItWasMeantToBe19]

So I assume as this decade wears on, we'll have more studies that show that CTE is not just limited to football.

In 100-200 years, we will look back on sports, the same way we look back at gladiators during Rome, now?

I don't know if you're really going to end up with that many brain injuries in basketball or baseball.

And CTE was high enough in baseball, they could make beaning someone a 15 game suspension and fix some of the problems.

 

[yuraya]

How long until this sport is banned?

lol

Its like a 40 billion dollar business. The TV ratings are only increasing. 45 million people watched the NFL draft this year. That is an offseason event where a bunch of irrelevant unproven rookie nobodies get drafted into the league.

Its not going anywhere. Expect the regular season to expand to 18 games in the coming years and most likely playoff structure expansion as well.

 

[GameGuru59]

Ok fuck it. Now we can examine how we play football. "No fun allowed!" said physics smh.

 

[Valnen]

lol

Its like a 40 billion dollar business. The TV ratings are only increasing. 45 million people watched the NFL draft this year. That is an offseason event where a bunch of irrelevant unproven rookie nobodies get drafted into the league.

Its not going anywhere. Expect the regular season to expand to 18 games in the coming years and most likely playoff structure expansion as well.

Just because something is popular doesn't make it right.

 

[markot]

So many brain injuries for such a boring sport.... Imagine if they actually played for more then 5 minutes a game too.

 

[Omega]

I think we can add Wes Welker to that list. Dude probably has a lifetime total of 10+ concussions. Austin Collie as well.

me and one of my friends used to say that Austin Collie is actually just a walking corpse because he had more concussions than catches.

i feel for him and his family because if he's not already, he will be beyond fucked up in 5 years mentally.

I was always oblivious to it when I was younger, but Collie was the reason I started getting upset that nothing was being done. i think he had like 3 concussions in one season, and they just kept bringing him back.

 

[Deadbeat]

So many brain injuries for such a boring sport.... Imagine if they actually played for more then 5 minutes a game too.

At least they dont roll on the ground pretending to be injured.

 

[LuchaShaq]

As someone who played football for 20 years full contact age 6 to 26 and has mild memory and hearing problems this shit terrifies me and is a big big reason I quit playing despite missing it everyday...

 

[Gentleman Jack]

At least they dont roll on the ground pretending to be injured.