Pro-Football, Injury, and Clear Christian Conscience

"Let's face it: Other than forcing players to wait longer before returning to action after concussions, there appears to be little that football can do to protect players from head injuries without turning football into something other than the action-packed, high-thrill (and violent) spectacle that it is."

You are missing one of the biggest points of your argument. There IS something that the NFL can do to help with this situation. There are special helmets that are scientifically proven to reduce the severity, impact, and proliferation of concussions. Yet the NFL is dragging its feet in requiring players to wear these helmets. WHY?

As a Christian who spent most of my formative years deep in conservative Chrisitian/football country, I quickly lost respect for the sport because of the blatant hypocrisy of it all. The prayers to God/Jesus, not asking for guidance in playing a good game, but instead asking for divine intervention in defeating the other team. The looking away at the less than Christian behaviors of boys and men who learn from an early age that winning is what really matters and that winners can be forgiven a whole host of sins especially if such sins aren't "officially" out in the public eye. Of course there were the supporters and fans who turn a blind eye and share a good amount of the blame.

Anyone who lives under the illusion that will ever be a "day of reckoning" for pro football because a player gets injured is living on a very strange planet. There is not a politician in his right mind who would dare offend those fans.

Unfortunately Mere_Christian................It's not

I think Charles Cosimano and a lot of the people posting these comments are blowing this way out of proportion. And I don't want football to go away.

Yes, there is an element in football that is tied to the extreme conservative movement in both politics and Christianity. There is also an element that has nothing to do with either of those, partially evidenced by the reaction to Rush Limbaugh's attempt to be part of the purchase of an NFL franchise.

Yes, football is a violent sport that has become a massively profitable business. It does no more to exploit its employees than any other business--INCLUDING the church.

Yes, the NFL should take more drastic action to decrease injuries and concussions, now that there is a lot more that can be done for these (better equipment, better medical knowledge, etc). Many of these decisions should not be left up to the players. And the players union should take a MUCH more active role in pushing for such changes.

But should we do away with football? Absolutely not--and don't waste your time trying.

Not to downplay the situation, but also keep this in perspective: A lot of the brain injuries that we discuss today happened in a time when we didn't know nearly as much about these types of things. One of the articles references Terry Long and Mike Webster. Both were very heavy steroid users before testing became the norm (Long allegedly used them in college, well before his NFL career). That probably had a significant impact on them as well. There are also hundreds of players who play for years without any negative impact from concussions.

The question should not be what the NFL should have done back then, but on what the NFL should do NOW. My problem is that they are not doing enough in the present, and that's where the focus needs to be. Not on perceived race issues, not on religion or politics or any of the other side issues...but what can/should the NFL be doing NOW to protect players? Stay focused, people.

And let us not forget that these men are CHOOSING to play a game that is known to be brutal and violent.