Ditka on Concussions

[GMAN81]

Mike Ditka has joined the anti-football concussion club. This may not be new news. Ditka said he wouldn't want his son to play football. He will appear on Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel tonight on HBO. Should be interesting to watch.

In general I have always been a fan of Ditka. But somehow I get a feeling there may be some money involved for him to say that. The guy will do most anything for a buck.

 

[ignazio]

Three-point Program to Eliminate the Concussion Issue:
Insist that players must wrap-up on a tackle. The Seahawks already insist on this style tackling, thus proving that it doesn't negatively alter the game. Limit the college season to 10-games, and one bowl game for the teams with a winning record. (Fat chance that the NCAA would release any revenue from their fat fingers.)Limit the professional season to 14-games, 4 team playoff. No helmet-contact during weekly drills.

 

[mullin17]

Here is an interesting read by Peter King a few months ago....

http://mmqb.si.com/2014/12/04/helmetless-football-practice-university-of-new-hampshire/

 

[GMAN81]

I am curious about something. Hopefully some of you can help me out. I know there are some of you who don't want your kids playing football. I have seen it written.

Suppose your kid wants to play youth football and you don't let him. Then suppose later on he comes to you, say, in his Sophomore or Junior year of high school and says he wants to play football. What do you tell him?

I am ONLY looking for those guys here who still wouldn't want their kid to play in HS. Not the ones who would. For those of you who don't, what would you tell them? I mean, what do you say to make your argument a good one?

For the record, both of my sons played youth and high school football and if I had to do it again, I wouldn't stand in their way.

I just want to know how the other side thinks and why.

 

[Oddy]

My two youngest sons played youth and HS football, the youngest of those two finishing HS in 2002 I think. I wouldn't "forbid" them from playing football now if they really wanted to, but I would discourage them, as well as encourage other activities.

 

[Jiggs]

"A new study of N.F.L. retirees found that those who began playing tackle football when they were younger than 12 years old increased their risk of developing memory and thinking problems later in life.".....

"The age of 12 was chosen as a benchmark because it is roughly when brains in young boys are thought to have already undergone key periods of development. Research has shown that boys younger than 12 who injure their brains can take longer to recover and have poor cognition in childhood."...

Read it the entire article at;
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/29/sports/football/study-points-to-cognitive-dangers-of-tackle-football-before-age-12.html?partner=socialflow&smid=tw-nytimes&_r=1