"Football will destroy your life."
I think it's unfortunate that there are people who really believe that football will (not may, not could...WILL) destroy every life that participates in it with no exceptions.
I like Dunne's writing and I'm glad we're getting more and more information about the effects of hits to the head because I want football to continue to become more safe. My problem with Dunne is that his tone is so dramatically apocalyptic. For instance...
"This sport remains intoxicating as ever, set to dominate America's attention yet again.
"Yet Borland might've cracked a fragile foundation.
"His decision still casts a pall over football."
All that's missing is a gif like this...
The needlessly separated three paragraphs above is followed by a list of players who have retired before age 30 - as if it's a bad thing. I think it's great that non-quarterback players are retiring early. If Borland truly had 30 concussions before age 24 then he should have been done with football long before he retired. More should do the same.
But not everyone is as prone to concussions/CTE as others. We need to continue not only making the sport safer but make medical advancements to see which players are more susceptible to CTE.
I don't think any players aside from quarterback or kicker should play beyond the age of 30. Those players are more likely to live happy lives after football than those from 20 years ago who played into their mid-30's with no concussion protocol systems. Those players having retired has not effected the health or popularity of the sport. There are players to take their place.
Instead of positively endorsing change to football and showing how the information we are receiving is positive for the long-term health of the sport, Dunne's tone (spin) is one of a dark, depressing relishing of the negative publicity the sport has been receiving for many years now which has led to more and more parents disallowing their children from participating in it.
This is true.