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Tyler Dunne on the Chris Borland Effect

26CornerBlitz

By 26CornerBlitz
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PromoTheRobot Hall of Famer

PromoTheRobot

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Good to see Dunne continues his noble goal of contributing all he can to end the sport of football.

I don't read it that way. He's just pointing out something everyone sort of knows but prefers to ignore. Football, and other sports to some degree, will destroy your life. You can choose to play but know what lies ahead for you. People still smoke even though they know lung cancer is a possibility.
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Mr. WEO Hall of Famer

Mr. WEO

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"His decision still casts a pall over football."

 

This is obviously untrue. It's a nicely written piece, but Dunne misses the irony of his opening statement--and keeps on writing anyway.

 

Even Borland points out that players are still clamoring to play as much as fans are to watch them play. At this point, in regards to CTE and chronic pain/suffering long term--what else can the NFL say to better inform players?


I don't read it that way. He's just pointing out something everyone sort of knows but prefers to ignore. Football, and other sports to some degree, will destroy your life. You can choose to play but know what lies ahead for you. People still smoke even though they know lung cancer is a possibility.

 

 

It will?--for all players?

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CommonCents All Pro

CommonCents

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Is Borland from a well off family? Just a hunch but that could have something to do with his stance.

 

How many people in this country have been underpaid while working in mills and factories that take years off their lives? Such an outrage over the NFL which may or may not effect the quality of life, all the while paying small fortunes to players who stick.

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stony Veteran

stony

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Is Borland from a well off family? Just a hunch but that could have something to do with his stance.

 

How many people in this country have been underpaid while working in mills and factories that take years off their lives? Such an outrage over the NFL which may or may not effect the quality of life, all the while paying small fortunes to players who stick.

 

You can't compare fake life (NFL, NBA etc) to real life (factories etc). The same rules don't apply to both.

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Wayne Arnold Veteran

Wayne Arnold

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I don't read it that way. He's just pointing out something everyone sort of knows but prefers to ignore. Football, and other sports to some degree, will destroy your life. You can choose to play but know what lies ahead for you. People still smoke even though they know lung cancer is a possibility.

 

"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...

 

zab8Z_s-200x150.gif

 

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.

 

You can't compare fake life (NFL, NBA etc) to real life (factories etc). The same rules don't apply to both.

 

This is true.

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dpberr Veteran

dpberr

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Yet another member of the media that has conveniently forgotten recently that Chris Borland is free to choose what he wants to do with his life living in the United States.

 

People leave careers all the time. Sometimes you get sick of it and you want to do something else. Good for you. Good for him.

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quinnearlysghost88 Veteran

quinnearlysghost88

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We’re told that 1 in 3 NFL players will suffer from Alzheimer’s or dementia at younger ages than their peers; that they’refour times more likely to die from degenerative brain diseases; that 78 percent will be broke or nearly so within two years of retiring; that they may be disproportionately inclined to beat their wives; and that they live, on average, to the age of 55 or 60. It’s enough to make you wonder if banning football would be good for America. --Slate

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LeGOATski Hall of Famer

LeGOATski

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Hey, guys. Did you know football is a tough, physical sport with injuries and other consequences? Who knew?

 

These "stats" can be so misleading.

 

For instance: "Were told that 1 in 3 NFL players will suffer from Alzheimers or dementia at younger ages than their peers"

 

Guess what...1 in 3 Americans gets Alzheimer's. And you know what? Some of them get it earlier than others.

 

Shocking!!

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Mr. WEO Hall of Famer

Mr. WEO

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Posted (edited)

We’re told that 1 in 3 NFL players will suffer from Alzheimer’s or dementia at younger ages than their peers; that they’refour times more likely to die from degenerative brain diseases; that 78 percent will be broke or nearly so within two years of retiring; that they may be disproportionately inclined to beat their wives; and that they live, on average, to the age of 55 or 60. It’s enough to make you wonder if banning football would be good for America. --Slate

 

Maybe they were told incorrectly...

 

http://operations.nfl.com/the-players/the-nfl-draft/the-nfl-college-advisory-committee/nfl-player-fact-vs-fiction/

Edited by Mr. WEO
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DCbillsfan Veteran

DCbillsfan

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Chris Borland has had 30 concussions. I'm glad he retired. Football is a dangerous sport. We all know that. Now we know it's dangerous for various brain injuries. A trend has already emerged, players are retiring earlier due to concussion concerns, etc. If Borland helped raise awareness then good for him. His crusade to end football though will fall way short. Coaches, players, and fans love pro football. Most importantly the owners love all the money they are making.

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Wayne Arnold Veteran

Wayne Arnold

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We’re told that 1 in 3 NFL players will suffer from Alzheimer’s or dementia at younger ages than their peers; that they’refour times more likely to die from degenerative brain diseases; that 78 percent will be broke or nearly so within two years of retiring; that they may be disproportionately inclined to beat their wives; and that they live, on average, to the age of 55 or 60. It’s enough to make you wonder if banning football would be good for America. --Slate

 

1 in 3 NFL players. Not 3 in 3 people who participate in football.

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quinnearlysghost88 Veteran

quinnearlysghost88

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Hey, guys. Did you know football is a tough, physical sport with injuries and other consequences? Who knew?

 

These "stats" can be so misleading.

 

For instance: "Were told that 1 in 3 NFL players will suffer from Alzheimers or dementia at younger ages than their peers"

 

Guess what...1 in 3 Americans gets Alzheimer's. And you know what? Some of them get it earlier than others.

 

Shocking!!

 

 

"It is estimated that dementia affects one in 14 people over 65 and one in six over 80."

"One of nine people age 65 or older has Alzheimer's, nearly one of three people age 85 or older has the disease."

 

With a life expectancy of 55-60, players aren't living to even see the 1 in 3 over 85 stat. They experiencing those stats at much, much early stages in life.

 

Shocking!

you're citing a league website? the same league that just paid out a quarter of a billion dollars to settle one of what will be many concussion lawsuits? yeah, no bias there.

 

 

"It is estimated that dementia affects one in 14 people over 65 and one in six over 80."

"One of nine people age 65 or older has Alzheimer's, nearly one of three people age 85 or older has the disease."

 

With a life expectancy of 55-60, players aren't living to even see the 1 in 3 over 85 stat. They experiencing those stats at much, much early stages in life.

 

Shocking!

you're citing a league website? the same league that just paid out a quarter of a billion dollars to settle one of what will be many concussion lawsuits? yeah, no bias there.

also the 'facts' from their life expectancy study were from players in the NFL prior to 1993. it might as well be a completely different game.

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