EX NFL Ball Boy Talks About Player Health

[Legios]

There are lots of "normal" jobs that destroy your body from the day to day abuse. I have seen mechanics with knees and backs destroyed due to the nature of their work. Carpet installers who are hunched over day in and day out for hours every day cant stand up straight also with knee and back issues. Hell even us desktop warriors have our own sort of physical aliments. Bad eyes, carpal tunnel, obesity. Draw the line however you want but there is nothing that is without risk.

 

[purbeast0]

Yeah... I was mad at my father for not letting me play football when I was in high school. He cited reasons similar to this. He said when you are older, you will have a working, healthy body because you won't wreck it during your youth playing sports like this. Now that I'm in my 30s, I cant help but agree with him and thank him for being stubborn and refusing to let me play. If I have a son, he wont play either.

yeah, because highschool football is on the same level as the nfl.

you do realize that millions upon millions of kids who played highschool football are just fine now in their older age, right?

 

[MarkXIX]

yeah, because highschool football is on the same level as the nfl.

you do realize that millions upon millions of kids who played highschool football are just fine now in their older age, right?

Except that every year several young men die playing the game. I personally know two friends who's son's were so badly injured by the sport that they gave it up and may suffer long term consequences.

Sure, I'm not some alarmist, and I might reluctantly go along with my son playing the game, but it IS a sport with some heavy risks. Statistically the vast majority get only the best from it, but those that excel at it assume more and more of that risk each year they play.

It is okay for a parent to be concerned.

 

[z1ggy]

yeah, because highschool football is on the same level as the nfl.

you do realize that millions upon millions of kids who played highschool football are just fine now in their older age, right?

Right because Dr. Purebeast0 here knows the fine workings of the brain and body, and can with out a doubt say most kids who played years for football are "perfectly okay".

I got two concussions while playing high school football. Every time you get a concussion, you are more likely to get another one, even more severe than the next. You cannot say people are not worse off after years of football, even just high school.

 

[smackababy]

Right because Dr. Purebeast0 here knows the fine workings of the brain and body, and can with out a doubt say most kids who played years for football are "perfectly okay".

I got two concussions while playing high school football. Every time you get a concussion, you are more likely to get another one, even more severe than the next. You cannot say people are not worse off after years of football, even just high school.

So, purbeast0 isn't a doctor and his word is crap, but a fucking ball boy is a credible source on the mental stability of players and what contributes to it?

 

[z1ggy]

So, purbeast0 isn't a doctor and his word is crap, but a fucking ball boy is a credible source on the mental stability of players and what contributes to it?

I'd say their word on paper is probably equal, but this kid is on NFL sidelines and he isn't. Unless he (purebeast) is an ex pro NFL'er or has some other insight- in which case, I'm all ears. But just saying adults who played football are perfectly fine currently, is a blanket statement based in 0% fact, and 100% biased opinion. Links to some unbiased scientific papers, studies or research showing adults in their 20s, 30s and above who played years of football having no different MRI/CAT/PET scans than non-football players would help support his claim.

 

[edro]

I'd say their word on paper is probably equal, but this kid is on NFL sidelines and he isn't. Unless he (purebeast) is an ex pro NFL'er or has some other insight- in which case, I'm all ears

He is. purebeast is actually Ray Lewis.

 

[NetWareHead]

yeah, because highschool football is on the same level as the nfl.

you do realize that millions upon millions of kids who played highschool football are just fine now in their older age, right?

No it is not the same level as the NFL but players of all ages and at all skill levels get hurt and sometimes carry those injuries into older age.

 

[Ferzerp]

As long as the players are well informed of what they are doing and the risks they are taking, it is their decision if it is a risk they want to take.

If they are being misled, there are issue of course.

 

[dabuddha]

As long as the players are well informed of what they are doing and the risks they are taking, it is their decision if it is a risk they want to take.

If they are being misled, there are issue of course.

Exactly. If they were told by their coach that they can't possibly get hurt playing the sport then there's an issue. Not to mention just watching a typical game looks painful sometimes.

 

[z1ggy]

Exactly. If they were told by their coach that they can't possibly get hurt playing the sport then there's an issue. Not to mention just watching a typical game looks painful sometimes.

But what they don't say is, "Boys, if you play long enough, you're X times more likely to get A,B & C symptoms later on in life (such as early onset dementia, depression, etc)." It's a given you're at risk for immediately injury like concussion, broken bones, etc.

And I'm not even saying that football for a long period of time does cause those things exclusively and directly, but in general, having prolonged minor brain injuries will certainly cause problems later on in life. I suppose if I got bored tomorrow, I could look into research done so far, but I'd gather they haven't been able to draw many conclusions yet in regards to football.

I know when I played, you were expected to play only unless you physically couldn't run/stand. I watched a player on my team run off the field, vomit on the sideline, then run back in the next play. It's hard to define toughness vs when you shouldn't go back in the game..

 

[dabuddha]

But what they don't say is, "Boys, if you play long enough, you're X times more likely to get A,B & C symptoms later on in life (such as early onset dementia, depression, etc)." It's a given you're at risk for immediately injury like concussion, broken bones, etc.

And I'm not even saying that football for a long period of time does cause those things exclusively and directly, but in general, having prolonged minor brain injuries will certainly cause problems later on in life. I suppose if I got bored tomorrow, I could look into research done so far, but I'd gather they haven't been able to draw many conclusions yet in regards to football.

I know when I played, you were expected to play only unless you physically couldn't run/stand. I watched a player on my team run off the field, vomit on the sideline, then run back in the next play. It's hard to define toughness vs when you shouldn't go back in the game..

If you can't tell that you might be at risk for brain injuries/etc after watching a game, it might already be too late Football is an extremely violent sport.

 

[z1ggy]

If you can't tell that you might be at risk for brain injuries/etc after watching a game, it might already be too late Football is an extremely violent sport.

Yup, just ask Kevin Kolb who had to retire by age 30

The Redskins defender just ran by me at the end of a routine scramble and caught my helmet with his knee," Kolb wrote in The MMQB. "I went numb from my neck down for about three seconds, but I stayed in the game. I didn’t know what it was or how serious it would turn out to be. It couldn’t be happening again.


"But when I got to the sideline and the adrenaline wore off, I knew. The symptoms came rushing in, the pain, the noise, the queasiness. I had taken every possible step to fend off a concussion—a new helmet, staying in the best shape possible, trying to play smart. None of it mattered."

 

[SP33Demon]

yeah, because highschool football is on the same level as the nfl.

you do realize that millions upon millions of kids who played highschool football are just fine now in their older age, right?

High school is actually worse because there are fatalities. You have underdeveloped, undersized boys from small schools who have no business being on a football field playing against overdeveloped powerhouse schools. Most of those kids from small schools also have coaches who don't teach them proper technique for hitting. At least 4 kids died last year due to brain hematoma's made the news, yet how many millions of kids get concussions that don't make the news?

 

[SP33Demon]

Yup, just ask Kevin Kolb who had to retire by age 30

Insane that he's only 30. Poor bastard, I remember him getting hit hard when he played for Philly.

"With concussions, sometimes you don’t know what is a symptom and what is not. But some symptoms are impossible to ignore," Kolb wrote. "The ringing is like someone shooting a shotgun right next to my ear, every second of every day. It doesn’t go away.

"The sensitivity to light also has a profound impact. I’ll be in a business meeting indoors and have to politely ask to put on my sunglasses before the headaches and double vision start."

Ugh

 

[NikolaeVarius]

If you can't tell that you might be at risk for brain injuries/etc after watching a game, it might already be too late Football is an extremely violent sport.

The issues are several fold.

1) NFL denying for years that brain injuries were not an issue
2) Brain injuries don't show up for several years after the fact.
3) Sports "machoness" prevents players from coming off the field even through they have concussions and brain damage because they aren't readily evident, unlike a broken arm.
4) Because of the above, young people aren't fully aware of the long term damage that comes with football.

 

[z1ggy]

The issues are several fold.

1) NFL denying for years that brain injuries were not an issue
2) Brain injuries don't show up for several years after the fact.
3) Sports "machoness" prevents players from coming off the field even through they have concussions and brain damage because they aren't readily evident, unlike a broken arm.
4) Because of the above, young people aren't fully aware of the long term damage that comes with football.

#4 is the big one I think, because that effects millions of people here in this country. One can always argue the NFlers are paid well to endure any of the life long ailments that may arise due to their careers.

I played for 7 years, from age 11 to 18, and I know for a fact (well, strong hunch) football has made certain conditions I was probably already predisposed to even worse as I age. I never used to really get seasick or have much motion sickness problems, but now a days there's certain video games I can't even play with out feeling like I might throw up. Overall, my vestibular system is many times more sensitive than it ever used to be.

 

[phucheneh]

High school is actually worse because there are fatalities. You have underdeveloped, undersized boys from small schools who have no business being on a football field playing against overdeveloped powerhouse schools. Most of those kids from small schools also have coaches who don't teach them proper technique for hitting. At least 4 kids died last year due to brain hematoma's made the news, yet how many millions of kids get concussions that don't make the news?

High school isn't worse.

Why?

Because they actually attempt to play the game properly. There is zero reason, aside from the occasional freak occurrence, to be at risk for concussions in football. If the retarded meatheads want to sprint full speed at each other and slam their upper bodies together so that they can get 'ooh, that hurt!' replays on ESPN, that's their own dumbass fault. Tackling properly doesn't involve slamming helmets.

Why is there never any talk about how dangerous rugby is? It's practically the same fucking sport, with no pads or helmets. Oh, you mean, it's because they understand that slamming their skulls together is dumb and, you know, not at all effective?

 

[JMapleton]

It's part of the game. Most of those guys make millions and if they were doing football, most would be in much much less fortunate positions. That's an exchange they are consciously making.

What about boxing? MMA? Even hockey I bet they beat the crap out of each other.

If they don't want to crap blood, they can get a job at a grocery store and make $8/hour. Or they can man up and make millions. I'm sure you know which one they'll choose.

 

[SP33Demon]

High school isn't worse.

Why?

Because they actually attempt to play the game properly. There is zero reason, aside from the occasional freak occurrence, to be at risk for concussions in football. If the retarded meatheads want to sprint full speed at each other and slam their upper bodies together so that they can get 'ooh, that hurt!' replays on ESPN, that's their own dumbass fault. Tackling properly doesn't involve slamming helmets.

Why is there never any talk about how dangerous rugby is? It's practically the same fucking sport, with no pads or helmets. Oh, you mean, it's because they understand that slamming their skulls together is dumb and, you know, not at all effective?

I don't think you understand. The littler high schoolers have to tackle with higher Acceleration because they don't have the Mass to take down the bigger RBs. M * A = Force. A lot of shit can happen when undersized people are running at full speed at something big running at them them, especially kids who think they're invincible b/c they're young. This is why high school kids are dying on the spot the most, not college players, not Pro's.

 

[FallenHero]

yeah, because highschool football is on the same level as the nfl.

you do realize that millions upon millions of kids who played highschool football are just fine now in their older age, right?

I think the majority of my friends that played football in HS suffer from some sort of physical ailment related to them playing. No concussion stuff, but still...in their late 20's, still having the same pain from over a decade earlier?

No thanks. My son won't be playing when he gets older.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

The NFL doesn't give a flying crap - nor does mostly anyone else, I think. It's the choice they made. And, they are getting paid for it quite handsomely.

quite handsomely by your standards, perhaps. the average player's career lasts just over a year and earns about $300k total, maybe a little more than that now. i expect more than that from my professional life.

also needed here is the context of players being the core of a wildly profitable and very shady organization with a long history of downplaying risks to and consequences of its employees' health.

yes, they chose to take their chances as modern-day gladators, but when it comes to professional sports, imo it's impossible to overvalue (on average) the players.

 

[smackababy]

quite handsomely by your standards, perhaps. the average player's career lasts just over a year and earns about $300k total, maybe a little more than that now. i expect more than that from my professional life.

also needed here is the context of players being the core of a wildly profitable and very shady organization with a long history of downplaying risks to and consequences of its employees' health.

yes, they chose to take their chances as modern-day gladators, but when it comes to professional sports, imo it's impossible to overvalue (on average) the players.

$300k for half a year's work after getting a large portion (if not all) of your college paid for. If that is so bad, well, I don't know what to tell you.

And, a player who lasts a year is highly unlikely to get a concussion leading to debilitating injury. Sure, it can happen, but you can slip on your icy sidewalk and break your back too.

These guys are paid incredibly well. If you want to complain about those that are high risk for little money, talk about the practice squad guys. They get a bit over $100k a year and have to practice just as hard, if not harder, than everyone else while playing every position. And most are just simply slightly below what it takes to make the final roster, so they are stuck in that for a few years before they eventually are too worn down to beat out the younger, barely able to make it guy.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

$300k for half a year's work after getting a large portion (if not all) of your college paid for. If that is so bad, well, I don't know what to tell you.

any pro should be working all year. there might be some downtime off season, but just because you don't see them on the field doesn't mean they aren't training physically and mentally year round. the asshole that shows up in the summer 100 pounds over and hasn't studied at all isn't likely to be kept any more.

as for college, they were there to learn football and only football. for legal reasons, it is listed as "basket weaving" or some other bullshit.

 

[Mai72]

I read that when a young football player signs his contract, he knows full well that he's forgoing his middle years. He knows his retirement years are going to be filled with pain, arthritis, and other body ailments. That's the tradeoff and they all know it. The money is too great to let go.