Captain Cliche

I have thinking of starting this thread for some time and maybe in light of the Merriweather issue it is a little relevant.

The question is:

Do you ever consider that you are contributing in some small way to the fact that some, if not most of these healthy young athletes are going to spend their later years as cripples?

What got me thinking along these lines is a friend of mine that has a neck injury from high school football. There is a restriction in his spinal column from improper tackling technique. At times his arm goes mumb and is effictively useless. This condition is inoperable...no surgeon will go near the area. This is from a few years of high school football. Imagine the damage someone like Rodney Harrison sustains from all those years and all those collisions.

Obviously this has not stopped me from being a fan and watching the games, but I know I am in some tiny way contributuing to this reality for my entertainment.

Dufflebagz

Never thought of it that way. They are doing what they love and getting paid for it though, they know the risks.

Nikolai

I've thought about it, especially in regards to Welker. I really wonder what his post-football life is going to look like.

Of course, like has already been said, most players fully understand and accept the risks. That's why they demand the money, and why the union is getting on its horse to increase the scope of post-retirement benefits.

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We get what we deserve.

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“On a day when they could have had impact players David Terrell or Koren Robinson..they took Georgia defensive tackle Richard Seymour, who had 1 sacks last season in the pass-happy SEC and is too tall to play tackle at 6-6 and too slow to play defensive end. This genius move was followed by trading out of a spot where they could have gotten the last decent receiver in Robert Ferguson and settled for tackle Matt Light, who will not help any time soon.”

Calciumee

Never thought of it like that!

But if they didn't want to, there are 1000s of others who would

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MrBigglesWorth

that goes for alot of things.

when you're buying coal aren't you contributing to black lung

heck everything we buy from china is made by workers who are paid slave wages

police officers and fire fighters put their lives on the line

what about military personnel putting their lives on the line so we can have oil and materialism

I think they get compensated well

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"There are two categories of superbowl participants that nobody remembers:

The team that lost the game and the team that only won one." Dwight White- Steelers

letekro

A lot of the ethical questions relate to the old time players--they're crippled AND poor. The compensation of the modern player changes the equation a bit. Plus, with improved surgical techniques, and the fact that these guys take better care of themselves, there's no reason to think that they will become "cripples" as you put it.

BSR

I was going to say the same basic thing.

Ever buy your wife a diamond? Great job contributing to the wage slavery in S. Africa.

At the end of the day however, your action/inaction is inconsequential in the cause and effect equation. If you actually wanted to make an impact on that cause then you would need a much stronger action. In other words: No, I don't worry about it and don't think it is an ethical question.

I think a better question is whether or not you consider yourself a sadist for watching this young men bash each other's heads in.

Haley

Yes I think it is a little immoral, just as I think eating meat is a little immoral.

However, I haven't stopped either practice. Curtailed maybe but haven't stopped. (e.g. Generally, I would support initiatives to limit injuries among players as well as those to provide them medical care later in life)

I guess I'm slightly immoral. :P

@MrBigglesWorth: I think you missed the bit about this being for entertainment purposes. That is the part that makes it potentially unethical.

emoney_33

I have never thought of it that way but it is interesting to stop and think. However I will also say that EVERY little thing I buy or contribute to is likely in some way, shape or form to contribute to something less than "good". I also understand that there is a lot of good that I am contributing to. The NFL surely donates large sums of money to "good" causes. The athletes also choose to take these career paths and they are far more responsible than I am when it comes to looking out for their personal well being. Most, if not all, of them must believe that the benefits outweigh the risks. I don't feel an obligation to fight for player safety or work conditions either. Just like I don't think anyone else (especially not the customers of my place of employment) has the obligation of looking out for my personal working conditions and health. Let the players (and their unions) work out what is best for their combined interests.

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There are 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary and those who do not.

Fencer

It bothers me.

It diminishes my enthusiasm for football.

If effective steps aren't taken to reduce the predictable brain damage from football, I will stop watching or supporting the sport altogether.

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"To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness." -- Oscar Wilde