Everything that is wrong with players being upset over concussions

John Abraham who suffered a concussion, and contemplated retirement during the preseason after it came to light he has been suffering from memory loss and other mental health issues for over a year, has decided to return to the Arizona cardinals instead of retiring.

this isn't the first time, and it wont be the last were a player WILLINGLY puts themselves in harms way by playing football DESPITE knowing the risks.

The Cardinals should cut him, and no nfl teams should sign him. hes a walking lawsuit waiting to happen.

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/511600632281964544

His choice

It's easy for us to say, but these guys make 10-20 times what we do and know that it's never happening again after they're done. Very tough call for a player to make on his own. If anything, this is up to a physician to say that they can't play, even if it's the team physician and only for liability purposes.

chasa said:

John Abraham who suffered a concussion, and contemplated retirement during the preseason after it came to light he has been suffering from memory loss and other mental health issues for over a year, has decided to return to the Arizona cardinals instead of retiring.

this isn't the first time, and it wont be the last were a player WILLINGLY puts themselves in harms way by playing football DESPITE knowing the risks.

The Cardinals should cut him, and no nfl teams should sign him. hes a walking lawsuit waiting to happen.

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/511600632281964544

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I'm not so sure players will continue to have a right to compensation for head injuries now that more information has come to light regarding concussions. Unless of course the NFL outright hides knowledge only they are aware of.

I have to say I agree with the sentiment of your post though. I can have sympathy for players who were injured without knowing all the facts, but it's hard to expect to the NFL to have more knowledge of the risks than say, the American Medical Association. The idea of compensating players millions (or was it billions?) of dollars for physical injuries, who have already been compensated extraordinarily well for playing a sport they know subjects them to physical injuries doesn't entirely sit well with me.

However, those more knowledgeable than I on the subject are the ones making the decisions...

Jlaff said:

Unless of course the NFL outright hides knowledge only they are aware of.

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They're doing this. The right to suppress findings about head injuries was part of the settlement by the NFL to former players obtained last year.

primetime said:

It's easy for us to say, but these guys make 10-20 times what we do and know that it's never happening again after they're done.

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This might be true for fringe players but veterans like him can have a well paid job soon after retirement.

Of course if he doesn't want to do anything afterwards and just hang out the rest of his life then this is his choice.

chasa said:

John Abraham who suffered a concussion, and contemplated retirement during the preseason after it came to light he has been suffering from memory loss and other mental health issues for over a year, has decided to return to the Arizona cardinals instead of retiring.

this isn't the first time, and it wont be the last were a player WILLINGLY puts themselves in harms way by playing football DESPITE knowing the risks.

The Cardinals should cut him, and no nfl teams should sign him. hes a walking lawsuit waiting to happen.

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/511600632281964544

Click to expand...

He plays a physical sport, there are dangers in every job. It's his choice. If the doctors say he can play then lets stop being wimps and let him play.

I think the point was that "his choice" doesn't work if he sues the NFL a few years after he retires.

On the one hand, teams are sometimes requiring waivers—Austin Collie had to sign one in order to join the Patriots.

On the other hand, there are also clauses in the most recent CBA allowing players to collect up to $1.5M of future salaries if they are forced to retire for medical reasons.

Before he sets foot on even a practice field someone from the Cards Front Office needs to talk with him about signing a waiver. Better yet, given his concussion Hx, a mental health expert needs to evaluate him to determine if he's even "competent" to sign a waiver, that is does he fully understand what he's signing and does he understand the risks involved.

"suffering from memory loss and other mental health issues for over a year,"


Can a person which such symptoms actually make a rational decision? Should he even be allowed?

primetime said:

They're doing this. The right to suppress findings about head injuries was part of the settlement by the NFL to former players obtained last year.

Click to expand...

Wow, I hope that isn't true. Again, I have read next to nothing on the subject, but I did read in this forum that a judge reviewed the settlement agreement, I'm surprised they would allow that. All the NFL would appear to be doing is setting itself up for more claims by not sharing full knowledge on head injuries with players. Sickening really, it's not like most people wouldn't take that risk for the compensation provided.

The NFL forgets that passion for the sport is what drives many fans to watch. You start messing with playoff teams before expansion (passion for the regular season), and making this league something people feel guilty about having a passion for (handling of Ray Rice incident/showing complete disregard for the health of your players), you might just screw it up.