CTE - Way overblown?

[Troglodyte]

So Frank Gifford, who had a HOF career and then went on to be a commentator for nearly 3 decades before retiring in his late sixties and lived until he was well into his 80's, had CTE?

So I guess we should all be so lucky?

What's the big deal?

Seems like CTE is more of a catch phrase than anything.

 

[stillwright]

So Frank Gifford, who had a HOF career and then went on to be a commentator for nearly 3 decades before retiring in his late sixties and lived until he was well into his 80's, had CTE?

So I guess we should all be so lucky?

What's the big deal?

Seems like CTE is more of a catch phrase than anything.

Yep I agree....that's is unless you yourself have it I'm guessing.

 

[black and gold apex]

So exactly what does the NFL do? Look at Welker he still wants to play so the NFL says he can't playa and he sues, then if he plays gets on the band wagon later and sues. So lets stop football.... all these players KNOW what can happen... yet all we hear is about the concussions and dangers from these. So lets make a rule after one concussion starting in pee wee football they can never play again. Make a movie and make the NFL the bad boys when these players have been playing since 10 years old so where did the injury start. I don't see anyone suing the Casabas Hornets in the pee wee league.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Seems that some players are more susceptible than others. Gifford died of natural causes at 84, a lot of people die of natural causes at 84, but had CTE anyway. A lot of players get it much younger, as we know. I have a customer at my business who is a former NFL player, I'd guess him to be about 70, but other than two new knees he's perfectly fine. Then you have people like Junior Seau and Mike Webster who are basket cases by 40 or 50.

 

[madinsomniac]

I still don't understand why its always spoken of like it's the NFL's fault for all of these brain injuries when we know that brain trauma at younger ages are more likely to cause issues and these guys play from grade school through college before they get in the NFL... but its still the NFL that has to pay.... sounds like a cop out to me

 

[Troglodyte]

Yep I agree....that's is unless you yourself have it I'm guessing.

Or Gifford.

 

[Drink IRON City]

I still don't understand why its always spoken of like it's the NFL's fault for all of these brain injuries when we know that brain trauma at younger ages are more likely to cause issues and these guys play from grade school through college before they get in the NFL... but its still the NFL that has to pay.... sounds like a cop out to me

MONEY is who is going to be sued. At the young age you speak of, the symptoms haven't even started to show. WHY can't these nfl players sign a F-U-L-L release of liability, knowing full well of the potential damage to them. A yearly continuos education class to ALL nfl members including staff / owners / officials / anyone NFL related. Sign off every year etc., etc., etc..



Salute the nation

 

[Troglodyte]

WHY can't these nfl players sign a F-U-L-L release of liability, knowing full well of the potential damage to them.

Yes, I don't understand why a liability waiver hasn't been instituted. Part of the CBA?

It's clearly a hazardous occupation, any number of serious injuries and even death are possible.

 

[Confluence]

They should add the brain scan testing at the combine. Just the 40 and the 3 cone drill, the brain scan results could be read off with great excitement: "ooh, look at the big brain on Martavis!" and so on. Wouldn't it be great to know that under Peyton's great big fivehead that there was an extra large QB progression processor?

 

[mdk2]

Seems that some players are more susceptible than others. Gifford died of natural causes at 84, a lot of people die of natural causes at 84, but had CTE anyway. A lot of players get it much younger, as we know. I have a customer at my business who is a former NFL player, I'd guess him to be about 70, but other than two new knees he's perfectly fine. Then you have people like Junior Seau and Mike Webster who are basket cases by 40 or 50.

In the cases of Webster and Seau, I would question if they had mental health disorders before they were diagnosed with the concussions.
I'm no doctor but I would guess there was more to it than just the concussions from football.

 

[SteelerFan448]

In the cases of Webster and Seau, I would question if they had mental health disorders before they were diagnosed with the concussions.
I'm no doctor but I would guess there was more to it than just the concussions from football.

I agree. There are so many other factors that can contribute to this. Beyond potential head injuries, think of all of the supplements (chemicals) that they are ingesting as well as painkillers and other medications to sustain their careers. To narrow all post-retirement problems to a single area isn't the way to look at the issue.

 

[MTC]

So exactly what does the NFL do? Look at Welker he still wants to play so the NFL says he can't playa and he sues, then if he plays gets on the band wagon later and sues. So lets stop football.... all these players KNOW what can happen... yet all we hear is about the concussions and dangers from these. So lets make a rule after one concussion starting in pee wee football they can never play again. Make a movie and make the NFL the bad boys when these players have been playing since 10 years old so where did the injury start. I don't see anyone suing the Casabas Hornets in the pee wee league.

But Welker will forget to sue

 

[MTC]

Yes, I don't understand why a liability waiver hasn't been instituted. Part of the CBA?

It's clearly a hazardous occupation, any number of serious injuries and even death are possible.

I'm sure they sign something and know the consequences when their brain is still functioning. Once they play and become career players, that repeated brain damage messes with their memory and judgement. Its not rocket science. Football ***** up your brain plain and simple. Doesnt mean I'm against it

 

[ZonaBurgh]

Like everything else in life it's about the $$$$

Not likely a waiver would ever be considered in the CBA because of it.

There are lots of dangerous occupations if you think about it
A Marine could catch a bullet at any given moment.

 

[Yinzerlyn]

Anyone see the previews for the new movie "Concussion?" From the few I've seen, it looks like it's gonna be scathing towards Goodell and his treatment of concussions. It's not a made for TV movie- it's a theatrical release. Will Smith is in it.

 

[Stryker]

I have a degree in biopsychology, which means I studied the brain and brain chemistry. The research done by Dr. Omalu is nothing short of remarkable. He found an undisputed connection between repetitive head trauma in the NFL and brain damage. You don't ever need to experience a concussion to get CTE, you can get it from consistent low grade impacts.

The NFL immediately tries to discredit Dr Omalu when his research comes out. Then the NFL hires its own doctors (none of which are neurologists) to discredit the notion of football causing CTE. This is very much like the cigarette industry saying cigarettes don't cause cancer, when they have the knowledge that they infact do. This was a low class move to discredit his findings, which are bullet proof, as well as the neurologists that collaborated on the discovery. The only good thing about blocking Olamu, was there are now multiple sources that have found CTE and confirmed it in the same locations of the brain that Olamu has found it. These weren't simply a Look what I found studies. These are recurring results that are being found in over 95% of the brains studied. It's an epidemic

If you are dismissing this research as "doesn't mean that much" or "everyone knows football is dangerous", you need to educate yourselves, because this research is earth shattering when it comes to the game we all love.

Here's a link to the League of Denial done by Frontline. It's 2 hours, so it's a bit long as far as documentaries go, but I found it both riveting and horrifying. If you hate Goodell now, you will hate him even more after this. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/league-of-denial/

 

[Troglodyte]

If you are dismissing this research as "doesn't mean that much" or "everyone knows football is dangerous", you need to educate yourselves, because this research is earth shattering when it comes to the game we all love.

So how debilitating was CTE to Gifford or Mike Ditka or the thousands of other NFL retirees leading productive lives well into their sixties?

 

[stillwright]

So how debilitating was CTE to Gifford or Mike Ditka or the thousands of other NFL retirees leading productive lives well into their sixties?

Yet others not so much...Go figure.

 

[Troglodyte]

Yet others not so much...Go figure.

But I think the earth-shattering part of the findings is the prevalence. Then they diagnose Gifford who led an active and productive life for decades after his NFL career and its met with shock and sensationalism instead of pause and perspective.

 

[south dakota STEEL]

Seems that some players are more susceptible than others. Gifford died of natural causes at 84, a lot of people die of natural causes at 84, but had CTE anyway. A lot of players get it much younger, as we know. I have a customer at my business who is a former NFL player, I'd guess him to be about 70, but other than two new knees he's perfectly fine. Then you have people like Junior Seau and Mike Webster who are basket cases by 40 or 50.

Think maybe the drugs they do to play may effect it also...may not, but I believe they may.

Have met many OLD ex players....they are crippled up a bit, but their minds are intact...could be the influence of roids or other chemicals that make it worse...

 

[Troglodyte]

Think maybe the drugs they do to play may effect it also...may not, but I believe they may.

Have met many OLD ex players....they are crippled up a bit, but their minds are intact...could be the influence of roids or other chemicals that make it worse...

Not to mention many players struggle with depression after walking away from game. They were football heroes for two decades and now they're has beens.

 

[Supersteeler]

I work with a guy who was a starting Linebacker for 7 or 8 years in the NFL back in the 80's. His mental functioning is just fine...his knees and back however are wrecked. He has had several surgeries over the years and he still walks a little hunched over because he can't straighten his back completely.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

I work with a guy who was a starting Linebacker for 7 or 8 years in the NFL back in the 80's. His mental functioning is just fine...his knees and back however are wrecked. He has had several surgeries over the years and he still walks a little hunched over because he can't straighten his back completely.

Arthritis runs in my family but I gotta think my dad's is worse because he was a high school and college fullback with a peculiar gift for long-snapping too. Joe Paterno even recruited him to PSU, but he hurt his knee his senior year in high school and JoPa told him he wouldn't be fast enough for Div-1 after that so he went to a smaller school. He's had knee and back problems and arthritis ever since I can remember.

 

[jitter77]

Here is a scary article from kyle turley.
http://m.bleacherreport.com/article...icidal-tendencies-became-part-of-daily-living

I am sure there is something to CTE, but the drugs i am sure do not help either. My thinking is if these guys want to make millions playing a game then they are going to have to face the consequences. I have a hard time believing even the older guys were totally oblivious to what they were doing to their body. Even today with all the info out there most players try to get back into the game after a blow to the head. These guys could always go out there get an education and a real job.

 

[stillwright]

But I think the earth-shattering part of the findings is the prevalence. Then they diagnose Gifford who led an active and productive life for decades after his NFL career and its met with shock and sensationalism instead of pause and perspective.

Some soldiers after combat have different levels of PTS. Do you think football players could have different levels of CTE? While some may handle it better than others does not mean it isn't there.