CTE - Way overblown?

[Troglodyte]

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.

Sure, there can different levels of any ailment, but nobody I've heard who is sounding the CTE alarms has alluded to that. Hence, my question. If 90 or 95 percent of all former NFL players have it, but the vast majority are able to lead productive lives, what's the big deal?

I think it's a PC thing. You have to acknowledge everyone as a victim or you're being insensitive.

 

[Stryker]

Sure, there can different levels of any ailment, but nobody I've heard who is sounding the CTE alarms has alluded to that. Hence, my question. If 90 or 95 percent of all former NFL players have it, but the vast majority are able to lead productive lives, what's the big deal?

I think it's a PC thing. You have to acknowledge everyone as a victim or you're being insensitive.

It's not 90-95% of NFL players have it. It's 90-95% of dead NFL players who's brains have been tested for it, had it. Mostly your RBs, LBs, and linemen on both sides are most at risk. It doesn't mean other players can't get it, but I'd assume Punters and kickers are pretty much safe.

 

[Coach]

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.

He hung out with Dan Dierdorf for too long? Okay, a bad attempt at humor or not!

The question is when was he diagnosed with CTE?

 

[swal75]

He hung out with Dan Dierdorf for too long? Okay, a bad attempt at humor or not!

The question is when was he diagnosed with CTE?

When he died. It's the only way AFIAK.

 

[GRBman]

My wife (with a horrified expression) told me about Gifford's CTE and I said "of course he had CTE, he played back in the 50's and 60's when you had a rough plastic shell and played whether you were concussed or not."

I actually had the opportunity to meet Gifford (and the family), dude could not have been a nicer guy (once you get past the "I'm Frank F&*$#!ing Gifford" part)...Yes, he had CTE, but good Lord, let's calm down with the horrified expressions and pity-parties...(I'm speaking of the media)

Dude lived a life one can only dream of living.

 

[Steelerfan]

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.

Well if you're still in the funeral business, he'll be a better customer soon.

 

[Stryker]

I can't speak to the severity that Frank Gifford suffered due to his CTE, but his family must have recognized something because his brain was tested after he died. CTE causes the brain to behave abnormally. The severity of the abnormalities vary, but severe cases have been difinitively diagnosed. It can represent as memory loss, depression, elevated aggression, and neuro-motor disfunction. The fact that sever cases of CTE cause not only a danger to the health of the person with CTE, but a danger to others as well, is why this is such a big issue.

Chris Benoit murdering his family as well as taking his own life, Jovan Barker killing his girlfriend before taking his own life at the Cheif's facility, Strzelczyk driving into oncoming traffic, these are the reasons why CTE is such a big deal. Causing athletes in their 30's 40's and 50's to be a danger to society and themselves.

It's why players are retiring under the age of 30 now. Worlids, Willis, and Locker retiring young, and Borland retiring after one year because they feared for their health if they continued playing football. This is NOT going to be the exception to the rule, this is the new norm. More education on head trauma will cause athletes to leave this sport in the next decade. The game will never be the same, and it's never going back to smashmouth. This game will be closer to flag football when all is said and done.

 

[oneforthebus]

You do have to wonder why so many guys are seemingly unaffected though. There is a lot they still don't know I think. It seems to me there is a tendency to blame anything and everything bad that happens to a football player on CTE...there is just no real way to prove cause and effect. Lots of famous (and formerly famous) people get depressed, struggle with addiction, become violent and/or suicidal...in the music business for example. You certainly can't blame head trauma for their troubles.

I have no doubt repeated head trauma probably isn't a positive thing for most people, but I'm not sure we can attribute everything we are attributing to it.

 

[Confluence]

You do have to wonder why so many guys are seemingly unaffected though. There is a lot they still don't know I think. It seems to me there is a tendency to blame anything and everything bad that happens to a football player on CTE...there is just no real way to prove cause and effect. Lots of famous (and formerly famous) people get depressed, struggle with addiction, become violent and/or suicidal...in the music business for example. You certainly can't blame head trauma for their troubles.

I have no doubt repeated head trauma probably isn't a positive thing for most people, but I'm not sure we can attribute everything we are attributing to it.

What if those suffering from CTE have deficiencies in their endocannabinoid systems?

 

[steelcan58]

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

Poor billionaire owners . I feel bad.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Well if you're still in the funeral business, he'll be a better customer soon.

No, not in the funeral business yet. Almost done with school.

 

[Troglodyte]

It's why players are retiring under the age of 30 now. Worlids, Willis, and Locker retiring young, and Borland retiring after one year because they feared for their health if they continued playing football. This is NOT going to be the exception to the rule, this is the new norm.

You can't say a handful of players out of a few thousand voluntarily retiring is the new norm. I imagine there will be more but as long as the average NFL player makes upwards of 40 times the average person's salary, there will be no shortage of players. I also wouldn't be surprised if some of those who walk away live to regret it or try to return.

 

[Stryker]

You can't say a handful of players out of a few thousand voluntarily retiring is the new norm. I imagine there will be more but as long as the average NFL player makes upwards of 40 times the average person's salary, there will be no shortage of players. I also wouldn't be surprised if some of those who walk away live to regret it or try to return.

Yet these players walked away from $9M+ per year contracts. Something that had not been witnessed before by young talented players who are not retiring due to a debilitating injury. It's astounding really.

I think the only instance of a walkaway and return was Ricky Waters, but his reasons were financial. He couldn't afford to stay away with the money he would have had to pay back, so he returned.

 

[Troglodyte]

Yet these players walked away from $9M+ per year contracts. Something that had not been witnessed before by young talented players who are not retiring due to a debilitating injury. It's astounding really.

I think the only instance of a walkaway and return was Ricky Waters, but his reasons were financial. He couldn't afford to stay away with the money he would have had to pay back, so he returned.

Oh, it's easier once you've made $10 or $20 million, but try telling a rookie he should consider a different career.

Ricky Williams, not Waters. Others might come back for the same reason the only difference being because they can no longer afford the lifestyle or possessions they have.

There have been others who walked away. A RB for the 49ers (can't remember his name) walked away for other reasons a few years ago. What was Mendenhall's reason? Also, Lynn Swan also early retired briefly. I remember, I was heartbroken.

 

[Stryker]

Oh, it's easier once you've made $10 or $20 million, but try telling a rookie he should consider a different career.

Ricky Williams, not Waters. Others might come back for the same reason the only difference being because they can no longer afford the lifestyle or possessions they have.

There have been others who walked away. A RB for the 49ers (can't remember his name) walked away for other reasons a few years ago. What was Mendenhall's reason? Also, Lynn Swan also early retired briefly. I remember, I was heartbroken.

Thanks sir, I don't know why I typed Waters instead of Williams, but he's on to "greener" pastures now...

And it is starting to happen to rookies. Just look at Borland on the 49ers. One great year and retires (due to fears of head trauma). Even returns 2/3 of his signing bonus for retiring early.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Borland

 

[Troglodyte]

Merril Hoge, whose career ended because of head trauma was on WDVE yesterday morning and was very critical of of the relevance of CTE and the war of football.

He pointed out there are many parents who won't let their kids play football, but don't think anything of letting them ride a bike without a helmet.