Pravda
Guest
After reading a number of articles recently (not go mention John Gruden's essentially continuous line of discussion during last nights game about the impact to RGIII of all the hits), it's hard not to think about the long term implications of all of the hits on RGIII.
As the NYT stated a day or two ago in an article entitled "Study Bolsters Link Between Routine Hits and Brain Disease", the case in becoming increasing strong that head injuries to football (and in certain cases, hockey) players are almost certainly likely to create severe, debilitating implications in affected players.
If you look at the brain scans in the NYT article, I would be surprised if you weren't convinced (and perhaps, a little horrified) at the implications to running backs like Alfred Morris (or Clinton Portis, Stephen Davis, Reggie Brooks, etc. before him) on their long term health.
The correlation between head hits and brain injuries notwithstanding, I do feel increasingly concerned about NFL players, not least the Redskins and our two outstanding rookies who have been hit hard and often this season. (Also, one wonders what degree of culpability we all have in perpetuating this kind of damage -- though obviously, one can argue that all participants are fully informed about the costs/implications.)
Ignoring the long term implications for a moment, I am increasingly concerned about RGIII and his short and medium term health given how many (massive) hits he has taken this season. Granted he's a rookie and the offensive line hasn't been great in protecting him (not to mention RGIII's competitiveness resulting in some extra yards at a painful, painful cost), but one wonders how long this can keep up. I'd say not long.
I wonder what conversations are happening behind the scene among the coaches and the players.
There was a pretty candid quote recently by the Chief's Eric Winston where in relevant part he said "I’ve already kinda come to the understanding that I won’t live as long because I play this game and that’s OK, that’s a choice I’ve made and a choice all of us have made."
One wonders what RGIII is hearing from the coaches and from his own family. Certainly everyone has to be encouraging him to find ways to get rid of the ball so can avoid the hits, right?
Whatever is being discussed, I think we can all agree that the hits on him cannot continue without there being short and long term health and performance issues.
As the NYT stated a day or two ago in an article entitled "Study Bolsters Link Between Routine Hits and Brain Disease", the case in becoming increasing strong that head injuries to football (and in certain cases, hockey) players are almost certainly likely to create severe, debilitating implications in affected players.
If you look at the brain scans in the NYT article, I would be surprised if you weren't convinced (and perhaps, a little horrified) at the implications to running backs like Alfred Morris (or Clinton Portis, Stephen Davis, Reggie Brooks, etc. before him) on their long term health.
The correlation between head hits and brain injuries notwithstanding, I do feel increasingly concerned about NFL players, not least the Redskins and our two outstanding rookies who have been hit hard and often this season. (Also, one wonders what degree of culpability we all have in perpetuating this kind of damage -- though obviously, one can argue that all participants are fully informed about the costs/implications.)
Ignoring the long term implications for a moment, I am increasingly concerned about RGIII and his short and medium term health given how many (massive) hits he has taken this season. Granted he's a rookie and the offensive line hasn't been great in protecting him (not to mention RGIII's competitiveness resulting in some extra yards at a painful, painful cost), but one wonders how long this can keep up. I'd say not long.
I wonder what conversations are happening behind the scene among the coaches and the players.
There was a pretty candid quote recently by the Chief's Eric Winston where in relevant part he said "I’ve already kinda come to the understanding that I won’t live as long because I play this game and that’s OK, that’s a choice I’ve made and a choice all of us have made."
One wonders what RGIII is hearing from the coaches and from his own family. Certainly everyone has to be encouraging him to find ways to get rid of the ball so can avoid the hits, right?
Whatever is being discussed, I think we can all agree that the hits on him cannot continue without there being short and long term health and performance issues.