Quote:
Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr
I expect a lot of fans not to agree w/my opinion. If there is one thing people find annoying about me it is my firm stand on an unpopular, personal opinion.
I'm not of the mind that concussions can ever be eliminated in any physical contact sport. But I don't think avoiding change because it will affect popularity or the bottom line is necessarily a good excuse when health and quality of life hangs in the balance. Similar objections I'm sure were made 150 or so years ago when changes were made in the coal mining industry, assembly lines, child labor and what not. Doomsday was probably declared when the hockey mask was 1st worn, or the batting helmet & facemask. Dale Earnhart had the same feelings when the racecar had added safety features. One year too late.
The problem for the NFL is that we've got a number of Earnharts as examples. It has been way past time for the league to act on behalf of their employees. They should not let the conservative fear of change prevent them from being proactive for the sake long term health. Men in power have cried the "sky is falling" whenever they have been forced to spend and adjust their industry standards for the well being of others. They were wrong then and are wrong now.
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I don't disagree with any of this. I'm just trying to point out a glaring problem. Years ago laws were passed to protect workers and children. No such thing will happen with football. If the NFL does something drastic, there will be no laws to stop another league from filling the void.