Concussions in Collegiate and Professional Football: Who Has

Responsibility to Protect Players?

 When we think of football its always something we enjoy every Sunday with our family
and friends. Getting to look forward to it every weekend cause our favorite team is
going to play, but we don’t realize what it takes to participate in football and all the risks
it entails? Football concussion injuries have spiked through the roof and have been so
controversial these recent years. While many organizations are trying to reduce the
severity of concussions many athletes have become more active to reform their injuries
whether it’s in the NFL or down to the football level.

Who is responsible to determine when a player should stop playing? Is it the

responsibility of the player, the team, the team coach, the team doctor, an outside
medical group, a third party?

When it comes to whether or not whose responsible to determine when a player should
stop playing is a difficult question, athletes presumed that the commitment to their and
game was much more crucial than their safety.  and, consequently, instead of letting
down the squad, coaches, college, and parents, they performed with a concussion.
In many other cases, 

concussion symptoms went away within two weeks, but symptoms remained for individ
uals and last weeks, months, or even many years later. The most disturbing thing is that
the study identified an athletics organization that denied self-reporting concussion.

Which lead to a safety conference that was co-sponsored by the NCAA and the College
Athletic Trainers Society in College Football. The main purpose of this conference was
to bring together 

a unique group of professionals, whose common interest are to improve the safety

of college football and any other sport. The agenda included three primary points:
private medical care in college sports, diagnosis and management for concussions, and
contact in the training of football.
The concussion policy of the NCAA only required schools to receive

written acknowledgments from athletes that they had received concussion education an
d had to report symptoms to the staff. 
The perceptions of coaches of concussions and how players viewed
the perceptions of their coaches seemed to play a major role in whether players reporte
d the 

symptoms of concussion.
Players like offensive linemen or running backs, who have taken 

the most hits throughout

the season, may also have believed these symptoms were part of their daily routine.
Once these symptoms were to become the norm for university level players,

 they would probably transfer over into their NFL professional careers.

What are the ramifications of the decisions for player disqualification?

The ramification of the decisions for the player’s disqualification is that they may
develop serious brain damage. Being that if a concussion goes under the radar it can be
a severe consequence in the future. Many football players who developed brain trauma
from so many forceful hits developed CTE and dementia.

Should the findings from the NCAA and NFL be applied to Pee-Wee football? e.g.
players younger than 18?

I do believe that the NCAA and NFL findings should be applied to the to all sports
especially Pee Wee Football. This is very important because since kids are still very
young the brain still hasn’t been fully developed. With football being such a hard impact
playing sport, there is reason to believe that the brain can be affected at a young age.
When there is repetitive forceful trauma to the brain it does develop over time and since
pee wee isn’t like a professional sport there should be considerations.

What is the ethical framework that you feel should be applied to this case?

A Framework for executing strategy would be applied.

An organization for each academic facility with managers capable of recognize when an
athlete has a concussion and strategize if an athlete has a concussion through a process.
Being able to develop any resources and organizational capabilities required to
strategize if and when an athlete gets a concussion. Creating a prime strategy that is
supportive organizational structure and simply establish rules that take concussion more
serious.
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The NFL established a concussion management protocol that was similar to the NCAA’s
plan that included pre-season education, physical assessments, and baseline
neuropsychological testing. The NFL’s practice or game day management protocol was
different from that of the NCAA. A summary of NFL concussion protocol follows:

Player with sign or symptoms of Concussion-

Player with concussion signs has been removed from the field and evaluated by the med
ical team. The evaluation was placed in the medical record of the player and compared t
o his baseline. It was forbidden to return to practice on the same day or play with a diag
nosed concussion.

Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant (UNC). During the games, teams had an

independent doctor who had experience in treating head injuries on the sidelines.

Booth ATC (certified athletic trainer). For both teams in the stadium booth, an ATC
with access to multiple view video and replay was used as a spotter. Communication
existed between the spotter and the medical staff of the teams to allow the ATC to
report plays that seemed to have               possible injuries. Plays could also be reviewed
by the sideline medical staff to assess potential               injury.

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Madden Rule. A player diagnosed with a concussion was removed from the field on a
game day and medical staff observed in the locker room. The Madden rule was for
athletes to recover without disturbance along with medical staff. Until cleared, a player
diagnosed with a concussion was not allowed to speak to the press.

NFL Sideline Concussion Assessment. A player diagnosed with a concussion would

perform the NFL Sideline Concussion Assessment on the day of injury. Before the player
goes home, the assessment would be repeated.
Additional Triggers for Medical Evaluation. If an athlete had a hard impact or a
concern was brought up by another player, or by the coach or any team manager, the
team physician immediately would remove the player from the field for evaluation. If the
doctor determined that the player had no concussion, then the video would be
evaluated before the player could enter the game. The entire NFL concussion protocol
would be performed if there were any doubt.

Additional Best Practices.  Serial concussion evaluations have been suggested because
for hours concussive injuries may not be evident. If any doubt occurred, the player is
removed from play or practice. Take-home information and follow-up instructions were
given to a player with concussion.

What are the ethical implications of the NFL in not using all of the reported
concussions from 1996 – 2001?

The ethical implication of not using all the reported concussions from the years 1996-
2001 was huge because evidences disputed that football led to higher risk brain injuries.
Being reported that so many football injuries were occurring and only seen as a minor
issue. In that time period, the return to play guidelines were applied when the Academy
of Neurology they declared that repetitive concussions lead to serious brain damage.
Being that football is such a well-known sport not many athletes took into consideration
that it would be long time brain trauma.

Are there any differences in the subsequent NFL studies? Are the differences
driven by financial, legal, or ethical standards?

When looking at the NFL studies there isn’t much of a difference. The football head
injuries still occur up to now. Since recent studies showed that the head trauma were
becoming more and more serious schools started implementing the “no full contact
practices’’ to reduce concussions. Helmet technology also was making a difference
because Riddell was creating a new helmet to prevent concussion and they were made
to pass the standard requirements.

Are the manufacturers of safety equipment responsible for any injuries sustained
by players?

The manufactures over the past years have developed safety equipment for players and
many believed it was an improvement. Although some athlete believe otherwise and
think that the safety equipment is encouraging the athletes to have more forceful hits.
Manufactures can and should create safety equipment but can be responsible for any
injuries sustained by the athletes. Although, the manufactures goal is to reduce the
number of injuries it cannot prevent head or neck injuries of a player while playing
football. A new and revolutionary VICIS Zero1 football helmet was 

launched in collaboration with the University Of Washington after ten million was

funded and took about 2 years to create. It was created to reduce the amount of
concussions that were occurring and very beneficial to the players. Stated in the book,
“Hines ward believes players use their helmet like a weapon, giving them more ability to
deliver a big hit, rather than protecting players from receiving a big hit. If players did not
wear helmets, they would play less recklessly and, therefore, prevent head shots from
opposing players. However, skull fractures would likely increase (even if concussions
decreased) from the removal of helmets from football players, which would not increase
the overall safety of the game”. Although Hines made a very good point, the question
would be if football would prohibit helmets.

Are financial settlements ethical?

Financial settlements are ethical because not only do they payout the athletes and
retired athletes many lawsuits were placed because so many athletes were effective by
the brain damage and illness developed. With all the education and information, we
know now about football and the brain damage that is developed many people are
making better life choices. With so many retired athletes living in a period where
concussion were a minor issue are now face many brain damages and dementia. They
need the settlements for expenses and what I mean by expensive is lawyer fees from the
lawsuits, medical fees and medical assistance fees because of the diseases of
concussions. The NFL created this billion-dollar settlement to compensate the athletes
and it is very ethical for those effected.

Head Injuries & American Football

American football is a rough and dangerous game. “Football is both notorious and
cherished for its unapologetic, brute-force violence.”[1] Players suffer bruises, lacerations,
torn muscles, dislocated shoulders, torn knee ligaments, broken bones, internal organ
damage, and, occasionally, even paralysis. Football rules intentionally create high speed
 collisions between human beings, making such injuries inevitable and the sport
controversial. And new knowledge about brain injuries have caused many people to call
football immoral[2] and to advocate its abolition.[3]
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is “a disruption in the normal function of the brain that can be
caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or penetrating head injury.”[4] A concussion is
a form of TBI where the blow causes the brain to move rapidly back and forth, bouncing
around in the skull and suffering various types of structural damage. [5] Although
concussions can carry serious consequences, they are termed a “mild” form of TBI because
they are not typically life threatening. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is “brain
degeneration likely caused by repeated head traumas.”[6] Repetitive head impacts
(RHIs) can cumulatively lead to CTE and early death, even though no single RHI results in
a concussion.[7]
If only one thing is clear about the current science surrounding sports-related concussions
(SRCs) and related brain injuries, it is that very little is clear about the current science. The
field is surprisingly new.  As told in the movies, a significant scientific breakthrough occurred
in 2002 when an African-American neuropathologist in Pittsburgh named Bennet Omalu
(played by Will Smith in the 2015 movie “Concussion”) performed an autopsy on Hall of
Fame center Mike Webster. Dr. Omalu identified abnormal clumps of the protein tau in
Webster’s brain, which he believed to be evidence of CTE.[8] Such proteins develop in
tangles that slowly strangle neurons and, consequently, inhibit brain function.[9]
Many recent studies point to how dangerous football is to players’ long-term brain health.
These studies are broken down by football league level:

National Football League (NFL):

 Over two regular seasons (2012-2014), NFL players sustained 4,384 injuries,
including 301 concussions. This statistic is up 61% from 2002-2007, perhaps reflecting an
improvement of awareness and reporting.[10]
 In a study of 14,000 NFL players, researchers found that even head impacts
insufficient to cause concussions can mount up over the years, leading to CTE and
premature death. An NFL player who plays 24 games increases the likelihood of premature
death by 16%.[11]
 A 2019 study of the brains of 223 football players with CTE and 43 players without
CTE found that for each additional 2.6 years of play, the risk of developing CTE doubled.
[12]
 Another study found that greater RHI exposure correlated with higher levels of
plasma t-tau (a biomarker for CTE) in symptomatic former NFL players as compared to the
study’s control group.[13]
 Of 111 NFL players whose brains were donated for one study, 110 were diagnosed
with CTE.[14]
 A 2012 study of 3,439 NFL players with five years or more in the NFL found that their
neurogenerative mortality was three times that of the general U.S. population, and four
times higher for two subcategories: Alzheimer’s disease, and Lou Gehrig’s Disease
(amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS).[15]
 Other studies found that NFL players who suffered concussions were more likely to
later be diagnosed with depression, [16] dementia-related syndromes,[17] Lou Gehrig’s
Disease (ALS),[18] and erectile dysfunction.[19]
 

College & High School:

 A study of former high school and college football players found that RHI exposure
predicted later-life apathy, depression, executive dysfunction, and cognitive impairment.[20]
 After a single season, college football players had less midbrain white matter than
they had started with.[21]
 High school athletes are reluctant to report concussions.[22]
 A 2017 study found CTE in 21% of donated brains of deceased high school football
players.[23]
 Over time more evidence has indicated that even mild concussions suffered by high
school football players can cause serious consequences.[24]
 Football causes more concussions than any other high school sport,[25] and these
concussions can cause death.[26]
 

Youth Leagues (Under 14):

 Youth football players average 240 head impacts per season. Some of these are
high impacts comparable to those experienced in high school and college games.[27]
 Children between the ages of 9 and 14 make up the largest cohort of football players
in the U.S. They can suffer concussions from milder collisions than would be required to
concuss a collegiate or professional player.[28]
 According to research by neuroscientists, “There seems to be greater consequences
if you’re getting your head hit when the brain is rapidly developing [below age 12].”[29]
 A study of former NFL players found that those who began playing football before
age 12 tended to show greater later-life cognitive impairments as compared to those who
began after age 12.[30]
–

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY

Given the results of the studies above, it is not surprising that there has been a strong
outcry against football. However, the science in this area is truly not settled. Part of the
reason is that “[m]ost of the time when a player has a concussion, standard medical
imaging techniques do not show damage.”[31] No “gold standard” for diagnosing
concussions currently exists.[32] Many researchers in the area recently published an article
saying:
 Contrary to common perception, the clinical syndrome of CTE has not yet been fully
defined. Its prevalence is unknown, and the neuropathological diagnostic criteria are no
more than preliminary. We have an incomplete understanding of the extent or distribution of
pathology required to produce neurological dysfunction or to distinguish diseased from
healthy tissue, with the neuropathological changes reported in apparently asymptomatic
individuals.”[33]
Neuropsychologist Munro Cullum argues: “I worry the pendulum has swung too far. The
reality is that we still don’t know who is most likely to suffer a concussion, who will take
longer to recover, how anatomic or genetic differences influence concussions, and who may
be at risk of prolonged symptoms or developing cognitive problems later in life.”[34]
Furthermore, many of the studies cited by those who would like to abolish tackle football
have involved relatively small sample sizes.[35]  Other studies have involved skewed
samples, including one where all the NFL players’ brains had been donated because of
mental declines that the donors had suffered before their deaths.[36]
Most importantly, other studies seem to indicate that concussions may be more benign.
Again, these studies are broken down by league level:

NFL
 A 2016 study found no elevated risk of suicide in a population of players with at least
five years in the league.[37]
 Another study of 35 former NFL players over age 50 who had sustained multiple
concussions during their careers found no significant association between the length of
careers, the number of concussions, and their level of cognitive function later in life.[38]
 One study found no statistically significant difference between the all-cause mortality
among career NFL players and NFL replacement players who played just three games
during the strike of 1987.[39]
 A 2007 study found that retired NFL players experienced levels of depressive
symptoms no worse than those of the general population.[40]
 

College & High School

 Suicide rates among NCAA football players are the highest among all sports, but
they are substantially lower than the general population age 18-22 or college students in
that age range.[41]
 A study of 3,904 Wisconsin men found no significant harmful association between
playing football in high school and cognitive impairment or depression later in life.[42]
 Reducing tackling in practices has reduced overall concussion numbers among high
school players, even though the number of concussions in games has risen slightly. And
concussion recurrence has been reduced, most likely by protocols guiding when it is safe to
return to play.[43]
 One expert said “It really seems right now that if your [football] practices are highly
controlled and reduced as much as possible and you only play four years of high school,
your [CTE] risk is probably pretty low.”[44]
 

Youth Leagues (Under 14)

 Despite their heightened susceptibility to concussions, youth football players rarely
sustain concussions because they are lighter and collide with less force than older players.
[45]
 In one study, use of newly-designed football helmets and safe tackling techniques
eliminated concussions for 20 middle school aged players for an entire season.[46]
Studies such as these provide ammunition for those who defend organized football as an
institution. However, many such studies were funded or carried out by the NFL, owners of
NFL franchises, universities that earn millions of dollars from football, and other interested
parties. Given the obvious conflict of interest, the studies have been criticized on that
ground.[47] There is also evidence that the NFL sought to influence the findings of some of
the research it funded. [48] In addition, evidence indicates (and is consistent with the self-
serving bias) that industry funding of research often influences results.[49]
The NFL has taken other concrete steps to respond to the controversy. It paid more than
$750 million to settle a civil lawsuit by former players.[50] The NFL has also changed rules
to discourage helmet-to-helmet contact,[51] and has instituted protocols for safely returning
concussed players to the field.[52]
On the other hand, while football helmets can prevent fractured skulls, they will likely never
be able to prevent concussions.[53] Studies indicate that there are helmets that may
decrease concussions,[54] but neuroscientist Julie Stamm says: “No helmet will ever be
concussion-proof, because the brain still moves inside the skull. And for the same reason, a
helmet alone will not prevent CTE.”[55] Furthermore, while the NFL has banned helmet-to-
helmet hits, these are neither the only nor the most common cause of concussions.
[56] Professor Goldberg argues that “there is little evidence that such incremental changes
[e.g., in tackling techniques] have a substantial risk-reducing effect.”[57]
Some people accuse the media (and others) of hysterically overhyping the dangers of
tackle football to the brain.[58] Other people believe that media discussions have impeded
needed change in minimizing sports violence.[59] At the end of the day, the jury still seems
to be out on the question of whether you can go to a football game or watch one on
television and still feel good about yourself for supporting a sport that seems to cause
irreversible traumatic brain injuries.
Discussion Questions

General Discussion Questions 

1. Which approach do you think should be used to determine the ethicality of banning, or at
least seriously reforming, football to reduce head trauma? Utilitarian? Deontological?
Explain why and how using that approach might play out.
2. If you apply Systematic Moral Analysis to the question of whether or not it is moral to
continue to support and/or play football, do you get different results for different league
categories and age groups? Explain. Is there a case to be made for “justified harm” in any of
these leagues? Why or why not?
3. New Yorker writer Ingfei Chen observed that Fisher-Price had been required to recall a
collapsible crib that was associated with 32 infant deaths. Five million cribs had been sold.
Chen noted that “there is no such thing as an acceptably risky crib,” but contrasted it with
sports like football where “hazards are part of their attraction.” She asked: “How much risk
is too much?”
1. How do we answer that question? What factors go into each side of the equation?
2. Are the answers different for NFL players, college players, high school players, and
under-14 players? Discuss your reasoning.
3. Is this an ethical issue? A policy issue? A political issue? All three? Explain.
4. Chen also points to the uncertainties of the science, noting: “For now, these complexities
make certain questions about the disease unanswerable. If subconcussive blows are the
cause of C.T.E., how much impact is too much? How do the tau clumps relate to the clinical
syndrome—do the lesions fully explain the mood and memory problems? (Probably not;
other kinds of brain abnormalities, such as inflammation or damage to neural wiring from
head injuries, may play a role.)”[60] Chen further notes that the type of decades-long study
that might resolve these issues would be terribly expensive and that no such study is on the
horizon.[61] In light of this continuing uncertainty, how do we decide whether (and how) to
reform or even abolish football when we have lives on one side of the scales and livelihoods
on the other?
1. Do these choices remind you of the COVID-19 pandemic when governments, in
deciding whether to shut down society and later when to reopen it, had to weigh
lives vs. livelihoods? Why or why not?
5. The NFL and universities, among others, urge no rash actions until there is more concrete
proof of a causal link between concussions and adverse health outcomes. Others suggest
that the uncertainty favors taking actions now rather than waiting until too much damage is
done, as happened with tobacco.[62] Sports sociologist Matt Ventresca argues: “As sports
executives and researchers issue precautionary calls for more conclusive evidence,
countless athletes are exposed to repeated head impacts without the benefits of future
knowledge gained from pending scientific investigations.”[63] Professor Daniel Goldberg
claims that the Precautionary Principle[64] demands that we prevent youngsters from
playing football even if the evidence that it will cause serious damage to their brains is not
yet clearly established:[65] “[W]aiting for robust evidence of causality is historically a very
poor guideline for maximizing population health.”[66] Other public health experts similarly
argue that the evidence of risk is sufficiently high to meet both parts of OSHA’s test for
 “significant risk of material impairment of health” that justifies government intervention.
[67] In the face of medical uncertainty, what is the proper approach to this debate?
1. Where should the burden of proof lie?
2. Which approach do you find more persuasive, and why?
3. Do you think this an ethical issue or just a policy issue? Explain.
6. Regarding sports concussions, President Obama stated: “We have to change a culture that
says ‘you suck it up and play through a brain injury…. [Reporting a concussion] doesn’t make
you weak, it means you’re strong.” On the other hand, President Trump has stated that rule
changes to diminish head injuries are “ruining the game.”[68] Are politics, as well as ethics,
involved in this debate? Discuss your reasoning.
7. One scientist said: “Don’t forget there’s risk in everything we do. Riding a bicycle carries risk
and not a whole lot of parents are not letting their kids ride a bike. So, we just need to kind
of put it in context.”[69] Do you find this argument persuasive? Why or why not?
1. Is your opinion altered by the fact that the scientist quoted above is the neurologist
for the Michigan State University football team?
8. Some argue against paternalism and in favor of individual choice, believing that adults (at
least) should be able to choose to engage in boxing (and presumably to play football)
despite its potentially adverse consequences for brain health.[70] Using John Stuart Mill’s
Harm Principle,[71] others argue that the individualists overlook the damage that such a
choice by a football player might have on others. For example, on the people the player
might later beat up in a rage caused by brain deterioration, on the burden on caregivers of
caring for a dementia-ridden patient, or the sorrow a premature death might cause
relatives, and the burden on society caused by high medical expenses to take care of an
impaired ex-player.[72] Where do you stand on the paternalism vs. individual choice
debate? Support your position with data and facts.
Discussion Questions on the NFL
1. Many people who are in favor of abolishing football or significantly reforming the way it is
played are pro-choice when it comes to abortion, minor drug use, and assisted suicide. Why,
then, do you think they oppose letting adults choose freely to play football? [73] Can these
contradictory positions be reconciled? Explain.
1. How about the reverse—why do many people who believe football players should
be free to decide what they do with their bodies take decidedly un-libertarian
positions on issues such as abortion, marijuana legalization, and assisted suicide?
Explain.
2. Our society allows people to voluntarily choose to undertake many risky professions,
including coal miners, fire jumpers, soldiers, underwater oil rig welders, and others.
[74] Why, then, should NFL players not be able to do the same?
3. Steve Almond argues that “a civilian leisure class … has created, for its own entertainment, a
caste of warriors too big and strong and fast to play a child’s game without grievously
injuring one another.”[75] Do you think this a moral issue? Why or why not?
1. Relatedly, should fans of the game be ashamed of themselves? Why or why not?
4. One suggested solution to the concussion problem is to outlaw helmets on the theory that
players will be forced to reduce headfirst collisions and other trauma-causing actions.
[76] Does this sound like a viable solution to you? Explain your reasoning.
 1. The co-chair of the NFL’s Health and Safety Advisory Committee has said that the
committee thinks helmets are part of the culture and tradition and will not be
outlawed in the foreseeable future.[77] Football’s rules have been changed
frequently over the years, so why do you think this is different? Or is it?
5. Some take the view that the NFL has acted like the tobacco industry did when it was
confronted with lawsuits seeking to prove to juries that smoking caused cancer.[78] In light
of very strong evidence associating football violence with brain injuries, the NFL’s goal has
simply been to “manufacture doubt” and thereby delay regulation.[79] Do you think that is
true? Why or why not? Do you find it to be a moral issue? Explain.
6. African-Americans make up 12.6% of the American population but 68% of NFL rosters. Thus,
they are disproportionately exposed to concussions and other injuries that arise from the
game. This has led some to suggest that the NFL is a modern plantation.[80] And that
concussions present not just a public health issue but also a social justice issue.[81] Are
these fair criticisms? Discuss your reasoning.
1. Do you think these critiques are counterbalanced by the fact that the riches that are
often lavished upon NFL players go disproportionately to African-Americans as well?
Explain.
2. Do you think that the NFL would make more safety-related changes if white players
dominated rosters? Why or why not?
7. It has been suggested at both the NFL and collegiate level that team physicians are faced
with conflicting loyalties. They have a duty to preserve the players’ health, but
simultaneously feel pressure to get players back out on the field so the team can win.
[82] What is your opinion?
1. How might the self-serving bias impact team physicians’ and trainers’ judgments
and actions?
Discussion Questions on High Schools & Colleges
1. In the wake of the recent pandemic, Oklahoma State head football coach Mike Gundy said
“In my opinion, if we have to bring our players back, test them. They’re all in good shape.
They’re all 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22-year-olds. They’re healthy … And people say that’s crazy.
No, it’s not crazy because we need to continue and budget and run money through the
state of Oklahoma.”[83] One commentator cited this remark as stark evidence that “[t]he
supremacy of commercial and hedonic interests over the social welfare has, unfortunately
become indelibly imprinted into the ethical fiber of American culture.”[84] Do you agree?
Why or why not?
1. Do you see parallels between the debate as to whether to begin playing football
again in the wake of the pandemic and the debate as to whether to abolish or
reform football in light of the evidence on brain trauma? Explain.
2. Ramogi Huma, executive director of the National College Players Association, argued that
schools should be required to fully inform [college] players about the risks of playing
football now, including information about their susceptibilities to underlying health
conditions. Do you agree?[85]
1. Is this disclosure enough? Explain.
2. Are college (and high school) players sufficiently mature to make reasoned
judgments based on such disclosures? Support your position with data and facts.
 3. Statistician Ted Tatos[86] cites the California Supreme Court in University of California v.
Rosen as ruling that “[s]tudents are comparatively vulnerable and dependent on their
colleges for a safe environment. Colleges have a superior ability to provide that safety with
respect to activities they sponsor or facilities they control.”[87] Do you agree with this
statement? Why or why not? How does it impact your position on the debate about
concussions in football?
Discussion Questions on Youth Leagues (Under 14)
1. A public health professor has said that letting pre-teens play tackle football is “an abdication
of moral responsibility for children’s welfare.”[88] Do you agree, or is this getting a little
hysterical? Explain.
2. Empirical research supports the notion that allowing children to engage in dangerous forms
of play is key to their optimal development.[89] It helps them learn to assess risks, for
example. Based on such findings, philosopher John Russell has argued that children should
be allowed to play tackle football.[90] He believes in the distinctive value of physically “self-
affirming” behavior which he argues is available mainly in childhood. Russell states:
“Dangerous sport in its best exemplars, particularly those in which substantial bodily danger
is an immediate and ever-present risk, represents an opportunity for confronting and
pressing beyond certain apparent limits of personal, and indeed human, physical and
psychological capacities in ways not afforded by other normally available human
activities.”[91] On the other hand, Philosopher Patrick Findler argues that children may not
be able to fully realize the dangers they face when playing football, and that other, less
dangerous activities, can provide the benefits Russell desires.[92] Whose argument do you
find more persuasive, and why?
3. Daniel Goldberg observes that “there is also a crucial social and political question that is not
simply a function of that empirical evidence base: to what risks is it acceptable to expose
youths and adolescents?”[93] Is that risk level different than it would be for older players?
Explain.
4. Would you prevent kids under 14 from playing tackle football? Why or why not?

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to examine risk patterns of concussion in college
football. Multivariate models were used to interpret the data. Specifically, log-linear
modeling and analysis techniques were incorporated into the investigation. An average
of 49 college teams were studied over the 8 year period 1975 to 1982. This represented
over 36,000 athlete-seasons and 395 team-seasons. The data selected were limited to
1,005 game-related concussions. The general hypotheses tested were the null
hypothesis that the variables of team (offense and defense), player position, situation
(rushing and passing), and activity (block and tackle) had no effect on the occurrence of
these game-related concussions. It was found that concussions were a persistent and
regular but relatively infrequent type of injury in college football. Concussions
accounted for 75% of the total number of injuries on or about the head. The injuries
were examined relative to player position, situation, and activity using a log-linear
modeling technique, with interactions among the variables also established. The
contribution of each variable was not always equal or completely interactive. Generally,
the highest risk of concussion was associated with offensive and defensive players
involved in a block on a rushing play. Specifically, running backs demonstrated the
highest risk of concussion, regardless of activity. The lowest risk was for offensive
linemen and quarterbacks while blocking on any type of play. On defense, the
secondary exhibited the highest risk of concussion while being blocked on a running
play. Similarly, linemen experienced their greatest risk while being blocked on plays run
inside the tackle.(A

Harvard Business Case Studies Solutions –

Assignment Help
In most courses studied at Harvard Business schools, students are provided with a case study.
Major HBR cases concerns on a whole industry, a whole organization or some part of organization;
profitable or non-profitable organizations. Student’s role is to analyze the case and diagnose the
situation, identify the problem and then give appropriate recommendations and steps to be taken.
To make a detailed case analysis, student should follow these steps:

STEP 1: Reading Up Harvard Case Study Method

Guide:
Case study method guide is provided to students which determine the aspects of problem needed to
be considered while analyzing a case study. It is very important to have a thorough reading and
understanding of guidelines provided. However, poor guide reading will lead to misunderstanding of
case and failure of analyses. It is recommended to read guidelines before and after reading the case
to understand what is asked and how the questions are to be answered. Therefore, in-depth
understanding f case guidelines is very important.

Harvard Case Study Solutions

 STEP 2: Reading The Harvard Concussions In
Football Case Study:
To have a complete understanding of the case, one should focus on case reading. It is said that
case should be read two times. Initially, fast reading without taking notes and underlines should be
done. Initial reading is to get a rough idea of what information is provided for the analyses. Then, a
very careful reading should be done at second time reading of the case. This time, highlighting the
important point and mark the necessary information provided in the case. In addition, the quantitative
data in case, and its relations with other quantitative or qualitative variables should be given more
importance. Also, manipulating different data and combining with other information available will give
a new insight. However, all of the information provided is not reliable and relevant.
When having a fast reading, following points should be noted:
 Nature of organization
 Nature if industry in which organization operates.
 External environment that is effecting organization
 Problems being faced by management
 Identification of communication strategies.
 Any relevant strategy that can be added.
 Control and out-of-control situations.
When reading the case for second time, following points should be considered:
 Decisions needed to be made and the responsible Person to make decision.
 Objectives of the organization and key players in this case.
 The compatibility of objectives. if not, their reconciliations and necessary redefinition.
 Sources and constraints of organization from meeting its objectives.
After reading the case and guidelines thoroughly, reader should go forward and start the analyses of
the case.

STEP 3: Doing The Case Analysis Of Concussions

In Football:
To make an appropriate case analyses, firstly, reader should mark the important problems that are
happening in the organization. There may be multiple problems that can be faced by any
organization. Secondly, after identifying problems in the company, identify the most concerned and
important problem that needed to be focused.
Firstly, the introduction is written. After having a clear idea of what is defined in the case, we deliver
it to the reader. It is better to start the introduction from any historical or social context. The
challenging diagnosis for Concussions In Football and the management of information is needed to
be provided. However, introduction should not be longer than 6-7 lines in a paragraph. As the most
important objective is to convey the most important message for to the reader.
After introduction, problem statement is defined. In the problem statement, the company’s most
important problem and constraints to solve these problems should be define clearly. However, the
problem should be concisely define in no more than a paragraph. After defining the problems and
constraints, analysis of the case study is begin.
 STEP 4: SWOT Analysis of the Concussions In
Football Case Solution:
SWOT analysis helps the business to identify its strengths and weaknesses, as well as
understanding of opportunity that can be availed and the threat that the company is facing. SWOT
for Concussions In Football is a powerful tool of analysis as it provide a thought to uncover and
exploit the opportunities that can be used to increase and enhance company’s operations. In
addition, it also identifies the weaknesses of the organization that will help to be eliminated and
manage the threats that would catch the attention of the management.
This strategy helps the company to make any strategy that would differentiate the company from
competitors, so that the organization can compete successfully in the industry. The strengths and
weaknesses are obtained from internal organization. Whereas, the opportunities and threats are
generally related from external environment of organization. Moreover, it is also called Internal-
External Analysis.
STRENGTHS:
In the strengths, management should identify the following points exists in the organization:
 Advantages of the organization
 Activities of the company better than competitors.
 Unique resources and low cost resources company have.
 Activities and resources market sees as the company’s strength.
 Unique selling proposition of the company.
WEAKNESSES:
 Improvement that could be done.
 Activities that can be avoided for Concussions In Football.
 Activities that can be determined as your weakness in the market.
 Factors that can reduce the sales.
 Competitor’s activities that can be seen as your weakness.
OPPORTUNITIES:
 Good opportunities that can be spotted.
 Interesting trends of industry.
 Opportunities for Concussions In Football can be obtained from things such as:
 Change in technology and market strategies
 Government policy changes that is related to the company’s field
 Changes in social patterns and lifestyles.
 Local events.
THREATS:
Following points can be identified as a threat to company:
 Company’s facing obstacles.
 Activities of competitors.
 Product and services quality standards
 Threat from changing technologies
 Financial/cash flow problems
 Weakness that threaten the business.
Following points should be considered when applying SWOT to the analysis:
 Precise and verifiable phrases should be sued.
 Prioritize the points under each head, so that management can identify which step has to be
taken first.
 Apply the analyses at proposed level. Clear yourself first that on what basis you have to
apply SWOT matrix.
 Make sure that points identified should carry itself with strategy formulation process.
 Use particular terms (like USP, Core Competencies Analyses etc.) to get a comprehensive
picture of analyses.

STEP 5: PESTEL/ PEST Analysis of Concussions

In Football Case Solution:
Pest analyses is a widely used tool to analyze the Political, Economic, Socio-cultural, Technological,
Environmental and legal situations which can provide great and new opportunities to the company
as well as these factors can also threat the company, to be dangerous in future.
Pest analysis is very important and informative.  It is used for the purpose of identifying business
opportunities and advance threat warning. Moreover, it also helps to the extent to which change is
useful for the company and also guide the direction for the change. In addition, it also helps to avoid
activities and actions that will be harmful for the company in future, including projects and strategies.
To analyze the business objective and its opportunities and threats, following steps should be
followed:
 Brainstorm and assumption the changes that should be made to organization. Answer the
necessary questions that are related to specific needs of organization
 Analyze the opportunities that would be happen due to the change.
 Analyze the threats and issues that would be caused due to change.
 Perform cost benefit analyses and take the appropriate action.
 Pest analysis

PEST FACTORS:
POLITICAL:
 Next political elections and changes that will happen in the country due to these elections
 Strong and powerful political person, his point of view on business policies and their effect on
the organization.
 Strength of property rights and law rules. And its ratio with corruption and organized crimes.
Changes in these situation and its effects.
 Change in Legislation and taxation effects on the company
 Trend of regulations and deregulations. Effects of change in business regulations
 Timescale of legislative change.
 Other political factors likely to change for Concussions In Football.
ECONOMICAL:
 Position and current economy trend i.e. growing, stagnant or declining.
 Exchange rates fluctuations and its relation with company.
 Change in Level of customer’s disposable income and its effect.
 Fluctuation in unemployment rate and its effect on hiring of skilled employees
 Access to credit and loans. And its effects on company
 Effect of globalization on economic environment
 Considerations on other economic factors
SOCIO-CULTURAL:
 Change in population growth rate and age factors, and its impacts on organization.
 Effect on organization due to Change in attitudes and generational shifts.
 Standards of health, education and social mobility levels. Its changes and effects on
company.
 Employment patterns, job market trend and attitude towards work according to different age
groups.

case study solutions

 Social attitudes and social trends, change in socio culture an dits effects.
 Religious believers and life styles and its effects on organization
 Other socio culture factors and its impacts.
TECHNOLOGICAL:
 Any new technology that company is using
 Any new technology in market that could affect the work, organization or industry
 Access of competitors to the new technologies and its impact on their product
development/better services.
 Research areas of government and education institutes in which the company can make any
efforts
 Changes in infra-structure and its effects on work flow
 Existing technology that can facilitate the company
 Other technological factors and their impacts on company and industry
 These headings and analyses would help the company to consider these factors and make a “big
picture” of company’s characteristics. This will help the manager to take the decision and drawing
conclusion about the forces that would create a big impact on company and its resources.

STEP 6: Porter’s Five Forces/ Strategic Analysis

Of The Concussions In Football Case Study:
To analyze the structure of a company and its corporate strategy, Porter’s five forces model is used.
In this model, five forces have been identified which play an important part in shaping the market
and industry. These forces are used to measure competition intensity and profitability of an industry
and market.

porter’s five forces model

These forces refers to micro environment and the company ability to serve its customers and make a
profit. These five forces includes three forces from horizontal competition and two forces from
vertical competition. The five forces are discussed below:
 THREAT OF NEW ENTRANTS:
as the industry have high profits, many new entrants will try to enter into the market. However, the
new entrants will eventually cause decrease in overall industry profits. Therefore, it is necessary to
 block the new entrants in the industry. following factors is describing the level of threat to new
entrants:
 Barriers to entry that includes copy rights and patents.
 High capital requirement
 Government restricted policies
 Switching cost
 Access to suppliers and distributions
 Customer loyalty to established brands.
 THREAT OF SUBSTITUTES:
this describes the threat to company. If the goods and services are not up to the standard,
consumers can use substitutes and alternatives that do not need any extra effort and do not make a
major difference. For example, using Aquafina in substitution of tap water, Pepsi in alternative of
Coca Cola. The potential factors that made customer shift to substitutes are as follows:
 Price performance of substitute
 Switching costs of buyer
 Products substitute available in the market
 Reduction of quality
 Close substitution are available
 DEGREE OF INDUSTRY RIVALRY:
the lesser money and resources are required to enter into any industry, the higher there will be new
competitors and be an effective competitor. It will also weaken the company’s position. Following are
the potential factors that will influence the company’s competition:
 Competitive advantage
 Continuous innovation
 Sustainable position in competitive advantage
 Level of advertising
 Competitive strategy
 BARGAINING POWER OF BUYERS:
it deals with the ability of customers to take down the prices. It mainly consists the importance of a
customer and the level of cost if a customer will switch from one product to another. The buyer
power is high if there are too many alternatives available. And the buyer power is low if there are
lesser options of alternatives and switching. Following factors will influence the buying power of
customers:
 Bargaining leverage
 Switching cost of a buyer
 Buyer price sensitivity
 Competitive advantage of  company’s product
 BARGAINING POWER OF SUPPLIERS:
this refers to the supplier’s ability of increasing and decreasing prices. If there are few alternatives o
supplier available, this will threat the company and it would have to purchase its raw material in
supplier’s terms. However, if there are many suppliers alternative, suppliers have low bargaining
power and company do not have to face high switching cost. The potential factors that effects
bargaining power of suppliers are the following:
 Input differentiation
 Impact of cost on differentiation
 Strength of distribution centers
 Input substitute’s availability.

STEP 7: Generating Alternatives For Concussions

In Football Case Solution:
After completing the analyses of the company, its opportunities and threats, it is important to
generate a solution of the problem and the alternatives a company can apply in order to solve its
problems. To generate the alternative of problem, following things must to be kept in mind:
 Realistic solution should be identified that can be operated in the company, with all its
constraints and opportunities.
 as the problem and its solution cannot occur at the same time, it should be described as
mutually exclusive
 it is not possible for a company to not to take any action, therefore, the alternative of doing
nothing is not viable.
 Student should provide more than one decent solution. Providing two undesirable
alternatives to make the other one attractive is not acceptable.
Once the alternatives have been generated, student should evaluate the options and select the
appropriate and viable solution for the company.
 STEP 8: Selection Of
Alternatives For Concussions In Football Case
Solution:
It is very important to select the alternatives and then evaluate the best one as the company have
limited choices and constraints. Therefore to select the best alternative, there are many factors that
is needed to be kept in mind. The criteria’s on which business decisions are to be selected areas
under:
 Improve profitability
 Increase sales, market shares, return on investments
 Customer satisfaction
 Brand image
 Corporate mission, vision and strategy
 Resources and capabilities
Alternatives should be measures that which alternative will perform better than other one and the
valid reasons. In addition, alternatives should be related to the problem statements and issues
described in the case study.

EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVES FOR

Concussions In Football CASE SOLUTION:
If the selected alternative is fulfilling the above criteria, the decision should be taken
straightforwardly. Best alternative should be selected must be the best when evaluating it on the
decision criteria. Another method used to evaluate the alternatives are the list of pros and cons of
each alternative and one who has more pros than cons and can be workable under organizational
constraints.

Recommendations For Concussions In Football

Case Study (Solution):
There should be only one recommendation to enhance the company’s operations and its growth or
solving its problems. The decision that is being taken should be justified and viable for solving the
problems.

Strengths
Market Value
Number of Members
Compliance
Image/Name
TV Revenue
Weakness
Professional sports draft
rules
Lawsuits
Non-Sports Branding
Opportunities
Age requirements
Sponsored Sports
More Members
TV Revenue
Threats
Team athletic quality
decrease
The rise of the NAIA
Education
FCC Regulations

Strength
-high scoring game
- # 1 and most $ IN US
-extremely wide fan base (cities proud of team
-allows for some to attend college when they could not
w
Weaknesses
Racism
-black defense
-white quarter back
Injuries
-concussion
not global
Sexist
Expensive tickets
Opportunity

England Expansion
-grow market for financial opportunity
Threat
Medical Research Coming out..therefore more legal issues
tied to america and militarism
domestic abuse cases
-turn people off through stereotype associated with behavior
drugs-steroid abuse
low percentage of people who make it
Case #30 Concussions in
Collegiate and Professional
Football:Mitch ReiseWho has the
responsibility to protect players?
When thinking about this case
I try to consider which school
of thought regarding ethical
framework this case falls
under most. Ethical
Universalism says the most
basic conceptions of right and
wrong are universal,
transcending society, culture
and religion. I think Ethical
Universalism best relates to
the issue of football and
concussions. Even though
football is a popular American
sport and primarily exists
within only our culture and
society there is little room for
debate regarding the dangers
of concussions. There is a
prevalent moral consensus
across cultures and religions
that the safety and security of
human life is essential, and
therefore the school of ethical
universalism applies to the risk
of concussions in football. The
health and protection of
human beings is a basic
conception of what is right and
placing profit or winning a
game before the safety of
human beings is a basic
mistake. I believe these
statements are universal and
transcend society, faith and
culture, therefore this situation
relates to the concussion
problem within football.
Historically, the culture of
football put winning above all
else and, as the case points
out, even suppressed the self-
reporting of concussions. I
think its frightening that
athletes sometimes believe that
the game and their team were
more essential than their
health and, as a result, they
performed with a concussion
rather than letting down their
team, college, and parents.
Winning at all expenses
started to alter culture only
when significant studies
started to connect repetitive
head injuries to long-term
brain disease. This caused
players to start recognizing
themselves as victims, and
lawsuits started to place
enormous economic burdens
on colleges, helmet makers,
 and football organizations. I
think the awareness of CTE,
and the long-term risks of
concussions has helped reduce
the cultures mindset of putting
profitability and winning over
player safety

Video Analysis of Reported Concussion Events in the National

Football League During the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 Seasons
David J Lessley 1, Richard W Kent 1, James R Funk 1, Christopher P Sherwood 1, Joseph M Cormier 1, Jeff R
Crandall 1, Kristy B Arbogast 2, Barry S Myers 3

Affiliations expand

 PMID: 30398897

 
 DOI: 10.1177/0363546518804498

Abstract

Background: Concussions in American football remain a high priority of sports injury

prevention programs. Detailed video review provides important information on
causation, the outcomes of rule changes, and guidance on future injury prevention
strategies.

Purpose: Documentation of concussions sustained in National Football League games

played during the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 seasons, including consideration of video
views unavailable to the public.

Study design: Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods: All reported concussions were reviewed with all available video footage.
Standardized terminology and associated definitions were developed to describe and
categorize the details of each concussion.

Results: Cornerbacks sustained the most concussions, followed by wide receivers, then

linebackers and offensive linemen. Half (50%) of concussions occurred during a passing
play, 28% during a rushing play, and 21% on a punt or kickoff. Tackling was found to be
the most common activity of concussed players, with the side of the helmet the most
common helmet impact location. The distribution of helmet impact source-the object
that contacted the concussed player's helmet-differed from studies of earlier seasons,
with a higher proportion of helmet-to-body impacts (particularly shoulder) and helmet-
to-ground impacts and with a lower proportion of helmet-to-helmet impacts. Helmet-
to-ground concussive impacts were notable for the high prevalence of impacts to the
back of the helmet and their frequency during passing plays.

Conclusion: Concussion causation scenarios in the National Football League have

changed over time.

Clinical relevance: The results of this study suggest the need for expanded evaluation
of concussion countermeasures beyond solely helmet-to-helmet test systems, including
consideration of impacts with the ground and with the body of the opposing player. It
also suggests the possibility of position-specific countermeasures as part of an ongoing
effort to improve safety.

Keywords: American football; biomechanics; epidemiology; general; general sports

trauma; head injuries/concussion; medical aspects of sports.
If you would like to learn more about the risks that football players face from
concussions and associated conditions, this information from the experts at
Rothman Orthopaedic Institute can help to shine some light on your questions
and concerns.

Football has been in the news a lot lately, and not necessarily for the typical reasons.
Though headlines regarding Sunday games and noteworthy plays are still making as many
headlines as ever, there is another more unfortunate reason why football has been grabbing
headlines.

Concussions. They've always been a serious concern for athletes, but new research
findings have opened up a massive national conversation about the safety and long-term
health of football players.

Consequently, football concussion prevention has likewise become a major concern; players

and fans do not want to enable a dangerous cycle of serious injuries, but conversely, many
don’t want to see this popular pastime abruptly abandoned. Like the findings surrounding
the concussions themselves, studies determining the effectiveness of various football
concussion prevention methods and new concussion prevention technology have only
recently been picking up momentum. As this subject becomes a more thoroughly studied
subject and less breaking news, more informed prevention methods and concussion
prevention equipment will ideally follow.

The experts at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute recognize the importance of concussion

prevention in sports and the serious nature of these injuries; that's why we've compiled this
overview of football concussions and what you can do to prevent them.

Football Concussions: What We Know

Concussions are common brain injuries that result from traumatic impact. When blunt
force jars the head or snaps the neck of an athlete, it can cause the brain to impact the skull;
this causes the bruising of the brain known medically as a concussion.

Concussions themselves are serious conditions, causing symptoms of memory loss, head
pain, blurred vision, and dizziness. In some cases, symptoms are more severe. But one of the
greatest risks associated with concussions is chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a
condition that can result from repeated traumatic brain injuries. First noted in boxers,
observant medical professionals have recently shone a critical light on football and the NFL
as a dangerously regular source of concussions and, consequently CTE.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a progressive degenerative disease, meaning it causes

physical atrophy of brain mass. Caused by forceful impacts to the cranium, CTE is a chronic
condition, causing gradual deterioration of the brain over the course of years or decades.
Other areas of the brain might become swollen and enlarged. In certain areas, tau protein (a
cell structure stabilizer) may accumulate as a symptom of CTE, interfering with healthy
neural functioning.
Symptoms in patients of CTE include:

 Memory loss

 Loss of behavioral control; loss of impulse control

 Impaired judgement

 Aggression

 Depression

 Impaired balance and motor skills

 Increased risk of cognitive disorders, including dementia and

Alzheimer's

These symptoms of CTE are so devastating that, when further light was shed upon the
reality of this condition and its association with football, some 4,500 retired NFL players
introduced a federal lawsuit against the NFL, demanding compensation for their traumatic,
potentially chronic health damages. In fact, with the risk of developing cognitive disorders
35 times more likely in football players than non-players, the NFL expects approximately a
third of all retired players to develop some form of cognitive disorder.

Football Concussion Prevention: What You Can Do

For concussion prevention, NFL players have utilized improved helmets as well as
mouthguards; in terms of concussion prevention products and safety gear, football players
generally utilize considerably more equipment than concussion prevention in soccer, where
concussions are likewise a serious concern.

But is protective equipment effective enough to protect players from concussions and the
risk of CTE?

Unfortunately, the answer is no. While helmets and other protective equipment can prevent
more traumatic head injuries, such as skull fractures, they cannot reliably protect against
concussions. Studies have shown that football helmets on average only reduce the risk of
traumatic brain injury by approximately 20%. Utilizing a concussion prevention headband
may likewise reduce risk, but not significantly enough to be considered a sufficient means of
football concussion prevention. Research determining the relative effectiveness of various
football safety equipment has been largely inconclusive.

The best means of football concussion prevention, then, is education and awareness. Some
helpful, basic tips for preventing concussions while at play include:

 Wear proper equipment at all times, including practice

  Examine playing field for uneven spots

 Incorporate neck-strengthening exercises into training

 Pad side posts for impact

 Discourage aggression in practice and on the field

 Learn and use proper technique

 Shop

Who’s Responsible for

Football’s Concussions?
Earlier this month, the N.F.L. released an ad featuring a woman, who we
later learn is Ray Lewis’ mom, quizzing Tom Brady. “What is the
N.F.L. doing to make the game safer?” Mama Lewis asks. Several men
in ties and lab coats report that the league is developing rules aimed at
preventing head injuries, and is devoting more money to support
research into the effect those injuries are having. It is a slightly more
measured conversation than the one Lewis and Brady had last
season, after the former hit the latter hard in a playoff game:

Lewis, standing over Brady: What? What?

Brady, standing to meet Lewis: What?

Lewis: Yeah.

Though there are still some holdouts—the N.F.L. itself will resist, at
least to a point, as long as it can—the scientific and sporting worlds have
very quickly come close to some kind of consensus on the consequences
of repeated head trauma. We can thus generally agree that, in a perfect
world, something should be done to make football safer. What we can’t
agree on is what exactly should be done, and who exactly should be
doing it. Government? Leagues? Teams? Parents? Players?

Among proponents of personal responsibility, the last two options seem

ideal, until you consider a story, several levels downstream from Brady
and Lewis, that went national this week: Five preteens suffered
concussions in a Pop Warner football game in central Massachusetts last
month. The final score was 58-0. The winning team, which suffered no
head injuries, marched off two-by-two, “with a military flourish,”
as the Times reported it, in a front-page story. Pop Warner players, who
are as young as five, clearly do not have the wherewithal to protect
themselves. But what of their parents? “This is a football game, not a
Hallmark moment,” the winning coach said, insinuating that the injured
players had not been adequately prepared to protect themselves. One of
the parents of a player on the beat-up team said he was glad the team had
not forfeited, and that “every kid who was out there wanted to play and
not give up.”

What about the government? Some violent sports, like mixed martial
arts, are banned in certain areas—New York, for example. It’s unlikely
that football will suffer the same fate any time soon, not as long as it’s
worth so much money to so many people.

We are left, then, with organizational regulation. Pop Warner has

instituted various protections for its players, and both coaches from the
concussion-spree were suspended; the referees have reportedly been
barred altogether. Some universities have begun limiting the amount of
contact in practice. The N.F.L. is well aware of the issue with head
injuries, as its ad shows: there is no game without healthy players, and
no future games if there are no players at all. But the N.F.L.’s
responsibility to protect its players conflicts to some extent with its
responsibility to promote the game, and maximize revenue for its team
owners.
VIDEO FROM THE NEW YORKER

Could Overtime Larry Change the Game of Teen Hoops?

The latest concern surrounds Thursday night games, which are now
broadcast weekly on the N.F.L.’s premium-cable network. (Tonight’s
game features Tampa Bay and Minnesota.) A number of players, most
recently Scott Fujita, who was tied up in the New Orleans Saints bounty
scandal, have said that the decision to play a full-season slate of
Thursday-night games, combined with some other league moves, shows
little concern for player safety, given that players are being forced to go
from one game to another in the span of four days. “For me, the issue of
player health & safety is personal,” Fujita said in a statement released
after the N.F.L. reduced his suspension related to the bounty program.
“For the league and the Commissioner, it’s about perception & liability.”
Yesterday, Fujita was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury. His
career may be over.

Individual teams seem to have bowed to the league and become more
responsible, obeying doctors’ orders and sitting players with concussions
more regularly than would have once been accepted. Players themselves
express more concern for the issue, yet the pressure to play through pain
clearly still remains, and so do major holes in the system. League-wide,
the N.F.L. has chosen to push for greater player protection, knowing that
doing so isn’t necessarily in its short-term interest, because, long-term, it
might be its best means of survival. Our sports have adapted to rules
changes before, and it seems reasonable to assume football could adapt
to league-mandated changes as well. But the game today offers little
more than lip service. Ray Lewis would be the first to call team doctors
to an injured player, but the last to pull up before the hit that left him on
the ground. The N.F.L. commercial ends with Lewis sipping a straw
with menacing volume. The message, for now, seems clear: don’t worry
about all these changes we’re making—there’ll still be plenty of
violence for you to watch.