Yes I did and was never told once the game was safe. We were told ways to play the game safer but no one ever told us it was safe. I also stopped playing my junior year of high school by my own choices. My dad wished for me to keep going since he was an all state football player and wrestler. He respected my decision and any parent that wouldn't is a pile of shit which is another discussion. Did you play?
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Nothing against your dad, but in my view his logic is the same as many parents & football coaches who used to play. “I did it, so it must be good for my kid to do too”. Seems like a cycle of abuse to me.
I played from 14 to 20, was all state & made some all American lists. Lots of scholarship offers & the full recruiting song & dance. Saw through the bullshit at 18 before my freshmen year & quit. Then felt like a giant bitch for quitting before I even played, so went back & played for a year & a 1/2, before quitting for good. Potentially couldve been a decent backup nfl offensive lineman, but the upper classmen I played with all had trouble passing their physicals even if good enough to be pro. Did not seem worth the risk of injury to me, & I really only understood the orthopedic risk at that time, the neurological risk is much harder to see & scarier.
It is not an easy to thing to quit for a teenager. There is fame, glory, endless food, girls, a little money maybe. Very few of my college teammates quit healthy like I did. I know of at least 3 of my former college teammates who have killed them selves, including one who shot himself in the chest so he could donate his brain to the cte study.
All 3 of those guys started playing early with much success. The game hasn’t changed, head trauma is everywhere, I even coached at my old high school a few years ago to gain more understanding.
I started following you last night and noticed an article you wrote about playing days. I plan on reading it in full. I am definitely always interested in others perspectives from when they played or even if they currently play.....how are you feeling about the NFL current direction?
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I honestly think it’s bad for kids who play, emasculates those who never played, teaches fan disrespect & distracts people from what they’d be better off paying attention to. Specifically the system of economics that enslaves us all. I haven’t watched a game in years & avoid people who choose to base a large part of their identity on being a football fan. I try not to give any of my energy to the game in any form. But when I talk to parents who tell me their kids are playing, & coaches are telling them it’s safe, it inspires me to give my perspective, right or wrong. But I’ve been saying a similar thing for about 20 years, the brain damage evidence is more undeniable everyday, yet the game got bigger than ever. Hopefully it peaked already & is dying 🙏