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>it might become less popular Nope. You think the average NFL player, who knows by around middle school if they're going to get on the track to go pro or not,

>it might become less popular Nope. You think the average NFL player, who knows by around middle school if they're going to get on the track to go pro or not, cares about or is actively thinking about their physical condition in ~40 years in addition with the potential millions they'll be making in ~10? Not in the least. A lot more banging of pots and pans needs to occur before the general public gets it in their heads that the sport is incredibly dangerous and will be ruinous for one's physical health down the line. It's bad enough that the NFL and ESPN all but swept the concussions ordeal/settlement under the rug...and why wouldn't they when there are insane profits to be had?

freehunter 13y ago
It's not the child players you need to convince, it's the parents. I was on the middle school football team, and my parents pulled me off the team in high school because of the chance of severe and permanent injury. If parents say no, the sport dies.
- philwelch 13y ago
  There are enough parents out there who are either just don't care or who buy fully enough into football culture that there will still be enough football players.
- Dirlewanger 13y ago
  Right, which is why I said it's going to be a while before the general public wakes up to realize how destructive the sport they all love and support is. People don't want to acknowledge that one of their greatest escapisms is crippling its main participants and thereby disrupting their own status quo; it's easier.
  - pawn 13y ago
    The general public might become more aware if lawsuits start happening in numbers. Another possibility is that colleges and high schools pull football if they think they might be sued and can't afford it.
- hackinthebochs 13y ago
  >If parents say no, the sport dies. The context for (what I'm assuming) a middle class kid who is playing for fun vs an underprivileged kid or a kid with clear potential is vastly different. It's easy to pull your kid from middle school football when its just a hobby for them.

freehunter 13y ago

It's not the child players you need to convince, it's the parents. I was on the middle school football team, and my parents pulled me off the team in high school because of the chance of severe and permanent injury. If parents say no, the sport dies.

philwelch 13y ago
There are enough parents out there who are either just don't care or who buy fully enough into football culture that there will still be enough football players.
Dirlewanger 13y ago
Right, which is why I said it's going to be a while before the general public wakes up to realize how destructive the sport they all love and support is. People don't want to acknowledge that one of their greatest escapisms is crippling its main participants and thereby disrupting their own status quo; it's easier.
- pawn 13y ago
  The general public might become more aware if lawsuits start happening in numbers. Another possibility is that colleges and high schools pull football if they think they might be sued and can't afford it.
hackinthebochs 13y ago
>If parents say no, the sport dies. The context for (what I'm assuming) a middle class kid who is playing for fun vs an underprivileged kid or a kid with clear potential is vastly different. It's easy to pull your kid from middle school football when its just a hobby for them.