The impact of football has become a hot topic of discussion. It has cost former NFL players their lives. One of the main proponents of the risks associated with the sport now is the discovery of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). This recent discovery has brought into question whether having a long career or playing football in general is worth the risk. 

The San Francisco 49ers last offseason was a tumultuous one that saw its head coach leave which was predicted. However, what they did not anticipate was the marquee players deciding to retire to attempt to ensure that they do not suffer from brain injuries in the coming years. Two of their top linebackers retired with one 30 years old and the other about 26 years old. One was a perennial all-pro and the other led the team in tackles in the 2014-2015 season. This shows some of the fear players are exhibiting regarding their work.

The National Football League's Players Association (NFLPA) had a recent lawsuit filed against the NFL with a number of players past and present that jumped in on the legal action. The NFL decided a monetary settlement was the best way to calm the players. Though, recently it has come to light that some of the game's greatest players had a brain injury known as CTE. CTE as of today can only be definitively proven after a person is deceased. 

The disease of CTE has been detrimental to players after their football careers. The players knew the risks of playing football to a certain extent by knowing the possibility of having a serious spinal injury that could prevent them from ever walking again. They felt like playing football with that as a possibility was worth the risk given the possible millions of dollars they could make to put their family in good financial standing. This disease not only dipped into their bank accounts, but into their families hearts. 

Fred McNeil played linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings for twelve years. He had a plan to work for a firm after he finished playing in the NFL. However, the signs were there that Fred McNeil was not well. Whether it be having trouble completing day to day tasks, head problems at work or home, and temper flares from a normally calm person. He did everything you were supposed to do for life after football by getting an education and a well-paying job yet football managed to take that away from him, too.

Dr. Bennet Olamu has been one of the main researchers of CTE. He appears to have made some progress on diagnosing CTE while a person is still alive. He completed a study on fourteen former football players including former linebacker Fred McNeil. He used a PET scan of the brain that ultimately showed the areas of the brain that the disease attacks. This brings everyone involved one step closer to a cure. 

The NFL in the past couple of years has implemented a policy that continually refers to a 'target zone' for NFL defenders. Especially with regards to what is determined as a defenseless receiver which when a split end does not have enough time to protect himself from a potentially catastrophic collision. Also, defenders cannot lead a tackle attempt with the crown of their helmet due to risk of concussion not only to the player they are trying to hit but themselves as well. Furthermore, defenders cannot hit the quarterback late by two steps and cannot hit their follow through leg in the knee for fears of causing an ACL tear in the quarterback's knee.

This new ruling has had a lot of public backlash. The main argument is that they are changing too much of the game. The public say if these kind of rule changes continue that the players might as well be playing with flags instead of pads. To a degree they are right that the NFL has to balance how much is too much change. That job lies with the commissioner Roger Goodell. Where they are mistaken is that the game needs to be safer and that way we can see the top players that there are to offer come late in the season when most teams are ravaged by injuries. Injuries that could have life altering consequences. So, the NFL needs to continue to make the proper adjustments to one of, if not the most popular sport in America.

Is playing football worth the small chance of becoming rich and famous when compared to a potentially greater than or equal to likelihood of suffering an injury that will have effect after football?

