“Does the League care when Cam Newton gets hit in the face five times and pretty much knocked out of the game, and they have all these spotters and people that watch the game specifically for these reasons and you see the guy on his hands and knees shaking his head after he took a shot in the face and they’re saying they didn’t see any indication that he needed to come out of the game? If you take the reigning MVP out of the game in the last couple of minutes with the game on the line, he’d be frustrated, the fans would be frustrated, but it would be in line with what you said you want to see in terms of player safety. But you didn’t, because it would affect the ratings because it would affect the game.”~Richard Sherman, cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks (The Player’s Tribune)
Source: Don Mega
Last week, Richard Sherman stated to the Player’s Tribune that money was more of a concern for the NFL than player safety. In the past, I believe most people would agree with Sherman. But would most people still agree?
In opening week, Cam Newton appeared to have a head injury that went undiagnosed on the field despite the new concussion spotters. In 2015, Newton, quarterback for the Carolina Panthers, was injured in a car accident. He suffered two fractures in his back similar to Tony Romo, quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. And just like Romo, Cam tried to rush back onto the field to play. Whereas Newton has started the 2016 season, Romo may never be the same and is currently unable to play for the Cowboys.
Whether it is in a quarterback’s DNA or not, we may never know what directs quarterbacks in the National Football League (NFL) to try to play football when they should be trying to heal. Now there is nothing wrong with trying to play when one is hurt . . . an injury is a different story. Two fractures in one’s back is an injury. The same is true for concussions.
So, why has the NFL, who claims everything is about protecting the shield, not stepped up its enforcement regarding player safety? Is Sherman right? Is it more about the money than the safety of the guys who risk their health to make the League (owners) money? Is the NFL still an ostrich with its head stuck in the sand when it comes to concussions?
Most leagues have discussed the fact they realize the importance of protecting athletes against concussions. The problem is the follow through, and the NFL is not any different. It wasn’t until fans commented on the condition in which Newton completed the game that the NFL reacted. Player safety should not be reactive; it should be proactive in order to line up with the words the NFL regarding the safety of its players.
Yes, the NFL is business. But isn’t many U.S. citizens’ core values that people matter more than the bottom dollar? Or, is that philosphy changing? And if that philosphy is changing, why do we care what happens to the players? They chose this profession. They knew the violent nature of the game, so the risk lies with them. It’s okay if they basically kill each other on the field. Right?
Somehow, I suppose most folks in society would not agree with most of that last paragraph. Otherwise, war crimes would no longer be a concern for society. However, society with all of its flaws still seeks its humanity and just maybe it would like to see its entertainers (aka players) maintain their humanity as well. And therefore, perhaps, the NFL should really start living up to its word about player safety before it considers its bottom line.
Source: Skip and Shannon: Undisputed