OTL: Leroy Hoard

[soflavike]

Wow... so tragic. I enjoyed watching Leroy play. Rough stuff.

[Reignman]

I feel bad and I don't want to see anyone suffer, but like Ed Reed said earlier this week in reference to Junior Seau, they all know what they've signed up to do. Yeah maybe they didn't have all the data back then as they do now, but they had to know what they were doing wasn't good for their bodies. Robert Smith was able to figure it out on his own and retired early.

But the most telling thing to me is, now that they do have all this data and these tragic examples, you still don't see players lining up to retire. So I don't think it would have made any difference if they had known 20-30 years ago. Hoard wouldn't have retired and he'd still be having the same problems. Players even try to hide their injuries for fear of losing their job to another player. Well except Alex Smith and that worked out well for him.

It's pretty simple, if you don't want to risk getting brain damage or ending up in a wheel chair, finish school, get your degree, and become a 40 hour schlub like the rest of us.

[Purple bruise]

I feel bad and I don't want to see anyone suffer, but like Ed Reed said earlier this week in reference to Junior Seau, they all know what they've signed up to do. Yeah maybe they didn't have all the data back then as they do now, but they had to know what they were doing wasn't good for their bodies. Robert Smith was able to figure it out on his own and retired early.

But the most telling thing to me is, now that they do have all this data and these tragic examples, you still don't see players lining up to retire. So I don't think it would have made any difference if they had known 20-30 years ago. Hoard wouldn't have retired and he'd still be having the same problems. Players even try to hide their injuries for fear of losing their job to another player. Well except Alex Smith and that worked out well for him.

It's pretty simple, if you don't want to risk getting brain damage or ending up in a wheel chair, finish school, get your degree, and become a 40 hour schlub like the rest of us.

I believe the average player plays for approximately 3 years and makes a lot of money in that time and has good benifits. Those type of players, I would guess, usually get out relatively unscathed. Sadly there are and will be those players that have devastating injuries that will effect them for the rest of their lives.
Our military all voluntarily enlisted knowing the possible danger and risks that they face, as do our firefighters and police officers. Those are inherent to the professions. A lot of us, including me (police officer) do not want to be 40 hour schlubs and choose our careers knowing the risks that we take. I do not know many who are lining up to leave those jobs either.
And so maybe it is not quite as uncomplicated as you say " pretty simple, if you don't want to risk getting brain damage or ending up in a wheel chair, finish school, get your degree, and become a 40 hour schlub like the rest of us"