LETTERS: Brain Trauma and the NFL

Letters to the Editor   —   Posted on October 24, 2014

In response to the October 8th article “Brain Trauma to Affect One in Three Players, NFL Agrees,” …I would like to propose a solution…. Brain Trauma is an effect of repeated impacts on the head, causing the brain to smash against the inside of the skull. In order to prevent these impacts, steps must be taken to lessen the amount [of times] head to head collisions occur. The main solution [for] preventing concussions would be to de-evolutionize the game of football. The NFL needs to ban the use of helmets. Why is it just this generation of ball players that is getting these major injuries? It’s because the game of football has progressed over the course of its lifetime, moving from leather helmets to carbon fiber, lighter stronger helmets. These helmets give players a false [sense of] security, the idea that stronger helmets will completely protect their brain from shaking around in their skull. With the sense of security, players will be more likely to use their heads as a method to tackle opposition, and therefore create more brain trauma in the future for themselves. In order to lessen the amount of NFL players who will experience brain trauma in the future, I believe that the National Football League has to put a ban on helmets, and let these players use common sense, both on the field, and for the rest of their lives.

Thank you,
North Allegheny Senior High School Student, Pennsylvania

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