Kids' brains are developing. Their heads are a larger part of their body, and their necks are not as strong as adults' necks. So kids may be at a greater risk of head and brain injuries than adults.
I definitely agree about the future of youth football being flag. There's just more and more evidence that the youth brain is particularly susceptible to the injury - thin necks, big heads. They're not as coordinated; they're not as skillful. For many reasons, I think the wave of the future is flag football for youth.
It makes common sense that children, whose brains are rapidly developing, should not be hitting their heads hundreds of times per season.
Dave Duerson had classic pathology of CTE and no evidence of any other disease.
My three children played soccer and lacrosse. I grew up as a Green Bay Packers fan. I am not against sports. We want kids to play sports, but we want them to be safe.
I'm not your run-of-the-mill scientist.
My son was a goalkeeper in soccer, and he luckily never had much head trauma. He never had any concussions or anything. I really wanted him to play football, but now I'm thankful he didn't.
Is there a way that we would actually recognize the game of football with fewer tackles and fewer collisions? I'm not sure. But I think that's the direction we're going to have to go. Bigger fields? Fewer players on the field? I think we are ultimately going to have to change some of the major rules of the game.
Every one of them is different. In fact, brains are like faces in that no two are ever alike.
While we know, on average, that certain positions experience more repetitive head impacts and are more likely at greater risk for CTE, no position is immune.
It's almost un-American to say that you want to change football.
I would advise kids not to play any sports, such as tackle football, where they are exposed to repeated blows to the head.
Nothing good happens without a penalty.
The thing you want your kids to do most of all is succeed in life and be everything they can be. And if there's anything that may infringe on that, that may limit that, I don't want my kids doing it.
I have a little easier time watching the NFL than college or high school. I used to go to the high school games, and now I have trouble with it. The NFL players get big rewards from it. I feel at least the NFL has made big changes to help their safety. And they're adults - they can make good decisions.
I do love the way the brain looks. I love the way it's shaped.
I love sports, OK? But I think we really need to take it on ourselves to not be so crazy about sports, not to risk someone's future just because we think they might be the next star.
Our national identity is so interwoven with football.
I feel like Dr. Death.
I can't say I love football anymore.
