2. ISSUE
S Of recently, more and more players are coming out about
their health issues that have resulted from their years of
playing contact football in the NFL.
S With increases in technology, it has been proven that the
constant contact and collisions that take place in football
have been linked to many long-term health issues with
current and former players.
S Players and families have filed numerous lawsuits
against the NFL, and have won in many of the cases.
There still seems to be many unresolved problems for
preventing future health issues.
3. FACTS
S Repeated concussions have been linked to memory and
cognitive issues such as dementia, Alzheimer's, depression
and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
S In the past 3 NFL seasons, 692 concussions have been
reported, and many more are assumed to have gone
undiagnosed and unreported.
S 28% of all former players would be found to have one of the
compensable diseases mentioned above.
S Players younger than 50 had an 0.8 percent chance of
developing Alzheimer’s or dementia, compared with less than
0.1 percent for the general population. For players ages 50 to
54, the rate was 1.4 percent, compared with less than 0.1
percent for the general population.
4. Ethical Questions?
S Although current and former players have been
compensated for their medical issues, is the NFL still
responsible to change and make their environment safe
for its players?
S Is the NFL treating their players as merely means to
make money and provide entertainment, knowing that the
sport is causing these long-term debilitating injuries?
S Should the NFL consider folding and giving up football?
S Is tradition and entertainment enough to keep the NFL
around?
5. Sources
S Medical Daily
S http://www.medicaldaily.com/health-care-nfl-are-football-
players-medical-needs-being-met-357506
S New York Times
S http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/13/sports/football/actuarial-
reports-in-nfl-concussion-deal-are-released.html
S CNN
S http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/30/us/nfl-concussions-fast-
facts/
