Todays health in the violent sport of American football

Before putting a bullet through his heart, former Chicago Bears safety Dave Duerson’s last words relayed through a haunting text message to his wife. “Please, see that my brain is given to the NFL’s brain bank.”

Duerson paid a steep price for the self-destructing nature of football. It goes beyond hits to the head; it’s the culture of football.

A game rooted in violence, played by many who come from inner cities, creates for a different kind of environment.  It’s not necessarily the violent nature of the sport that is the problem, but however, the culture that surrounds it.

“A little pain is just weakness leaving the body,” FIU junior quarterback Jake Medlock said when asked about playing through an injury. It’s the answer that speaks to the warrior-gladiator mentality of the sport.

Players feel an obligation to get on the field no matter what. They understand that a team is bigger than just an individual, and while that is a redeeming quality and what everyone wants in an athlete, selfless and humble, it’s also what drives players to hurt themselves.

Something as benign as an ankle injury can exacerbate when exerted. “When you have a bad ankle, you can’t turn as sharp or regulate speed and direction as well,” FIU health care physician Dr. Ramon Castellanos said.

According to Castellanos, the physical limitations subsequent to in-game injuries heighten the possibility of a player, “getting tackled or hit hard” which could lead to more serious, secondary injuries.

Despite this, players still feel the need to self-sacrifice. Jake Medlock was preaching how he is “the leader of this team” and “as the quarterback I need to step up. I can’t show weakness”.  It’s those kinds of answers that lead to the mistake of players playing through something that they perhaps shouldn’t be played through.

Often times, athletes don’t see the sacrifices they make. Medlock really cares about the continuity of his team and continued to say how he couldn’t show that he was tired and couldn’t show that he was hurt. “When the quarterback goes down, it could cause team disarray and I want to help my team no matter what”.

This mentality is reminiscent of that of many athletes that have been pushed to their breaking points.  Much like Duerson, many players could meet a tragic end.

“Players and doctors need to be aware of any injury or concussions,” Castellanos said. “This is very serious and it’s our responsibility to protect them.”

While the culture of team and perseverance is admirable, its flaws are often very glazed over. This is not a topic that is talked about enough and that is why players are so quick to dismiss their injures so not to step off the field. It’s a dangerous mentality that in its worst cases can be deadly.

Football has transformed into a modern gladiator culture in which only the tough or strong survive. At least that’s what the football players think. In reality, it has actually been seen to be the other way. The ones who are aware and take precaution are the ones who survive. Think back to Duerson. In the end, maybe he wished that he hadn’t been so tough.