The NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell took another hit in the debate about player safety. There's been growing concern about CTE as studies continue and players continue to commit suicide and show other ill affects from brain damage caused by playing football. Doctors, players' families and concerned fans have sounded off the most against the NFL but this time a statement on the danger came from one of the league's franchise executives.
“This is the game of football,” Buffalo Bills GM Doug Whaley told WGR 550 radio. “Injuries are part of it. It’s a violent game that I personally don’t think humans are supposed to play.”
Whaley's thoughts came as part of a larger response to a question about whether top receiver Sammy Watkins is injury-prone.
“I wouldn’t say [he’s injury-prone]. If you look at his game log, he’s only missed three games. So is he injury-prone? I wouldn’t say that. Are things going to come up with a guy like this? We hope that gets limited in the future,” Whaley said, before stating his broader thoughts on football.
Watkins underwent surgery this off-season to repair a broken foot; he was on crutches and had his left foot in a walking boot during the Bills' OTA practice on Tuesday.
Though Whaley's comments were part of a larger conversation, mainly that injuries are going to happen, him saying "I don't think humans are supposed to play" rocked the NFL.
Player safety continues to be a hot topic. Goodell has made changes to game in terms of defensive moves that are no longer allowed, but those are often met with complaints from the fans. So while people want the NFL to acknowledge the dangerous affects of the game, mainly that CTE is real and football is a causal factor, the next question is what do they want him to do about it?
Source: complex.com
