For one week, I’m taking a break from the normality of this article. I’m taking that break because I feel like there is an underlying issue with the game that we love so much. It’s a conflicting issue for me personally because I love football. I love everything about it. I love the passion and the comradery. I love the sights and the smells. Few things inspire as much passion as NFL football. People live and die with their teams in the fall. I love tailgating. There aren’t many things better than the smell of a charcoal grill; tossing back a cold one throwing a football around a parking lot before a game. I love the food. From the chicken wings in Buffalo to the brisket in Kansas City.
But most of all, I love Fantasy Football. Fantasy Football has transformed the way we watch football forever. Fantasy Football has opened our eyes to every team in the league. We watch every game, no matter who’s playing, at any time, because all the games affect us. Fantasy Football has made us more knowledgeable fans. We pour ourselves over injury reports and betting lines. We scout depth charts and college football in search of the next super-star. Most importantly though, it has brought us closer together. I don’t mean just family and friends. That’s obvious. It’s also brought us closer to the players.
The connection Between social media and fantasy football makes us feel as though we actually know these players. Think about it. We watch these kids sometimes from high school through retirement (Depending on your age, I’m almost 40!) That’s why it was hard for me to read about Detroit Lions RB D’Andre Swift.
Swift had a slow transition to the NFL but anyone who saw him at The University of Georgia knew he was destined for super stardom. In the two games prior to suffering a debilitating concussion the rookie RB had touched the ball 37 times and churned out 246 total yards. Right before our eyes he morphed into the star we had all anticipated he would. Then… concussion.
Concussions aren’t like a sprained ankle or a strained ligament. Concussions aren’t injuries you can see. A concussion is an injury to the brain that results in temporary loss of normal brain function. Medically, it is defined as a clinical syndrome characterized by immediate and transient alteration in brain function, including alteration of mental status or level of consciousness, that results from mechanical or forced trauma. That’s a mouthful, but basically, your brain becomes temporarily dislodged and slams against your skull… this action can cause irreparable damage to your brain cells. This why once you’ve had a concussion you’re more susceptible to them in the future.
That’s tough to think about while watching your favorite pro football players fight for every yard. It’s even tougher to think about when watching kids play under the Friday Night Lights… and while watching your nephew’s Pop Warner team. It’s downright nauseating.
Every player handles concussions differently. Former San Francisco 49ers standout Chris Borland opted to walk away from football after just one year. Some viewed him as a trendsetter, one who could set an example for other players to walk away from the game. Prioritizing long term health over a lucrative NFL career.
As for Swift, his recovery has been particularly hard for teammate Adrian Peterson. Peterson stated this week that Swift hadn’t been himself in the wake of his brain injury.
“To kind of see him not being himself, that energy level, when you see him not being the same because of what he’s dealing with, it hurts because I want to see him be successful. We miss him out there, as well.”
Thankfully, awareness has grown dramatically regarding the long-term impact of repeated brain injuries. However, despite new protocols and league wide efforts to educate its players, football remains inherently dangerous. That is not really up for debate. It lends itself to violence, and that violence is part of the reason we lust for it.
We all should have stood up and took notice when someone like Chris Borland walked away from a six figure signing bonus and a sure fire seven figure extension. But the sad reality is that Chris Borland could never be the trendsetter many pegged him to be. Five years later the most ardent NFL fans don’t remember his name. And that is why Borland could never open that door. Someone like Swift? By opting to walk away, Swift could kick it down.
