Closing Arguments: Congress Tackles NFL Head Injuries

The NFL should protect its players by getting new helmets and prohibiting hits which lead to head injuries. While they are at it, what about testing for steroids?

The government has managed to find a way to police almost everything in America today. At this rate, we will be watching Monday Night Chess. But I am sure eventually some congressman will declare chess as dangerous too.

It is ridiculous that the Congress of the United States is sticking it nose into private matters such as this. This is certainly a sign of the (Obama) times, as we see the federal government trying to become the all-powerful mother state. What’s next – regulating what activities we can do with our children – maybe Congress should look into accidents caused when little red wagons overturn….

Leave the NFL alone,too many rules, it’s going to be flag football before long.

Congress should have better things to do (with our tax dollars) than regulate the NFL, NBA, MLB or any other sports league…Besides isn’t that what OSHA’s for?

I think congress has bigger fish to fry than whats going on in the NFL.
To compare the NFL to the tobacco industry is idiotic, oh wait, this is a congressman. Sorry about that comment I agree now, playing football is as dangerous as smoking cigarettes and it will affect at least 10 people in the next 5 years. Please devote your precious time to this problem.
God knows they can’t afford medical care, can they!!!!!

I think congress has alot more pressing issues than football. these are grown men doing a job and getting paid very well for it.its just another waste of tax payer money on capitol hill

Washington needs to take action on health care,the banks, and the war. I am a football fan GO BEARS. Playing football is a choice. Do I think the hits contribute to brain damage,you bet. But the league needs to take care of this issue themselves. They make enough money off of the game.
As for Flint,if the banks would act sooner we could save some of those homes! People can’t get help until they have missed payments and a short sale can take over 3 months.

The fact that congress formed a committe to discuss head injuries in the NFL shows how much congress JUSAT DOES NOT GET IT. Our economy is in the toliet, unemployment is outr of sight, the recessions IS NOT eveb close to being over and our ELECTED officials are concerning themselves with head injuries with millionaires. Look, I dont want anyone to be seriously hurt playing footbal or anything else but these guys know what they are getting into. They make millions, buy some more padding, or come up with a better helmet, whatever but congress DOES NOT need to concern themselves with this subject. Get the economy back on track,win the war and bring our boys back home, how about fixing those things???

Congress getting involved in this issue of brain injuries (concussions) is a joke. This potentially affects only the number of NFL players in the league, which is 1,696 people. These same people choose to risk life and limb to play a sport – FOR THE MONEY – willingly, and then run to be first in line when they suffer debilitating effects from their profession. I feel that there are quite a few more serious issues that congress should address. How about a nationwide motorcycle helmet law because I guarantee you that more brain injuries occur annually because of those accidents than the handful of NFL players who suffer concussions. These spoiled millionaire athletes should put some of their own money for research and treatment for their fellow NFL alumni into a fund if they are soo worried about this issue, instead of looking for a free handout or forcing the NFL to become a non-contact league.

Taxpayers provide money for stadiums and infrastructure. Consumers pay the billions of dollars for advertising each year for tv games and millions more for expensive tickets and parking. Most concussions in the NFL could be prevented or the severity reduced if the League would just get tough on players wearing good mouthpieces, properly fitted helmets with all the chinstrap snaps fastened, shorter hair that would not cause loose helmets to fly off, and all players go back to wearing thigh and especially knee pads (so when a Brian Westbrook takes a knee to the head, at least it would be padded, instead of bare causing a much harder hit). The NFL has allowed the game to way too fast without enforcing the most basic protective measures. And the fans pay the bill, we should at least be able to see the star players actually playing, not sitting out from preventable injuries.

I think congress should first focus on issues that a impact the safty of a far greater percentage of Americans! For example the safety of a car! A far greater percentage of the population depends on the safety of a car then they do then the safety of the NFL! On December 8th, 2003 I was driving a RIO, had a head-on collision, the air-bag & seat-belt didn’t function. I was immediately in a 2&1/2 month comma, when I woke up I was told I have 2 FRACTURED FEAMERS, 2 SHATTERED KNEECAPS,A BROKEN FOOT AND A TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). I am the father of 4 wonderful young-ones, the two boys are 6 & 11, the two girls are ages 10 & 8. Their mother says I died in the accident and we finalized our divorce settlement on Nov. 18 2008. ( because I guess I’m “not the man she married”!

Goverment, especially the Democrats should stop trying to dictate every move we make and really try to face the real big problems and find solutions to jobs lost, economy, rasing taxes, bailing out banks, than trying to resolve football head injuries. The NFL is surely addressing those issues and trying and working with manufactures to come up with a safer helmet. Bottom line is KEEP YOUR NOSE IN THE WHITE HOSE AND OFF THE NFL PLAYING FIELD. AMERICA IS NOT HAPPY WITH THE JOB THE DEMOCRATS ARE DOING-RAISING TAXES.!!

Congress has much bigger fish to fry than wasting any time on something as stupid as football.