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Former NFL tight end Ernie Conwell on the progress the league has made in preventing head injuries.
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The NFL companies' most popular well -- -- of course is the most popular -- and I hugely profitable business nine billion dollars a year revenue.
There's a big problem here its employees very often end up with serious long term health problems -- -- a huge problem repeated blows to the head.
Joining us now is only common form of -- ended the week.
He did suffer at least one concussion during his playing days he now advises the union on players' safety but -- -- the program this is a very difficult subject.
And I'm glad you -- to address it forest.
My position exist.
And that -- look at how an englishman right I don't know beans about American football -- Nonetheless I've I've watched it I've seen it for forty years it's clearly.
A violent sports.
-- these kind of injuries come -- it's going to happen regardless it is going to happen.
I put it -- short of really changing the nature of the game does nothing you can do about it.
Well I think you might got a point there I mean the reality is is that this is a collision sport you know it's it's a sport where you've gotten in coming out trying to physically dominate one another.
And so collisions are gonna happen.
But I do believe that we're doing a lot of good things -- try to mitigate the risks.
Concussions in the game you see the changes.
In the way they want people to be tackled you want -- players to not attacked the head of the opponent.
Of particular -- have a guy who we would consider.
Unprotected unsuspecting even some of the crack back block and so that's I think changes are happening there and also we've made huge changes in the way we practice the game and our new collective bargaining agreement.
We've made -- incredible strides in the way that we.
Changes -- -- what about the idea that you'd get rid of helmets.
Because -- really would change the way people -- -- not gonna happen well.
Now it's not gonna happen because of the nature of the game you know -- helmets do what they're really meant to do that's it prevents school breakfast and lacerations what about before we had comedies that we ultimately -- -- the rebellious and as broadly we had a catastrophic events happened we have people that -- Diana the football -- look at -- -- -- -- -- problems and so they don't wanna go back to those because this man handing it.
Can you give me -- -- -- -- his employer you rugby is a violent sport though is that there is no helmet in -- And -- out tackle people buying ahead.
Why don't you get rid of the helmet while it changed the way people faculty -- -- negative that I.
Well you do are you telling me that they have no concussion issues and rugby I don't know I would I would probably argue -- that I think you'll ever get done.
Hold on second -- is going to have everybody gonna have to caution zoning.
You gonna have what we -- maybe if you are gonna have you call them by changing the rules and changing the idea no.
The hook the well I think that's a little over we're not gonna change ahead here in the game but we have changed the rules are seeing which aims to kick up.
We change the way that we're attacking one another hitting one another.
And the reality is it's not always the concussion Stewart they have to realize that the main when you see a guy have a concussion.
It you can diagnose -- you can treated.
That the big thing for us is that we're attacking what we consider this up -- blows.
And that's thousands of time for -- just tapping your helmet against another owner player sled for example and so we've made huge strides in that area.
And the way we work in the off season and training camp even during this season.
And so we have put things in place and as we continue to learn more I -- the players association and the -- combined.
Are willing to do things and make changes to make the -- safer okay -- -- wall we hate you and we thank you very much for joining us this morning thank you so trichet.
You have my pleasure.
