Before the start of the 2013 to 2014 season, the National Football League made headlines by settling a lawsuit with over 4,500 of its former players for $765 million, putting an end to the players' lawsuit accusing the league of hiding the dangers of concussions. New research surrounding traumatic brain injury is the biggest threat to the future of America's most popular sport, as adults and children alike are increasingly dissuaded from playing. How can football ensure the safety of its players at all levels while still maintaining the integrity of the game?

Tom Rand

The NFL and football leagues at all levels have incorporated rules recently to try to reduce the potential for concussions. In reality, however, it is a physical game and the risk always exists. The significance of this lawsuit and recent medical research is that now the information about the dangers and long-term effects of concussions is out there. People can now make informed decisions about whether or not to play (or whether or not to allow their children to play).

Tom Rand is the associate director of Brandeis Athletics.

Aaron Schluger '14

It does not seem surprising that repeated blows to the head could cause some form of damage to the brain. Yet we are far upfield when it comes to understanding the potentially harmful effects of football. Anecdotal evidence suggests that there may be considerable danger to the brain from playing football. There is a need for more systematic study on the danger of repeated high intensity collisions in the sport. First, rigorous research regarding the intellectual functioning and neurological status of football players must be conducted at all ages and levels of competition to gain a clear picture of the spectrum of potential dangers to athletes in high school, college and professional leagues. Second, based on the results of these studies, amendments to official rules of play and drastic improvements in helmet design and other protective equipment should follow to limit risks that may lead to devastating conditions in older age. Football is enormously popular in America and certainly, this new knowledge could threaten the future of the game and of those benefitting from the big business of football. However, the integrity of the game is grounded in the safety of its players.

Aaron Schluger '14 is president of the Brandeis Pre-Health Society.

Jeffrey Boxer '13

If there were an easy answer to that question, the NFL wouldn't be in the mess that it is in right now. On the one hand, our understanding of concussions has improved tremendously, as has the equipment used to protect against them. Fans no longer applaud bone-jarring hits-those plays now draw penalties and fines. In many ways, football is moving in the right direction. Unfortunately, these are all Band-Aids, not solutions. Today's players are much stronger and faster than yesteryear's and that leads to harder collisions and more opportunities for injury. Some have suggested widening the field of play so that players are more spaced out. Others have argued that contact should be reduced even further. Whatever happens, the NFL, NCAA and youth leagues across the country are going to have a difficult time maintaining the integrity of the sport while simultaneously ensuring the safety of its participants.

Jeffrey Boxer '13 is the marketing and promotions coordinator for Brandeis Athletics and a former editor of the Justice.

Max Bernstein '15

I feel like it's common sense, but it is extremely dangerous to receive blunt force trauma to the head. The brain is an absolutely amazing organ, but it's fragile and needs to be protected. Football is a dangerous sport in this regard, but you can't get rid of it. It's too American, like apple pie and beer. What would we do as American citizens if we couldn't sit on our couches watching people exercise when we don't want to? In truth, the best way to protect the integrity of the game and the players simultaneously is to improve the protective capabilities of the helmets and reduce the amount of possibly dangerous contact during training so the only time there is significant contact is during games. If practices limited the amount of potentially dangerous tackles, the players would have a better chance of avoiding brain injury while still entertaining us during televised games.

Max Bernstein '15 is a research assistant for Prof. Don Katz (PSYC), a Neuroscience and Psychology double major, and a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi.