re: Report: Goodell tells friends he fears a player will die on the field

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How? If it's never actually happened before, why would statistics mean it will eventually? That's like saying statistically a player's arm will get ripped off during an NFL game at some point.

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C'mon now.

We've already had players stop breathing on the field.

One of Reggie Brown (Lions) or Everett (Bills). ONe of those two definitely stopped breathing I believe. I have to check.

Reggie Brown - In his final game, Brown suffered a spinal cord contusion while assisting on a tackle of New York Jets halfback Adrian Murrell in the closing game of 1997 season. He lay motionless for 17 minutes on the turf at the Pontiac Silverdome, briefly losing consciousness. CPR saved his life, and emergency surgery saved him from using a wheelchair for the rest of his life.[1]
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Until September 11, Everett remained on a respirator, but was able to breathe on his own while it was briefly turned off. Cappuccino described Everett's respiratory risks as among the issues he described as "life-threatening" as well as how techniques, such as intravenous methods to reduce Everett's body temperature in an attempt to reduce the swelling, were performed in order to make operation easier.