American Football is in serious trouble

frick those players. They knew it was a violent game and loved to play it their entire careers.

My problem with the lawsuit stuff is this: almost all would have continued playing the sport regardless. Less than 1 percent have chosen not to sign up to play pro football this year and they have heard every horror story imaginable. I do think we have had our head in the sand but I hate these type of lawsuits more. And this is only the beginning of this stuff. There are tons of concussions in most sports. Most have just been undiagnosed/ignored unless severe. I guess the thing to be learned is that a kid at any age must not be allowed to return to a game when he has a concussion. Coaches all the way to the bottom levels will have to learn how to diagnose even minor ones and act accordingly.

There's little doubt there will be successful lawsuits and billions of dollars transfered to lawyers, i mean won by plaintiffs. But I think this guy is over reacting a bit, not to mention that 2 economists already had a similar article on Grantland a few months ago. Smoking lawsuits did not kill the industry. Suing the league out if existance is counter productive. Kind of hard to get big fat legal fees, I mean settlements for your clients, if the golden goose is dead. It is possible and prehaps likely that lower levels drop football over lawsuits or because they can no longer get insurance.

Is there not an assumption of risk clause in these contracts?

Pop Warner has released new practive guidelines with limits on contact.

I predict greater waiver/hold harmless measures going forward or tackle football will go the way of the high dive --> rare and highly insured...