Former congressman and NFL Hall of Famer Steve Largent says the government should stay out of the head-injury issue that’s now swirling around pro football.
The concern is that repeated head collisions are leading to long-term brain injuries among players in the NFL.
“If studies come out and show that playing football is detrimental to your health for the long term, even for the short term, I think that’s up to the players then to make the decision about whether they’re going to play or not play,” Largent said in an interview on
Bloomberg Television’s “Capitol Gains,” which is scheduled for broadcast. Feb. 2.
“They should be armed with all of the latest statistics and information and research,” said Largent, who represented Oklahoma in Congress from 1994 through 2002 and is now president of CTIA- The Wireless Association.
Star Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed, who will be playing in the Super Bowl Sunday, says his attitude is that concussions are part of the job. "I feel effects from it," he told reporters Tuesday. "Some days, I wake up and I'm like, 'Where did my memory go?' But I signed up for it."
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