Is football just too dangerous? Concerns are rising about head injuries--especially among young players.

• Author: Bissinger, Buzz
• Position: DEBATE

YES

If I had a young son who wanted to play football, I would make sure he understood a few things first.

I would tell him about a brain disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, which is caused by repeated concussions. Autopsies of many former pro football players have revealed CTE. Its long-term effects include headaches, depression, erratic behavior, and early-onset Alzheimer's (dementia). Research indicates that the younger someone begins playing football, the more prone they are to concussions, because their bodies and brains are not fully formed.

And it's not just concussions that can cause lasting brain damage: CTE can develop simply from the repetitive hits that are an unavoidable part of football. Pop Warner, the nation's largest youth football organization, conceded the danger when it announced in June that it would limit high-speed contact in practices. of course, head injuries aren't the only long-term risk: Football players can develop crippling arthritis that makes it impossible for them to walk without a cane in middle age.

I would tell my son that football is simply too dangerous--and I wouldn't be alone, Tom Brady Sr., the father of superstar quarterback Tom Brady of the New England Patriots, recently said if he were making the decision today he would be "very hesitant" to let his son play football because of the potential harm of head injuries.

And if my son still wanted to play football after hearing all this, I'd say no. Because that's what parents do: protect their kids from harm when they can.

--BUZZ BISSINGER

Author, Friday Night Lights

NO

No sport or physical activity is risk-free. Concussion is an issue for every sport that our children play.

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