For every NFL player who retires young due to concerns about head injuries, there are countless others who know the risks involved with playing football and are willing to accept them. Take Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Alex Boone, for example.
Boone is set to return from what he believes is the first concussion of his career. He said this week that he is fulfilling a promise to his wife and oldest child by upgrading his helmet to a newer, safer model, but the veteran understands there is no sure-fire way to prevent concussions.
“This is a brutal game,” Boone said, via Chad Graff of the Pioneer Press. “I’m at a position where you’re getting hit constantly in the head. It’s one of those things where I know what’s going to happen to me someday. I signed up for this a long time ago, and I love this game more than anything. I know what’s going to happen, but at the end of the day, if I can try to help myself be smarter and be better, then I will.”
I think we can all agree that “I know what’s going to happen” is a frightening statement. Despite that, Boone says he was extremely annoyed with the NFL’s concussion protocol, which has been put in place for the safety of players.
“And the testing was just obnoxious,” he said. “I mean, (geez). Whoever made that testing is a real (jerk). The ImPACT test, you’re sitting in front of a computer for 30 minutes answering questions. …
“It’s annoying, but I understand it. It’s a process. This is a brutal game. It is what it is. Sometimes you get hit in the head and things go wrong. I have kids and the last thing I want to do is have them take care of me (when I’m) 35. It’s hard because I want to play and I want to do everything, but I want to be a dad at the same time.”
While we have seen more players retire in recent years because of the long-term risk of concussions, there are others like this star tight end who openly admit to hiding their symptoms. In reality, Boone is part of the majority.
