As the issue of concussions and head injuries in the NFL becomes more prevalent, so too do the discussions about it on Twitter. On Sunday night, Jeremy Shockey decided to get in on the act by preaching about the negative effects playing football has on the health of players.
He is not the first player to do this and won’t be the last, but what was particularly interesting about Shockey’s rant was the way he ripped Roger Goodell and basically accused him of lying to players for the benefit of the game. Here are a few of the tweets.
I’m in shape. Unfortunately, it’s the wrong one!!Thinking what team if any I should play for!! Really lucky I’m able to walk
— Jeremy Shockey (@JeremyShockey) July 30, 2012
Science tells me I’ll be dead time in 54yrs old!! What would u do?
— Jeremy Shockey (@JeremyShockey) July 30, 2012
It would be great to give the health study on NFL players on a commercial during the games!! just want the fans and congress to know! FACT
— Jeremy Shockey (@JeremyShockey) July 30, 2012
The no it all Rog goodell lied to every player and told us concussions will not effect us in life that a LIE!en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_is…
— Jeremy Shockey (@JeremyShockey) July 30, 2012
Prior to 2009, the NFL took the stance that there was no scientific evidence to support the claim that head injuries affected the long-term health of players. That stance changed in 2009, and the NFL has tried to change rules and tweak equipment in addition to raising awareness about the damaging effects of concussions. A number of players have sued the league since, saying that they were misled and that their quality of life has been compromised as a result.
We have already seen rookies choose law school over the NFL because of the threat of head injuries — something we never would never have imagined 10 years ago. Troy Aikman even said he thinks concussions could eventually ruin football’s status as America’s top sport.
Maybe Shockey, a free agent, really is contemplating his future because he wants to protect his quality of life after football. But let’s not rule out the possibility that he is frustrated with the lack of interest teams have shown in him and is taking it out on the game itself.
