04/25/24
May 09, 2012
NFL Player Quits Over Concussion Risk: After eight seasons in the NFL, offensive lineman Jacob Bell is retiring from the NFL at age 31 because of the sport's concussion risks. "I've been thinking about some different things, thinking about health, thinking about the future of my family having to deal with some kind of crazy disease that nobody even knows about, where people want their brains studied after they're dead," Bell said. "Donating their brains to research. It's just crazy to see how someone like Junior Seau took his own life over -- God knows what he was really struggling and dealing with. But you have to believe it came from the game of football. I want to get out before the game makes me get out, where I can get out on my own terms, and I can limit the amount of stress and negative impact that the game would leave on me."
That makes me so sad, but it seems like a wise decision. $800K isn't worth 30 or so concussions a season.
posted by bperk at 05:26 PM on May 09, 2012
Good for him. If he has invested well he should be in good shape for a long time. Barring any major health issues of course.
Wasn't it Tiki Barber who said he was retiring (when he retired) while he could still get down on the floor to play with his children?
As much as I love the game, I cringe to think what shape players like Ray Lewis and Troy Polomalu will be in 5-10 years after they retire. Troy has had several concussions that have kept him out of the game, sometimes for several weeks. Ray has been healthier but even his brain gets rattled around in his skull every time he hits someone.
posted by steelergirl at 03:04 AM on May 10, 2012
As someone who lives in Pittsburgh and hear more Troy interviews, I would bet he walks away early. He has said he is more concerned with health than money and I think he is grounded and smart enough to leave the game early.
posted by Debo270 at 10:03 AM on May 10, 2012
The NFL should fund an experimental league that plays football with different rules developed to remove concussion and injury risks.
Either that, or the game should be played with robots.
posted by rcade at 10:32 AM on May 10, 2012
Either that, or the game should be played with robots.
Expect a Hugh Jackman movie on this concept as a summer '13 blockbuster.
posted by tahoemoj at 11:18 AM on May 10, 2012
or the game should be played with robots.
I had an old Nintendo game called basewars. The players were robots and if you got caught at a base stealing, you would fight for the right to that basew. Best game ever.
posted by Debo270 at 11:20 AM on May 10, 2012
Either that, or the game should be played with robots.
And instead of first downs, the ball will be explosive, and you have to advance to a certain point on the field to defuse it.
posted by LionIndex at 01:42 PM on May 10, 2012
He has said he is more concerned with health than money and I think he is grounded and smart enough to leave the game early.
He's also either got smart people around him, or is smart enough himself to make a nice supplemental income from the hair, which may save him an extra year or two of getting mashed in the NFL.
posted by etagloh at 11:55 PM on May 10, 2012
I suspect he will not be the last. Good call, Mr. Bell. Having made at least $20M, you should be able to afford retirement.