Should the pressure to get back in the game overcome the protection of the health of an NFL player? Is the competitiveness of the team more important than the player avoiding the risk of injuring himself even more? The players do get payed regardless of whether they’re playing or injured, and obviously no one wants to pay someone for doing nothing. But is this enough reason to have the players play with an injury? There is the possibility that the player can injure himself even more and be out even longer.

In my opinion, health should come before competition. Especially in the NFL, where all the players are incredibly strong. If a pro football flayer has a concussion and plays anyway, he can take another hard hit and do permanent damage to his brain. He will either just be out longer or for life, and both hurt the team even more than him being out for a shorter time and healing completely. For the player he can do irreparable damage that will end his career, and ruin the rest of his life.

~RJ Oris