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American Read DISPOSABLE MEN The National Football League has settled with its former players on their lawsuits over the long-range effect of concussions. But this could very well be just the beginning WORDS: MARK KRAM JNR MAIN PHOTO: GARY BOGDON es Hopkins seems to concussive and sub-concussive’ blows the payouts are not expected to occur think it happened in to the head. Players who signed on for 180 days – which is to say, until the his second year in the to the action said they experienced a judge signs off on it – and that only half National Football League wide range of ‘neurological problems’, of the $765-million is scheduled to be (NFL). But it could have including, but not limited to, depression, dispersed in the first three years. The Wbeen later. At only 51, his memory is no anxiety disorders, memory loss, severe remaining half will be apportioned longer what it once was. In the 20 years headaches, and dementia. Autopsies over 17 years. By the way, the deal does that have elapsed since the fierce free of former players who have committed not cover currently active players and safety hung up his cleats, his 10-year suicide, such as Dave Duerson, Ray whatever neurological problems they All-Pro career with the Philadelphia Easterling, Junior Seau, and Andre may one day face. Eagles has become a blur. In any case, Waters, revealed the presence of So was it a victory for the NFL? In the he remembers the Eagles were playing chronic traumatic encephalopathy short term, yes – and not just because the Chicago Bears, it was a second down (CTE), a brain abnormality linked to they escaped billions in liability. By play, and he undressed running back emotional instability, erratic behaviour striking this agreement, the NFL has Walter Payton with a bone-crunching and impulse control. Evidence of CTE spared itself a public trial, the spectre tackle. When the play ended, it was hard was also discovered in the autopsied of which invoked terror in its image- to know who had gotten the worst of it: brains of John Grimsley, John Mackey, conscious commissioner, Roger Goodell. Payton or Hopkins himself. Hopkins told Tom McHale, Justin Strzelczyk and Had the case proceeded, the NFL would me when we chatted earlier this year: Mike Webster, each of whom showed have had to have submitted to discovery ‘Next thing I knew, I was standing on symptoms of psychological impairment by opposing counsel. Did the NFL have the sidelines.’ and died prematurely. Hopkins told me, knowledge it withheld from the players But he did not know how he got there. ‘What I hope comes out of the lawsuit that concussions could leave them He turned to a team-mate and asked, is that the league acknowledges how mentally impaired? And if they did know, ‘What happened?’ dangerous the game is and that they did they take the necessary precautions The team-mate looked at him closely could have taken better care of us.’ to protect the players? Such questions and replied, ‘Wes, we stopped them.’ Although evidence against the NFL would have been addressed under oath Hopkins remembers he looked at on both counts appeared compelling, had there been a trial. Instead, the NFL the film of the game the following day. the league manoeuvered a settlement in has averted what appeared certain to be ‘What happened was I had no memory August with the plaintiffs that has closed a public relations train wreck. For now. whatsoever of third down,’ says Hopkins, the issue even before it had a chance to who is unemployed and lives in Alabama come before a jury. The NFL has agreed with his mother. ‘I had hit Payton so hard to pay the ex-players $765-million, plus on second down that I guess you could legal fees. Given that the NFL brings say I was knocked out on my feet.’ in revenues of $10-billion annually, it is But Hopkins is only one former a relatively swindling amount, especially NFL player who has suffered some in that it is intended to cover such a degree of brain damage during his large pool of beneficiaries. By way of career. In fact, an astonishing 4 500 an explanation as to why the plaintiffs players filed a class action lawsuit did not hold out for a better deal, their claiming the league did not adequately attorney observed that it provided apprise them of ‘the pathological and immediate relief to former players Retired NFL player Kevin Turner, who debilitating effects of mild traumatic who were in desperate need of medical has been diagnosed with ALS, is helped brain injuries (MTBI) caused by … assistance. However, he explained that to a drink by his daughter at his home 62 American Read y virtue of policy and rule changes, the NFL likes to think (and would Blike you to think) pro football can be transformed into a safer sport. But it cannot. Inherently, it is a violent game played by big, strong men at an accelerated rate of speed. Even if the NFL legislated the ‘culture of the big hit’ out of the game – hits that were once culled from the weekly footage compiled by NFL Films and packaged in promotional videos such as Big Blocks and King-Sized Hits – it cannot eradicate the subconcussive blows that still occur on each play. Think of the brain as an egg encased in an interior and outer shell, which is to say the skull and the helmet. Regardless of Seth Joyner shuddered at the perils Chicago Bears’ Jim McMahon in pain the layers of protective covering, the brain embraced by him and his peers. A after a sack during their game against is essentially scrambled inside the skull former All-Pro linebacker with the Cincinnati Bengals, August 1986 with each blow to the head. Offensive Eagles and Arizona Cardinals, Joyner and defensive linemen are especially has experienced short-term memory susceptible to brain trauma, because loss and an inability to concentrate for their heads are involved in the scrum any extended period. ‘Heck,’ he said, that occurs on each play. ‘I am only 48, not at the age yet of some Big pressure has been placed on the of the others who have problems.’ Joyner NFL with each new revelation of the toll cited the once-swaggering Chicago Bears football has taken on its former players. and Eagles quarterback Jim McMahon, In addition to the suicides and other whose brain function at 53 has declined premature deaths that have occurred, to the point where he can no longer drive each of which have placed the league a car by himself for fear of losing his way under closer scrutiny by the media, the home. McMahon also has excruciating quality of life of more than a few players headaches that bring him to his knees in has diminished. Hopkins has found agony. But in even worse shape is former himself in a shadow world in which he fullback Kevin Turner, who at 43 is waging has ringing in the ears, headaches and a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis short-term memory loss. By his own (ALS) and has announced he will leave count, he was ‘knocked cold’ on the field his brain to the Center for the Study of four times. But he added, ‘That does Traumatic Encephalopathy at the Boston not count the number of times I was hit University School of Medicine to explore and saw stars.’ According to Hopkins, if there is any link between ALS and ‘[Trainers] would crack open ammonia CTE. Joyner does not know how many capsules under your nose to wake you concussions he had as a player, but said up, so you could get back into the game ‘the number has to be mind-boggling’. as soon as possible.’ Hopkins knew better ‘We used to just call it “getting your than to show his coaches he was ‘soft’. A bell rung”,’ said Joyner, who coaches ‘soft’ player is a replaceable player. Said youth football in Arizona. ‘Some of them former 11-year pro Brian Baldinger, who were mild. But there were other occasions remembers being hit so hard he played when I can remember sitting at home with double vision: ‘Players have a fear with a massive headache. But you let it go of losing their jobs, so they try to hide it because you had trainers who came up to if they have a concussion.’ Baldinger has you and said, “Coach is counting on you. experienced no apparent neurological Take an aspirin and get back out there.” S problems and has become a successful When you are bred to be a warrior, you act MAGE football analyst. like a warrior and you go out there, not I Question: Knowing what he knows knowing the adverse effect it was going ALLO ALLO G / now, would Hopkins have still chosen S to play football? He laughed. ‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘But I probably would have played it differently.’ How? By virtue of policy and rule changes, the NFL ‘I would have been less aggressive on the field,’ he said. ‘I would have taken likes to think pro football can be transformed PHOTO: BILL SMITH/GETTY IMAGE PHOTO: fewer chances with my body.’ into a safer sport. But it cannot 65 American Read recruit him to join the lawsuit. Jaworski ‘When you are bred to be a warrior, you said: ‘I just think it was my choice to play act like a warrior and you go out there, and I still feel that way.’ That is not to say Jaworski is not cognisant of the perils not knowing the adverse effect it was of playing.

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