They're Men, Not Children.

Back in October, we all had the privilege of watching Congress haul members of the NFL up to Capitol Hill so they could grandstand and take up for the poor, helpless, grown men who make millions of dollars voluntarily playing a sport they know is violent. The congressmen were addressing the prevalence of head injuries, specifically concussions, in the sport of football. Commissioner Roger Goodell was treated as the Bernie Madoff of professional sports.

Well, today we get this interesting story.

Thirty of 160 NFL players surveyed by The Associated Press from Nov. 2-15 replied that they have hidden or played down the effects of a concussion.

Why would these players do such a thing? For one, there is a lot of money involved. Admitting to a concussion means you have to sit out for at least a game, maybe longer. For some players, if they are replaced by a better player, that could mean the end of their career. Also, football players are intensely competitive people. They don't want to appear weak and they don't want to let their teammates down.

Also according to the article:

About half of the surveyed players said they've been paying attention to recent news about NFL head injuries.

Players know the risks. Especially this guy:

"Players are bigger, faster, stronger," Baltimore's [Matt] Birk said, echoing other athletes. "It's simple physics: Force equals mass times acceleration. It is a violent game, and there are inherent risks to the game itself. ... Collisions are becoming more intense."

Players may not understand the deep long-term neurological consequences, but they are smart enough to know that playing a violent sport dominated by men in peak physical condition has potential risks. But they continue to play and dreamers continue to endure almost anything for the chance to play. Congress should realize this and move on to more important issues. Now lets play some FOOTBALL!!!