All is well in sunny Wisconsin as a man sits inside a high school gymnasium to see his son play some basketball. While all is quiet inside the gym, this man is hearing some different things. Ringing in his ears, and a buzzing in his head.
We're talking about the father of a student on the court, but also a former pro football player. The ringing stems from one of the many concussions he suffered as a pro football player. He's not alone here. When 2,500 retired NFL football players were polled, over 1,500 of them had suffered at least one concussion as a pro football player. The long-term effects of these are undoubtedly detrimental.
Concussions very often lead to depression during the later years in life. If this next stat doesn't tell you enough, we'd be very surprised. It's reported that 87% of ex NFL players end up suffering from depression at some point in their lives. This number is extremely high and must be somewhat related to concussions, which are known to alter mood, sleep patterns, sex drive, and more.
Not only do they affect mood, but they also affect physical health. The average life expectancy in America is 76 years. The average life expectancy of an NFL player is much shorter than this, at just 58. Between all of the injuries suffered on the field (including concussions), the effects of the physical contact on a football player's health are detrimental.
Sports fans often focus on the money that pro athletes make, calling them extremely lucky, overpaid, and more. They often overlook the physical stress that a pro football career places on the body and the psyche, and the long lasting effects these have through one's entire life.
The man on the basketball court decides to walk down from the bleachers, standing court side in sunglasses. Preferring not to be recognized, there's no way around this and he is often approached by mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters. He responds in as friendly a manner as possible, though he'd prefer to just be.
This is Al Toon, former University of Wisconsin wide receiver and former New York Jet. Having had a few tremendous seasons during the 1990s, Toon's career was cut short due to over 10 concussions that he suffered as a pro. The wide receiver was forced into retirement at the young age of 29. Unfortunately, Toon is not alone here. He is one of many modern day gladiators.
We're talking about the father of a student on the court, but also a former pro football player. The ringing stems from one of the many concussions he suffered as a pro football player. He's not alone here. When 2,500 retired NFL football players were polled, over 1,500 of them had suffered at least one concussion as a pro football player. The long-term effects of these are undoubtedly detrimental.
Concussions very often lead to depression during the later years in life. If this next stat doesn't tell you enough, we'd be very surprised. It's reported that 87% of ex NFL players end up suffering from depression at some point in their lives. This number is extremely high and must be somewhat related to concussions, which are known to alter mood, sleep patterns, sex drive, and more.
Not only do they affect mood, but they also affect physical health. The average life expectancy in America is 76 years. The average life expectancy of an NFL player is much shorter than this, at just 58. Between all of the injuries suffered on the field (including concussions), the effects of the physical contact on a football player's health are detrimental.
Sports fans often focus on the money that pro athletes make, calling them extremely lucky, overpaid, and more. They often overlook the physical stress that a pro football career places on the body and the psyche, and the long lasting effects these have through one's entire life.
The man on the basketball court decides to walk down from the bleachers, standing court side in sunglasses. Preferring not to be recognized, there's no way around this and he is often approached by mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters. He responds in as friendly a manner as possible, though he'd prefer to just be.
This is Al Toon, former University of Wisconsin wide receiver and former New York Jet. Having had a few tremendous seasons during the 1990s, Toon's career was cut short due to over 10 concussions that he suffered as a pro. The wide receiver was forced into retirement at the young age of 29. Unfortunately, Toon is not alone here. He is one of many modern day gladiators.
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