The New Orleans Saints coaches, as well as players, paid members of the Saints active Roster for "kill shots" delivered to a targeted player. Jonathan Vilma was suspended an entire season, the Packers Anthony Hargrove received an eight game suspension, and Scott Fujita was given a three game suspension.
The Saints players listed above, as well as many others under Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams participated in acts that are unspeakable: paying players to deliver illegal hits with malicious intent.
Players such as future HOF Quarterback Kurt Warner of the Cardinals were victims of these horrific hits, and sustained brutal concussions.
Concussions in Latin mean to "shake violently". Violence is a word used very commonly in the sport of Football.
And for Junior Seau, the violence became too bad.
It was so bad it was enough to take his life.
Seau, the 19 year NFL Veteran who spent time with the Chargers, Dolphins, and Patriots, was found dead in his San Diego area home.
He shot himself in the chest, and was found dead by his housekeeper.
Seau was 43.
So what does this mean for the NFL?
Probably nothing. Another statement released by the NFL as to how saddened they are to have lost a former player. A deceased retiree, his death chalked up to the toll a violent sport takes on the body.
However, this is a death that could have and should have been prevented.
The over use of the word violent is ridiculous. Football is a physical sport, and one that the players understand what is at stake.
What is violent about football is what the players go through after their playing career. It is the impact of concussions and addiction to painkillers that have become almost as horrifying as the passing of the players themselves.
Ray Easterling, formerly of the Atlanta Falcons, committed suicide in April. His wife believed Easterling had developed symptoms of dementia, due to the hits he had taken during his career.
The year before, Dave Duerson, formerly of the Chicago Bears, was found dead in his Florida home after sustaining a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. A study of his brain revealed Duerson had suffered from a neurodegenerative disease linked to concussions.
Duerson and Easterling were by no means the first players to have committed suicide because of concussion like symptoms. Countless players from all different positions on the field ended their lives because of the pain and suffering they had gone through each day.
It is not just a recent problem, either. Former Eagles Safety Andre Waters committed suicide in 2006, the cause being the multiple concussions he suffered throughout his career.
And why won't the NFL and the NFLPA do anything? Because there are players in the league who still hide their traumatic head injuries.
It is apparent neither party has done enough to educate the players. While the NFLPA spent the entire NFL lockout of 2011 demanding that the NFL cut back on its OTAs because of the harmful effects of the body, the Players Association has made a mockery of themselves.
The main goal there is not to preserve the health of the players, but rather to give them the chance of earning more money.
Seau left behind three children. Time with family is far more valuable than any millions amassed over ones career.
Scott Fujita is a member of the NFLPA, and helped advocate for more off time for the players. His role in the use of bounties on players is disgusting.
If the players cannot respect other players, and the league is not doing nearly enough to protect them, who is there to help?
The answer is simple: nobody. The players are left to fend for themselves, heading down a path of chronic headaches and other body pains. And for those aches and pains they get daily, they begin to abuse prescription painkillers.
And why do they rely on painkillers?
The answer is even simpler: they were not taught any better. The Commissioner's office as well as members of the Players Association have not done nearly enough to educate the players on how to protect their bodies.
Roger Goodell can hand out as many $150,000 fines as he pleases. It is not enough.
It will be enough when new players entering the league are required to take special courses on concussions and its effects. It will be enough when Goodell starts handing out suspensions similar to Anthony Hargrove for targets to the head.
It will be enough, when the NFLPA tells its players that hiding their injuries will only hurt them, rather than sit at a table an argue over salaries.
This all should have stopped with Andre Waters. It should have ended with the passing of Dave Duerson. Ray Easterling's death should have been the last straw.
With Junior Seau's passing, it needs to stop now.
thank you.
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