Many, I would assume almost all of us, have heard in one way or another about this “Deflategate” scandal between Tom Brady and the Patriots, and the NFL.  The investigation, and issuing court appearances, have been going on since the news came out the the Patriots deflated footballs used in the AFC Championship game last year against the Indianapolis Colts-a game in which the Patriots handily won 45-7.  To some, including me, this seems ludicrous to still be arguing about.  Nearly eight months later and the league still hasn’t stopped arguing about it.  The Patriots easily won the game, and then easily won the next game, the Super Bowl, with fully inflated footballs.  So why make such a big deal of it?

Because the NFL was being crushed the past few years about concussion related injuries.  This past season alone, 6 players under the age of 30 have retired because of worries about concussion related problems.  A concussion, according to the Mayo Clinic Staff is “a traumatic brain injury that alters the way your brain functions.”.  Concussions are very common in football, a sport which hard contact is unavoidable.  But the problem isn’t just getting one concussion, it’s multiple concussions.  Recently, several former players have agreed to donate their brains, once they die, to science, to have doctors and professionals try and learn more about the long-standing effects of concussions.  Most notably was Junior Seau, a prolific linebacker who killed himself via gunshot in May of 2012.  Seau was suffering a brain disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, believed to be brought on from repeated blows to the head and concussions, according to the National Institutes of Health.  Seau was also not the first post-NFL player diagnosed with CTE after committing suicide, Dave Duerson and Ray Easterling were also diagnosed post mortem.  34 former professional football players have been diagnosed with the disease, and nine players who had only played college football had been diagnosed, according to a Boston University study in December of 2012.  Another incident in December of 2012 happened when Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher lost his mind and shot himself and his fiancé, Kasandra Perkins, orphaning their infant daughter Zoey.  Upon further inspection of his brain, Belcher was also found to have CTE, brought on by repeated blows to the head.

This year alone six players under the age of 30 have already retired from football, and many of them were big stars.  Amongst the biggest names are former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew, San Fransisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis, and Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker.  San Fransisco 49ers linebacker Chris Borland, as well, retired after his rookie season last year.  He reported fear of results from concussions are the reason he backed away.

Young players are retiring left and right because of fear of head injury.  But, the big story this offseason has been the slight depressurizing of a few footballs in a game that ultimately the victors would have won regardless.

Rest in Peace, Junior.

Sources:

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article2296030.html

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_28268227/renck-six-players-30-or-under-retired-this

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jan/10/nfls-junior-seau-had-brain-disease-cte-when-he-kil/?page=all

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/concussion/basics/definition/con-20019272

http://espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=400749520