A Very Dangerous Game
Like many football fans, I watched in horror when Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin fell to the ground in cardiac arrest on a nationally televised Monday night football game.
Having played the game for 2 years in college, and parts of 6 seasons professionally, it really hit home.
Football players have a 100% injury rate during the season. That’s right.
EVERY PLAYER THAT SUITS UP IN THE NFL WILL BE INJURED AT SOME POINT IN THE SEASON.
Of course, some injuries are worse than others. And although I wouldn’t necessarily say that a cardiac arrest is an injury, it is a by-product of a very dangerous game.
In my career, I had sprained knee ligaments, a stress fracture in my left foot, a separated shoulder, a torn hamstring, and too many minor bumps and bruises to mention here.
Would I do it again? Absolutely! I knew what I was signing up for.
When mothers ask me if they should let their young children play tackle football, my answer is always yes.
What I gained from football is well worth the risk. Discipline, teamwork, hard work, business success, and the relationships I have had over the course of time with great men like Dick Vermeil, Bruce Arians, Jim Mora, and others, have greatly enhanced my life.
Whether Damar Hamlin ever plays football again is yet to be decided. But he is alive, he is regaining his health, and is still a member of the Bills.
And for that, we should all be grateful.
