Rutgers player paralyzed as player safety is a growing concern

A collision recently left a Rutgers player paralyzed. The injury occurred in a freak hit in an NCAA football game. There has been growing concern over player safety in football, especially within the professional ranks, and also the Eric LeGrand injury is calling more attention to the issue. The NFL has been on a campaign to cut back harm to players. Concussions and other head injuries have been of especially great concern. Damage sustained by football players at all amounts, especially by helmet contact, is an increasing national concern.

In the course of the kickoff return, a player for Rutgers becomes paralyzed

Army was against Rutgers University during the sad occasion. ESPN explains that a kickoff return left a Rutgers football player paralyzed in the course of the fourth quarter. Rutgers defensive left tackle Eric LeGrand was trying to tackle Army running back Malcolm Brown when he was returning the kickoff. Before the impact happened, he lowered his helmet. He was on the field without moving after hitting Brown. A few minutes later, many took action. He was put on a stretcher and transported out. LeGrand was transported to the hospital. It was there that the news of his third and fourth cervical vertebrae were fractured was discovered. He will probably be paralyzed from the neck down.

Issues about NFL player safety

More player safety rules were initiated into this year’s season of the NFL. Whoever has received concussions cannot just return back to practice. The players have to prove they are able to return to practice by passing a battery of tests. Helmet to Helmet hits could be cracked down on. The National Football League plans to make penalties worse. Lowering one’s head at the moment of impact also creates risk. In 1978, Darryl Stingley lowered his head when being tackled by Jack Tatum. This had been during a pre-season game even, Sports Illustrated reports. Stingley became paralyzed. ”The Assassin” ended up being Tatum’s nickname. He tried to avoid the helmet to helmet hit though. Tatum, along with the rest of the Raiders, ended up being known as cheap shot artists.

What the expenses of bringing amusement are

It’s always dangerous to play a sport, although it’s even more dangerous as the sport gets more competitive. Players continue to get faster, bigger and stronger. This means that athletes today have a greater risk in their profession.

Info from

ESPN

sports.espn.go.com/new-york/ncf/news/story?id=5696563

NFL

nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81b6d381/article/suspensions-could-be-coming-for-helmettohelmet-hits

Sports Illustrated

sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/football/nfl/07/28/tatum/