Mike Webster's Threctomy

Mike Webster, a former NFL player, who played for the Steelers in the 1970s have started to experience head trauma and health complications. He began to struggle with his normal routine and family relationship, ending up homeless. From Frontline documentary film, “A League of Denial” explains how “he later died from a cardiac arrest on September 24, 2002, where Dr. Omalu examined the cause of his death.” How this happened may correlate to the football player's head-on collision of the brain resulting in what is known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is known as a neurodegenerative disease that affects the person’s cognitive function, altering their behavior. Apparently, many of these related injuries have made players depressed

Linebackers especially have a certain mass that allows them to have the strength to defend the team. According to the Article, “The Problem with Football,” sources tell that “The speed and size of pro athletes have made the game more dangerous. Offensive linemen now average nearly 315 lb.--65 lb. more than they did 40 years ago.” What this tells is, that the football player's’ weight has increased in the last forty years, with the head injuries as well. The solution towards this issue is for players to lose weight, but at the same time maintain the strength endurance just enough. Sam Kline, a correspondent in bleacher report propose that “a player, who comes the first Sunday of the regular season, weighing 201 pounds or more, shall be suspended for four games for the first offense, and then the rest of the season.” By doing so, reduces the amount of impact during a defensive tackle amongst each opponent while keeping football the same. If the NFL were to limit the weight capacity of each player, the chances are for the injury would lessen while maintaining the performance of the

CTE and Brain injuries have been a factor that leads to Mike Webster’s health deterioration. The causes of brain injury resulted from a strong impact, causing the brain to collide against the skull. With this happening, the blood vessels stretch out, damaging the cranial nerves. Football is known as a watched sport, therefore, in order to continue, one must have solutions towards the issue while not altering the game. Having safety helmets with paddings can help lessen the impact, bouncing the energy away from the head during a head-on collision. Another way is changing the culture of football by training coaches to educate players about the safety and dangers of head concussions. From a three-point stance to a two-point stance, this can benefit players to reduce the head concussions, since the majority are position upright. Bringing independent doctors on the sideline prevents players from continuing to play with an injury, lowering the risk of further damage. Letting players lose weight helps reduce the impact while maintaining their strength conditionally. Last, is to bring football into the 21st century by providing referees with sensors to monitor every player for potential head-on collision. With these solutions to consider, football will continue as a safe sport while avoiding health concussions that might impair the football players