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http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-bears-bits-spt-1216-20141215-story.html
Bears' Chris Conte sits Monday, but numerous injuries don't faze him
By Rich Campbell,Chicago Tribune
In the current climate of player safety, Bears safety Chris Conte has garnered attention locally for his insistence on playing through pain. And even though he sat out Monday, he expressed an uncompromising perspective on the pregame show on WBBM-AM 780.
"I'd rather have the experience of playing in the NFL and die 10 to 15 years earlier than not play in the NFL and have a long life," he said.
"I don't really look toward my life after football. I'll figure things out when I get there. As long as I outlive my parents."
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-bears-bits-spt-1216-20141215-story.html#
Conte, 25, is in the last year of his rookie contract and is scheduled to be a free agent in March. He persevered through intense fan criticism of a subpar 2013 season. His three interceptions this season are tied for the team lead.
It remains to be seen whether the Bears will be open to re-signing him, but health concerns are likely to hurt his value on the open market.
Conte indicates he'll keep playing — for anyone — as long as he can.
"I'm not saying I'm going to go die when I'm 45, 50," he said. "I'm fortunate to go out and play football."
------------
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...-play-in-the-nfl-and-die-10-15-years-earlier/
Chris Conte: I’d rather play in the NFL and die 10-15 years earlier
Posted by Michael David Smith on December 17, 2014
Conte’s point of view actually isn’t much different from that of people in all walks of life who say they’d rather enjoy the years they have than delay death as long as possible. Some people enjoy skiing, some people enjoy rock climbing, some people enjoy eating junk food. All of those things have health risks, but if a consenting adult chooses to accept the risk, who’s to tell him he shouldn’t?
But what Conte may not realize is that the risks associated with playing in the NFL are more about quality of life in old age than about taking years off life. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “On average, NFL players are actually living longer than the average American male.”
What Conte and all NFL players should weigh is the risk of injuries suffered on the football field affecting them later in life. Conte probably will live to be a senior citizen, and he will probably want to be not just alive but healthy when he’s 60, 70 or 80. Conte says in his 20s that the enjoyment he gets out of playing football makes the risk worth it. I hope he says the same when he’s in his 80s.
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Chris Conte lawyer: My clients brain injuries prevented him from knowing what was actually happening so his comments are meaningless. We will be suing the NFL for injuries sustained during his career.
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I agree w/ him; carpe diem, live for today. A guy I work with in our warehouse has had both knees replaced and another lady just had her hip done. You can’t stop father time so enjoy your youth and make as much as you can.
---------
Absolutely. As an NFL fan, this is good to hear– the game needs players to be accountable for their own safety. This is a “play at your own risk” type of deal, players are paid millions but they know that when they step on to the field they could face permanent injury or even death. The NFL could even require each player to sign a waiver acknowledging this prior to every game.
If such a waiver existed, would any current player quit? I highly doubt it. Plus, it would put an end to all this “will football still exist in 30 years?” BS. So many in the media– some who even cover the game for a living– have pushed this anti-football agenda for the past few years– “we shouldn’t like this game, it isn’t right”– that type of thing. It needs to end, and a position like Conte is taking– “yeah, it may affect my long-term health, so what? you only live once”– is perfect. Good on you, Chris Conte
---------
Even if you are not that good of a player and play 4 years and make $2.5 mil. How many of you would take that job for 4 years and make $2.5.
Answer is ALL OF YOU.
--------
Is playing for the Bears really an NFL experience???
--------
Wow. This should give every NFL fan pause. It’s his choice and he’s rationalizing it, but it’s scary to think someone who’s had such serious injuries would be willing to risk his health and very life for our enjoyment and for the shine of an NFL career and some cash.
Again, it’s his choice, but to potentially put his future life at risk for a league that will eventually leave him behind and probably fail to acknowledge his ailments is sobering and just sad to me.
---------
Quality of live vs. quantity of life. This assessment is made by each individual based on their own discretion. And thus, policy should not withhold one’s opportunity to enjoy said quality of life for the sake of ensuring that the whole of society is “guaranteed” quantity of life. For folks like Conte and myself, it is not my wish to spend my final years of life rotting in a facility when I had the fiscal opportunity to enjoy a quality of life, but was taxed and unable to do so.
Deal with it. My values should not be infringed upon the values of others. My values do not inhibit your values. Liberty must prevail.
----------
Even is they die 10-15 years earlier. Their quality of life before that. The mountain of money, the vacations they can take, the toys they can play with, makes it worth it.
Us blue collar workers, work our tails off for YEARS to afford nice things in life. to just take a good vacation. To afford college for our kids. We work till we are OLD. Then we have a few years left in retirement where we struggle with little $$$ from Social Security.
just basic Risk vs Reward.
You can have health problems being a mechanic, doing construction, sitting behind a desk all day.
Might as well play a game! get paid Millions and Party like its 1999!!!
---------
I have to agree with Conte on this one. As one who watched old age and Alzheimer’s slowly sap the life out of two very close family members and drain them into basically human raisins, I can sympathize with him. On the other hand, will he turn into a raisin as well, just sooner?
Either way, as long as his family is in agreement with his understand the ramifications of the money/life style they’ll enjoy trumps years they could spend together, then who are we to say? Some people don’t understand the Uber athletes mentality. These are highly driven people that want to succeed and be the best. At some point time will catch up with you.
----------
It may sound morbid, but being an NFL player is not the only occupation in which there may be an expectation of one’s life being cut short by years.
How about firemen? The risks they take every day are obvious. Maybe not as obvious: coal miners. These guys work in the mines and will almost certainly have their lives cut short from black lung. It’s not even a risk. It’s a known fact for them, but still, they have to feed their families.
Playing in the NFL has always had a big risk of serious injury. Playing American football at any level carries risks as well. It is a risk assumed by those who, for their own reasons, accept and go on.
--------
My grandmother lived to be 95. Truth be told, it didn’t look like very much fun to me.
I’m 56 now, and the **LAST** thing I want is to live long enough to be gumming my applesauce in some decrepit old folks home, listening to the mindless screaming and yelling of others who have lived well into dementia. I’m with you on this one, Chris Conte!
-----------
The guy is sooooo right. It is much better to have an exciting life, a fun life, than to live long and pain free.
Played sports all my life. Still playing basketball at 50+. Done a lot of active adventurous things in my life.
Hurt very morning I get up. I’m stiff and it takes a while to get lossened up.
But it was worth it.
I’ve got great memories, stories to tell and things I’ve accomplished. Eveything worth doing comes with s price.
I’ve never had the privilege to walk out of the tunnel to 60,000 screaming fans. I can’t even imagine what that would be like. If only just once I could, I’d gladly pay the price.
When my time comes and my life flashes before my eyes my best non-loved ones memories are not going to be a title on a business card or a video game score.
He’s right. To do what you love the most is worth the price.
Only people with adventure in their souls don’t understand that.
Bears' Chris Conte sits Monday, but numerous injuries don't faze him
By Rich Campbell,Chicago Tribune
In the current climate of player safety, Bears safety Chris Conte has garnered attention locally for his insistence on playing through pain. And even though he sat out Monday, he expressed an uncompromising perspective on the pregame show on WBBM-AM 780.
"I'd rather have the experience of playing in the NFL and die 10 to 15 years earlier than not play in the NFL and have a long life," he said.
"I don't really look toward my life after football. I'll figure things out when I get there. As long as I outlive my parents."
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-bears-bits-spt-1216-20141215-story.html#
Conte, 25, is in the last year of his rookie contract and is scheduled to be a free agent in March. He persevered through intense fan criticism of a subpar 2013 season. His three interceptions this season are tied for the team lead.
It remains to be seen whether the Bears will be open to re-signing him, but health concerns are likely to hurt his value on the open market.
Conte indicates he'll keep playing — for anyone — as long as he can.
"I'm not saying I'm going to go die when I'm 45, 50," he said. "I'm fortunate to go out and play football."
------------
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...-play-in-the-nfl-and-die-10-15-years-earlier/
Chris Conte: I’d rather play in the NFL and die 10-15 years earlier
Posted by Michael David Smith on December 17, 2014
Conte’s point of view actually isn’t much different from that of people in all walks of life who say they’d rather enjoy the years they have than delay death as long as possible. Some people enjoy skiing, some people enjoy rock climbing, some people enjoy eating junk food. All of those things have health risks, but if a consenting adult chooses to accept the risk, who’s to tell him he shouldn’t?
But what Conte may not realize is that the risks associated with playing in the NFL are more about quality of life in old age than about taking years off life. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “On average, NFL players are actually living longer than the average American male.”
What Conte and all NFL players should weigh is the risk of injuries suffered on the football field affecting them later in life. Conte probably will live to be a senior citizen, and he will probably want to be not just alive but healthy when he’s 60, 70 or 80. Conte says in his 20s that the enjoyment he gets out of playing football makes the risk worth it. I hope he says the same when he’s in his 80s.
----------
Chris Conte lawyer: My clients brain injuries prevented him from knowing what was actually happening so his comments are meaningless. We will be suing the NFL for injuries sustained during his career.
----------
I agree w/ him; carpe diem, live for today. A guy I work with in our warehouse has had both knees replaced and another lady just had her hip done. You can’t stop father time so enjoy your youth and make as much as you can.
---------
Absolutely. As an NFL fan, this is good to hear– the game needs players to be accountable for their own safety. This is a “play at your own risk” type of deal, players are paid millions but they know that when they step on to the field they could face permanent injury or even death. The NFL could even require each player to sign a waiver acknowledging this prior to every game.
If such a waiver existed, would any current player quit? I highly doubt it. Plus, it would put an end to all this “will football still exist in 30 years?” BS. So many in the media– some who even cover the game for a living– have pushed this anti-football agenda for the past few years– “we shouldn’t like this game, it isn’t right”– that type of thing. It needs to end, and a position like Conte is taking– “yeah, it may affect my long-term health, so what? you only live once”– is perfect. Good on you, Chris Conte
---------
Even if you are not that good of a player and play 4 years and make $2.5 mil. How many of you would take that job for 4 years and make $2.5.
Answer is ALL OF YOU.
--------
Is playing for the Bears really an NFL experience???
--------
Wow. This should give every NFL fan pause. It’s his choice and he’s rationalizing it, but it’s scary to think someone who’s had such serious injuries would be willing to risk his health and very life for our enjoyment and for the shine of an NFL career and some cash.
Again, it’s his choice, but to potentially put his future life at risk for a league that will eventually leave him behind and probably fail to acknowledge his ailments is sobering and just sad to me.
---------
Quality of live vs. quantity of life. This assessment is made by each individual based on their own discretion. And thus, policy should not withhold one’s opportunity to enjoy said quality of life for the sake of ensuring that the whole of society is “guaranteed” quantity of life. For folks like Conte and myself, it is not my wish to spend my final years of life rotting in a facility when I had the fiscal opportunity to enjoy a quality of life, but was taxed and unable to do so.
Deal with it. My values should not be infringed upon the values of others. My values do not inhibit your values. Liberty must prevail.
----------
Even is they die 10-15 years earlier. Their quality of life before that. The mountain of money, the vacations they can take, the toys they can play with, makes it worth it.
Us blue collar workers, work our tails off for YEARS to afford nice things in life. to just take a good vacation. To afford college for our kids. We work till we are OLD. Then we have a few years left in retirement where we struggle with little $$$ from Social Security.
just basic Risk vs Reward.
You can have health problems being a mechanic, doing construction, sitting behind a desk all day.
Might as well play a game! get paid Millions and Party like its 1999!!!
---------
I have to agree with Conte on this one. As one who watched old age and Alzheimer’s slowly sap the life out of two very close family members and drain them into basically human raisins, I can sympathize with him. On the other hand, will he turn into a raisin as well, just sooner?
Either way, as long as his family is in agreement with his understand the ramifications of the money/life style they’ll enjoy trumps years they could spend together, then who are we to say? Some people don’t understand the Uber athletes mentality. These are highly driven people that want to succeed and be the best. At some point time will catch up with you.
----------
It may sound morbid, but being an NFL player is not the only occupation in which there may be an expectation of one’s life being cut short by years.
How about firemen? The risks they take every day are obvious. Maybe not as obvious: coal miners. These guys work in the mines and will almost certainly have their lives cut short from black lung. It’s not even a risk. It’s a known fact for them, but still, they have to feed their families.
Playing in the NFL has always had a big risk of serious injury. Playing American football at any level carries risks as well. It is a risk assumed by those who, for their own reasons, accept and go on.
--------
My grandmother lived to be 95. Truth be told, it didn’t look like very much fun to me.
I’m 56 now, and the **LAST** thing I want is to live long enough to be gumming my applesauce in some decrepit old folks home, listening to the mindless screaming and yelling of others who have lived well into dementia. I’m with you on this one, Chris Conte!
-----------
The guy is sooooo right. It is much better to have an exciting life, a fun life, than to live long and pain free.
Played sports all my life. Still playing basketball at 50+. Done a lot of active adventurous things in my life.
Hurt very morning I get up. I’m stiff and it takes a while to get lossened up.
But it was worth it.
I’ve got great memories, stories to tell and things I’ve accomplished. Eveything worth doing comes with s price.
I’ve never had the privilege to walk out of the tunnel to 60,000 screaming fans. I can’t even imagine what that would be like. If only just once I could, I’d gladly pay the price.
When my time comes and my life flashes before my eyes my best non-loved ones memories are not going to be a title on a business card or a video game score.
He’s right. To do what you love the most is worth the price.
Only people with adventure in their souls don’t understand that.
