Brett Favre on concussions

[Prime Time]

Kurt Warner is included towards the end of this post. To read the whole article click the link below.
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...Kelly-concussion-issues-dangers-football.html

Packers great Brett Favre as he fears HE may have C.T.E. after suffering 'thousands' of concussions
By ALEX RASKIN


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gTXyn6CVhY

Retired Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre does not believe tackle football is safe for children and fears that he may be suffering the long-term effects from 'probably thousands' of concussions over his 20-year career.

As he explained to Megyn Kelly on Thursday’s show, the 48-year-old Favre does not know if he suffers from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) – the degenerative brain disease linked to concussions, which can only be diagnosed posthumously – but he has been showing troubling signs.

'Simple words that normally would come out easy in a conversation, I'll stammer,' said Favre, who played in 321 straight NFL games - a record for quarterbacks. 'Look, I'm 48 years old. Having played 20 years, could it just be, as we all like to say, we get a little bit older? Yeah, I forgot my keys and they were in my hand. Where are my glasses, and they're on your head. You know, I wonder if that's what it is, or do I - do I have early stages of C.T.E.? I don't know.'

And while he told Kelly that he does not regret playing, Favre has stated publicly that if he had a son, he would dissuade him from trying tackle football.

'If I had a son myself, I suppose I could make him not play, but I would really, really strongly discourage him from playing,' said Favre in a recent documentary he produced titled 'Shocked.'


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Azx4RGagECU

'That seems to surprise people when I tell them that. "So what? You're iron man,"' he continued. 'I can only hope and pray that at 55 or 60, I don't suffer the same things that some of these other guys that were portrayed in movies suffered.'

Fave hopes that a new nasal inhaler, Prevacus, which is waiting for approval can help prevent the effects of concussions on children.

However, he doesn't see any way to make contact sports completely safe for kids.

'This drug, if it can ever get approved and used, I think it will greatly help long-term health,' he said. 'We're never gonna stop concussions, and I think the brain and the skull itself [in children and teenagers] is not developed enough and they should not be playing tackle football.'

When asked how many concussions he suffered during his career, Favre was unsure.

'That I know of, three, four, maybe,' he said. 'As we're learning about concussions, there's a term that is often used in football, and maybe in other sports, that I got "dinged."

'As [concussion expert Dr. Bennet Omalu], who was portrayed by Will Smith in the movie "Concussion" has said, "dinged" is a concussion. When you have ringing of the ears, seeing stars, that's a concussion. If that is a concussion, I've had hundreds, probably thousands throughout my career, which is frightening.'

Favre said always had a long memory as a player and could even remember plays and different defensive looks from his high school days in Mississippi. But the problem he's running into more frequently is short-term memory issues, which are often linked with concussions.

The former Southern Mississippi star is also concerned with his future.

Many deceased football players, such as New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez and San Diego Chargers linebacker Junior Seau, were later revealed to have advanced stages of C.T.E., which likely contributed to their suicides.

'You know, the thing about C.T.E. and head injuries is, I'll have someone say, "Man, you look like you're in great shape, taking good care of yourself." I say, "thank you, I'm trying to do my best."

'The thing about what little we know about the brain, the injuries and C.T.E., is that tomorrow could be totally different,' he continued. 'Tomorrow, I may be in great health, but I don't know who I am or where I'm going. It can happen overnight. I know it's not as dramatic as that, but that's the scary thing. No matter what I do to try to take care of myself physically, that is a part of my future that I really can't control.'

Favre joined Kelly’s show via satellite while other athletes such as former St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner (far left), retired U.S. soccer star Amy Wambach (near right), and former Chicago Cubs catcher David Ross (near left) discussed their issues with concussions

46-year-old Kurt Warner was already outspoken on the dangers of contact sports, admitting in 2012 that the idea of his sons playing football scared him.

However, he and Kelly's other panelists are encouraged by the new drug, Prevacus, which comes in a nasal spray and helps to reduce edema, inflammation, and oxidative stress for anyone who may have suffered a traumatic brain injury.

'When you talk about Prevacus, and you talk about why are you involved? I feel that I have to be involved,' said Warner, who won a Super Bowl with the Rams and lost another with the Arizona Cardinals.

'It is something that is out there, it is groundbreaking, it is something that can change the complexion of things. I don’t think I am going to ever be able to tell my kid, well you can’t play, or literally pull them off the field. But I want to have something there, that if they do suffer an injury.'

According to neuroscientist Jacob Vanlandingham, the spray is used immediately after a head collision.

'We give it nasally through this applicator here,' he said. 'We're able to get it into the brain in less than five minutes. It diffuses throughout regions of your brain in 30 minutes.'

 

[LACHAMP46]

This is the excuse I woulda used when he got caught showing pecker pics....Remember his old bud Chumura??? The TE...whatever happened to him?

 

[Prime Time]

This is the excuse I woulda used when he got caught showing pecker pics....Remember his old bud Chumura??? The TE...whatever happened to him?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Chmura#Criminal_charges

On April 8, 2000 Chmura was accused of sexually assaulting the 17-year-old babysitter of his children. Chmura was tried but found not guilty of all charges.

Chmura owns a chain of auto collision repair businesses.

 

[OldSchool]

Every one of these guys, ok maybe a slight exaggeration, say they wouldn’t change a thing that they’d still play the game. As long as there’s the potential for big money and fame nothing is likely to change on their end. The union and the owners aren’t likely to do anything very different either as long as they make their money.

 

[LesBaker]

This is the excuse I woulda used when he got caught showing pecker pics....Remember his old bud Chumura??? The TE...whatever happened to him?

He got cut after it came to light that he was trying to hook up with a 15 year old girl.

EDIT @Prime Time got the scoop. I thought it was a girl in a hot tub at a party.

Maybe that was someone else.

 

[ReekofRams]

I have a health condition that has caused me to pass out around 70,000 times in my life, all starting right after the Rams won the Super Bowl. As you might guess, I've had lots of broken bones, and my body has paid the price as I'm pretty crippled.

But what bothers me the most is the results of all my concussions. I can even forget what I'm saying in mid sentence. I have many precious memories that I can't remember. It has led me even to such crazy things like becoming a member here. But seriously though, losing memories and constructive thought is a hard thing to carry around. It hurts to not remember much of your kid's childhood.

 

[MadGoat]

Hate to bring it up, but we know it happened.

Heroin and Prescription Opioids
Opioids are a class of drugs including both illegal heroin and prescription narcotics like Vicodin, OxyContin, and morphine. In 2012, the NIDA published that 467,000 Americans were dependent on heroin, while another 2.1 million battled a substance abuse disorder involving opioid painkillers.

Opioid drugs bind to opioid receptor sites in the brain and effectively block feelings of pain. They also stimulate the production of dopamine, which is one of the brain’s chemical messengers, or neurotransmitters, involved in feelings of pleasure within the limbic system.

When normal neurotransmitter functions are disrupted, cognitive functions like short-term and long-term memory may be impaired.

 

[Corbin]

Hate to bring it up, but we know it happened.

Heroin and Prescription Opioids
Opioids are a class of drugs including both illegal heroin and prescription narcotics like Vicodin, OxyContin, and morphine. In 2012, the NIDA published that 467,000 Americans were dependent on heroin, while another 2.1 million battled a substance abuse disorder involving opioid painkillers.

Opioid drugs bind to opioid receptor sites in the brain and effectively block feelings of pain. They also stimulate the production of dopamine, which is one of the brain’s chemical messengers, or neurotransmitters, involved in feelings of pleasure within the limbic system.

When normal neurotransmitter functions are disrupted, cognitive functions like short-term and long-term memory may be impaired.

It still boogles my mind that we have issues like this but Marijuana is still illegal. But then I remember it’s not about what works or is right it’s about what makes $$$$$

 

[Legatron4]

Sorry. But I’m sick of hearing about all this CTE bullshit. YOU chose to play for 20 years. YOU chose to not miss games due to concussions or at least symptoms. YOU decided to pursue a career as QB for the NFL.

Not a single person cares what happens to us normal people at jobs. I’ve gotten broken bones and torn ligaments. But because I’m not a professional athlete, it’s not a big deal.

Concussions are apart of the game. They always will be. You can take the kickoffs away. You can do whatever else to try and take them out of the sport. It will never ever ever ever ever ever change.

 

[dang]

So While i believe in CTE I know back in the day anyone playing football that stuck their heads into a tackle on a Regular basis has been ding donged many times. It was part of football. After the stars went away and the colors returned to normal u were back in to play. I agree with better education on the effects of concussions but u can’t turn back the clock so let’s be acknowledge that many many have been affected. High school. College. Pro.

 

[fearsomefour]

It still boogles my mind that we have issues like this but Marijuana is still illegal. But then I remember it’s not about what works or is right it’s about what makes $$$$$

It's legal where I am.
From what I can tell 0.0 difference.
*this opinion is based on nothing and holds no value.

 

[fearsomefour]

Sorry. But I’m sick of hearing about all this CTE bullcrap. YOU chose to play for 20 years. YOU chose to not miss games due to concussions or at least symptoms. YOU decided to pursue a career as QB for the NFL.

Not a single person cares what happens to us normal people at jobs. I’ve gotten broken bones and torn ligaments. But because I’m not a professional athlete, it’s not a big deal.

Concussions are apart of the game. They always will be. You can take the kickoffs away. You can do whatever else to try and take them out of the sport. It will never ever ever ever ever ever change.

Exactly.
A job that is very dangerous.....commercial truck driver is never talked about.
The fatality rates always rank it pretty highly.
Tons of injuries from moving freight, falls, accidents etc.
I agree with trying to protect players as much as we can but I can't stomach that somehow they are taking more risk than many, many people. Its nonsensical.
Also, it's mostly nonsense to try and employ stats involving pro players with kids. In fact, it's dumb.
As an aside. Watched a few minutes of youth practice today. Flag instead of tackle. I'm assuming this is a city spring league and obviously not the regular football season. It looked terrible.

 

[Akrasian]

Sorry. But I’m sick of hearing about all this CTE bullcrap. YOU chose to play for 20 years. YOU chose to not miss games due to concussions or at least symptoms. YOU decided to pursue a career as QB for the NFL.

Not a single person cares what happens to us normal people at jobs. I’ve gotten broken bones and torn ligaments. But because I’m not a professional athlete, it’s not a big deal.

Concussions are apart of the game. They always will be. You can take the kickoffs away. You can do whatever else to try and take them out of the sport. It will never ever ever ever ever ever change.

Actually, if a regular job led to debilitating injuries routinely, it would be regulated until it was safer. If a particular workplace has an unusual number of injuries, most states at least would investigate to see if there were ways to make it safer. I've had to help implement safety programs for businesses to reduce predictable risks. It's not different in principle for CTE and the NFL.

When asbestos was found to lead to devastating lung diseases, it wasn't the case that it was ignored because workers were there voluntarily - there were regulations put in place to protect the workers, and massive lawsuits filed against the companies, especially the ones that knew the dangers of asbestos and still failed to put in protections.

The NFL knows the risks of CTE - and if they do not put in more protections they will end up being sued out of existence. Just as any other business would face severe consequences if it routinely destroyed its workers.

 

[Corbin]

It's legal where I am.
From what I can tell 0.0 difference.
*this opinion is based on nothing and holds no value.

The thing is is it's not going to be right away you notice a difference. Somebody that is addicted to opioids isn't going to like " ohhh weeds legal now I'll start taking that." That's apples and oranges. You won't see a huge difference for years and years and the reason why is several fold.
1. Addiction is lifelong with some unfortunate relapsing.
2. Pills are expensive opioids to have an addiction to with the users often going to the cheaper opioid heroin eventually.
3. This problem generally starts and the beginning of pain issues for ones problem. So making something legal isn't 100% going to solve the issue because if you can't use marijuana as choice of medication as easy as you can get a hold of opioids for free or very little cost via insurance then it's going to somewhat continue.

I've seen and know multiple people how have addictions / medical issues and it's amazing to see some of them stop using 16 or 17 pills and only have to take 1-2 light ones with doses of THC. It's pretty amazing.

 

[fearsomefour]

The thing is is it's not going to be right away you notice a difference. Somebody that is addicted to opioids isn't going to like " ohhh weeds legal now I'll start taking that." That's apples and oranges. You won't see a huge difference for years and years and the reason why is several fold.
1. Addiction is lifelong with some unfortunate relapsing.
2. Pills are expensive opioids to have an addiction to with the users often going to the cheaper opioid heroin eventually.
3. This problem generally starts and the beginning of pain issues for ones problem. So making something legal isn't 100% going to solve the issue because if you can't use marijuana as choice of medication as easy as you can get a hold of opioids for free or very little cost via insurance then it's going to somewhat continue.

I've seen and know multiple people how have addictions / medical issues and it's amazing to see some of them stop using 16 or 17 pills and only have to take 1-2 light ones with doses of THC. It's pretty amazing.

Yes.
I agree with all of this.
My mother has gone from 8 or so opioid pills a day down to an average of 3.
With her it was CBDs to help with inflammation. Worked like magic. She does have to take a bread every now and then because it seems to affect her stomach after a while, which is strange. But using a combo of CBD products has worked wonders.

 

[Corbin]

Yes.
I agree with all of this.
My mother has gone from 8 or so opioid pills a day down to an average of 3.
With her it was CBDs to help with inflammation. Worked like magic. She does have to take a bread every now and then because it seems to affect her stomach after a while, which is strange. But using a combo of CBD products has worked wonders.

That's very good to hear man. My mother was a teacher for many years and all DARE'd out and was against it but when you get to a certain point you 'll try anything. It's weird because she uses like the old time terms for it saying " I have to take my dope" lol!! I just wish the federal government would get in the act.

 

[fearsomefour]

That's very good to hear man. My mother was a teacher for many years and all DARE'd out and was against it but when you get to a certain point you 'll try anything. It's weird because she uses like the old time terms for it saying " I have to take my dope" lol!! I just wish the federal government would get in the act.

Yeah, it's true.
That was the hard part for her too. A generational thing maybe. In her mind the poison the doctor was prescribing to her was "medicine" and the extracts were "drugs". Really an insane mindset, but, whatever.
Her doctor went as far as to tell her that CBDs don't exist. Finally took her to the friend that makes them and had her explain her exact process, from seed to shelf so to speak.
She started with a rub which did more for her than Blu Emo or any other commercial brand. Worked better and lasted longer. That sold her.
I was going to jump into the business (pretty saturated in parts of Ca) at one point about a year ago. Got approved by the state for a 10,000 Sq foot grow space, got shut down by the county where I have land. Sucks. May still do a much smaller project at some point here and focus on CBD concentrates as this is what interests me the most.

 

[drasconis]

Actually, if a regular job led to debilitating injuries routinely, it would be regulated until it was safer. If a particular workplace has an unusual number of injuries, most states at least would investigate to see if there were ways to make it safer.

Yes and No, you can't make every job completely safe. Some jobs have risks (falls/electrocution/deadly accidents) and others have long term wear (back issues, knee wear and tear). I have a friend that works on freighters the job is amazingly risky, form climbing to dangerous heights under dangerous conditions (boat in a storm you can't say don't fix x,y,z or don't secure the cargo), my father worked in a steel mill for many years and yes they did much in regulations to make it safer, what got him was the wear and tear of the job, heavy loads and much lifting (yes you get supports and the harnesses to help but it doesn't make it not have affect).

The fact is that many jobs are just risky due to their physical nature, sports jobs are clearly on that list...the difference is that players make can make millions.

 

[Mackeyser]

It still boogles my mind that we have issues like this but Marijuana is still illegal. But then I remember it’s not about what works or is right it’s about what makes $$$$$

What's dumb is that if it was legalized, the business case makes it BIGGER than the sum of opiates by almost an order of magnitude as it would allow CBD compounds to be used under extreme conditions, so that a police officer or firefighter or pilot could use it and be more effective without pain.

But the same companies wouldn't all be winners, so we'll have to be stupid and watch people die and lose everything for more than a generation until we change because...stupid.

 

[Loyal]

They should make EVERY player of college and professional football sign a paper of understanding that they understand the risks of playing tackle football, so they remember after 20 years of football that they understood the risks and yet still chose to play a kids game for millions of dollars.

My give-shyte-meter is now fully pegged...