[Author's note: I'm a biology professor during my day job. One of the central themes in biology is structure and function. Through natural selection, form and function have been tweaked and enhanced. The winning designs mean survival; the losing designs mean extinction. We copy many of the winning designs.]
Concussions.
Multiple concussions.
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
These phrases have dominated football discussions in recent years. What was once treated with smelling salts, aspirin, and a slap on the butt before re-entering the game, has now forever changed how the game of football is played and evaluated.