It’s hard to have a conversation about the state of football in society without it eventually coming around to the topic of safety. It seems as though every year there is some new damning piece of information or media that comes out against the NFL regarding its ability—or even willingness—to protect its players from suffering severe cognitive impairment as a result of their performing their duties on the field.
This is why many observers are skeptical and reserved about the league’s recent flurry of rule changes that are designed in the name of ‘making the game safer’, since they view these actions as little more than a survival tactic, understanding that the change is necessary in order for the league to survive from outside pressure.