Rugby has certainly taken strong steps to punish players who indulge in tackling high or hitting opponents’ heads. Sonny Bill Williams of New Zealand’s All Blacks was given a harsh suspension recently for a head shot. Football could do with a similar approach.

Something needs to be done soon. With family members involved in the teaching profession, I frequently hear about the concerns school boards have for the welfare of high school athletes and dropping football from the athletic curriculum may not be an official policy in some places, but it is certainly being quietly implemented in some areas.

Toronto is seeing a steady decline in the number of high schools that offer football nowadays.

Trips: You could very well be on the right track. I think it will take longer than a decade though. Too much money has been invested for it to happen quickly. The CFL could be the first to feel the impact. The NFL may never change. I love watching the CFL but I see the signs already, especially at the high school level. I won’t live to see it but I fully expect ol’ Lord Grey’s mug to end up where it began…..for championship rugby. No blocking in that game. Cauliflower ears and no front teeth are nowhere near as dangerous as brain damage.
But in the meantime….Austin has to go.

One of the things we need to know is the incidence of CTE found in the brains of players who while alive were symptom free. As well as the incidence of CTE in non athletes.

And you are a researcher or clinician who understands sample size.

I agree. Scary. But another headline on the same story said it was in 99% of deceased nfl players. Not football players in general. Not to belittle the topic in anyway.