American football is the sport par excellence in the United States; however, over the years the practice of it has physically and mentally diminished those who practice it on numerous occasions.
As an example, we have the most recent case of the professional player of the Buffalo Bills, Damar Hamlin, who in the middle of a game against the Cincinnati Bengals vanished on the field at the end of a play.
Fortunately, and after several days hospitalized, the 24-year-old is recovering satisfactorily after suffering a heart problem due to the impact he suffered, although the NFL has not ruled on the matter on an official medical report.
And it is precisely there where the criticism rains down, we refer to the league as such, because just as it will be necessary to recognize many positive things that have even served to improve not only its sport but the rest of other disciplines, it has also been involved in various scandals.
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Although most of these stories have not happened on the gridiron, they have involved active or retired players who have suffered from concussions, depression and dementia, which have led them to commit acts that at first glance would be irrational. .
Unfortunately, the common denominator in all cases is reduced to severe impacts and brain injuries that players accumulate throughout their careers.
Studies confirm that the average life expectancy of the American man is 76 years and that of NFL players is 57, hence the concern of some sectors in taking preventive actions in the face of this problem.
Clinically this affectation is known as CTE or chronic traumatic encephalopathya neurodegenerative disease caused by the accumulation of brain trauma that generates dementia, memory loss, depression, aggressiveness and confusion.
The first documented case dates back to 2007 in the figure of Mike Webster, Pittsburgh Steelers, four-time NFL champion and Hall of Famer. A study of his 15-year career stated that the player received head injuries equivalent to 25,000 minor traffic accidents. Which caused him to end up with dementia, dying of a heart attack at age 50.
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Terry Long, committed suicide at age 45 by drinking antifreeze. André Waterswho had been denied a disability pension by the NFL for years, shot himself in the mouth at age 44. Justin Strzelczykonly 36 years old, began to hear voices, stood at a gas station and suddenly undertook a maddening flight that ended up with his truck against an acid tank and a huge explosion.
But perhaps the most publicized have been three cases, the first of Dave Duerson 50 years old, the second Junior Seau of 43, who committed suicide by shooting themselves in the chest instead of the head. The reason, according to police reports, Duerson himself disclosed in his farewell note, which stated “study my brain.”
And the third and of which there is even a documentary is that of Aaron Hernández of the New England Patriots, who was imprisoned for the murder of his brother-in-law and former semi-professional football player, Odin Lloyd. The former athlete was sentenced to life imprisonment, shortly after he committed suicide inside the prison.
The autopsy showed that he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the same disease that began to invade professional American football in the United States since 2007 and that the NFL has had a hard time admitting.
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