With the start of the NFL pre-season and football seasons for pee wee, high school, and college teams come discussions about controversial concussions in the sport.
A new documentary called “The United States of Football” points out how playing football is kind of like Russian Roulette, you don’t know what will happen to you.
“The game is vicious, the game is warrior-like at the pro level and you sign up for that,” said Leonard Marshall, a three-time NFL Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champion who is featured in the film, on The Cycle. “What you didn’t sign up for is to leave the game maimed, to leave the game with them not being transparent with you about what has gone on or partaken in your health and the concerns that you will have later on down the road.”
The film’s main goal is for parents and children to listen to those who have played the game and learn from their experiences, said Sean Pamphilon, the movie’s director.
“Young people need to understand that from eight to 12 the processes that I was taught in terms of playing this game, needs to change and needs to invoke new changes,” Marshall said. “New ways to tackle, new ways to use the head gear. As opposed to what we were taught, which was see what you hit and hit what you see and lead with your helmet.” “I want them to listen to the people who have played the game on the highest level, for sure,” Pahmphilon said. “And one of the things that we are trying to establish is a program called Big Doctors. It would mirror the big brothers, big sisters program.” Pamphilon is hoping the NFL will partner with Big Doctors to help foster the program that would help kids throughout the country.
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