I heard an explanation on ESPN Radio today where Amani
Toomer, former New York Giant’s receiver, criticized Kurt Warner, who played 12
seasons in the NFL, for Warner’s comments about the very current problem of concussions
in the NFL.
Warner who works for NFL Network stated in an interview with
Colin Cowherd on ESPN the prior day that his kids are currently playing football
and he would try to talk his kids out of playing football if he could. This
story arose out of the discussion about former NFL player Junior Esau’s suicide
this week.
Toomer stated that because of Warner’s current position with
NFL Networks and his prior success in the NFL he shouldn’t be criticizing the NFL
about the concussion issue because football has been good to Warner and still
is and Warner will have a big influence on kids and parents. (See link to
Warner’s foundation below).
At the NBC Sports site (see link below) Toomer is quoted as
saying ‘he believes it is incumbent on men who have benefitted from the game of
football to support the game’. I think Amani’s approach is if it ain’t broke
then don’t fix it. But there is an obvious problem in the NFL and telling
people to shut up won’t solve it. In fact by delaying investigations more men and boys at
all levels will end up with problems.
Toomer has a take similar to many politicians today who try
to get those with an opposing point of view to keep that opinion to themselves.
The reason they do that is because they don’t have good arguments to refute the
arguments of their opponents so they criticize or attack their opponent.
I heard Toomer interviewed today on ‘Mike (Greenberg) and
Mike (Golic)’ on ESPN and he has a weak argument. In response to a question
from Mike Golic, a former NFL player, about the problem of concussions in both
college and high school, he suggested the problem is the result of coaching. There
may be some merit to that but I think there is more to it.
Toomer also said there are just as many concussions
occurring in soccer and lacrosse at these levels as there are in football. I think Golic wanted to continue with questions on this but did not. I’d also like to see the stats to
support this comment.
As far as I am concerned, Amani, you didn’t make your case.
And I think the 150 plus players, most still alive and the families of players
who committed suicide, who have joined a lawsuit against the NFL over the concussion
issue won’t be convinced either.
Football has treated you well also Amani. And as a
commentator on the NBC Sports Channel and also on Sirius Radio you might
benefit from this by getting more listeners out of these comments. Not a bad
move.
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