[Colonel Kangaroo]

It's not really the head injuries that make me wary about football. It's the arthritis the starts in around age 40. I was certainly no star not did I even play very long, but I wonder if I'd have all these aches and pains in neck and back now without the football 40 years ago. But I'd feel better about a son of mine playing on the line like yours. Play at that position tends more toward pushing and shoving and less toward the violent high speed collisions that makes parents nervous.

I'm not really positive about football helmets. I even tend to think the game would be safer without helmets and pads. Transform the game into something like rugby with forward passes. Maybe there would be more of the minor injuries, but less of the dangers inherent to and from padded linebackers and defensive backs who use their padded upper bodies as warheads on guided missiles.

Forgive my unsolicited advice. It's just that 40 years later, I wished I hadn't played the sport.

[momtothree]

I’m happy with him playing the line. No... I wouldn’t be happy at all if he had wanted to be a running back. I understand what you are saying about the knees... believe me. That is why we sought out a trainer that is building up his ham strings, shoulders... and pretty much everything else. I am going to ask him about the pads when he gets home. He wears smaller ones and he told me it was for a reason (I am thinking the bulky ones get in the way of pushing but I will check and make sure). He has discussed Rugby; however, it isn’t offered at his school (not sure why?) I hope your knees feel better. Arthritis is not a fun thing... I am sure.