Yes,I know *exactly* what you were doing and I responded.The simple fact is that regardless of how much the NFL (and,perhaps,the NHL) want to preserve their sports "as is" science...*medical* science...just might make that an unwise plan.Boston University School of Medicine,for example,is conducting a research study right now with the cooperation of former NFL players (and their heirs) regarding the effect that head injuries had on these players.The preliminary report I read suggested that there's evidence of subtle...and not so subtle...effects,ADVERSE effects,having been found.My understanding is that this study is ongoing.It's hard to imagine that similar studies aren't taking place at other top medical schools both here and abroad.
Science is science.If researchers found that 20 Twinkies in a lifetime caused cancer in 90% of research subjects then,regardless of how important a part of American culture they might have been,a reasonable person would abstain from eating them.And if 50...or 20...or 5 concussions are found to have severe consequences in 90% of research subjects then one could conclude that preventing these concussions would be a very wise idea.Even if that means substantial rule changes...or worse.