shades fills you in

During a Bills v. Bengals game, Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest after a collision on the field with another player. His heart stopped on the field

The injury was broadcast to everyone watching Monday Night Football. The Ringer called it “terrifying”: Suddenly, it became clear to fans and players that Damar Hamlin’s safety was far more important than a game of football

A Pro-Football-Network Op is upset with the NFL: When Damar’s injury happened, the NFL was trying to find ways to complete the game. The NFL values revenue and games more than the health of its players

The NYT said football fans are part of the problem, too. It’s unlikely that Damar’s injury will bring an end to football as we know it -- it’s just too popular

An Indianapolis-Recorder Op had a different take: “Damar’s injury was horrific, but it was also a freak accident. It’s not a football problem”

But SI notes the NFL’s broadcast other horrific injuries in the past. Dolphin’s QB Tua Tagovailoa suffered serious injuries last year on the field that TV networks just brushed aside. The way the league treats its players makes the sport hard to love

Also, there are medical concerns beyond immediate injuries. NPR shares a study that found NFL players are 4 times more likely to suffer from ALS

But The New Yorker says science isn’t sure football is dangerous. One study found that football players are not any more likely to develop dementia than non-contact athletes

And an NY Post Op thinks fears are overblown. Only 21% of brain damage injuries in kids are caused by sports -- and tackle football isn’t even the biggest culprit

In any event, it seems all the high-profile accidents on the field may be causing prospective players to reconsider. The LA Times reports that for the sixth season in a row, the number of California high school football players went down

Business Insider supports this theory. They also say 25% of Americans want high schoolers to play flag football instead of tackle

The Windy City Gridiron Op offers a dose of realism: There’s too much money and history in football. It’s not going to disappear, but it might evolve

The NYT also writes that loving football is a deep American tradition. Because of that, we’re having a hard time accepting that the game needs to change

Exactly, says WaPo. After a string of scandals in early 2022, WaPo reported that the NFL had one of their best playoff weekends ever. Maybe the bottom line is that America just can’t stop watching