Are parents rethinking youth football after Chris Borland's retirement?

Earlier this month, San Francisco linebacker Chris Borland announced he was ending his NFL career because he's worried about brain disease.

The NFL will be just fine as money continues to pour in despite the health concerns, labor issues and domestic violence scandals. And there are plenty of young men who want to play.

But what does it mean for young football fans, aspiring players and their parents to see Borland leave the organization for his future health?

Steve Almond, author of "Against Football: One Fan's Reluctant Manifesto," joined MPR News' Kerri Miller.

"Lots of people have left the game, very few of them in their prime with some much money and fame to gain," he said. "The ones who have, it's been for injury reasons, maybe there was a religious calling or they lost their passion for the game. This is a guy who was absolutely passionate about the game, loved it and devoted his life to it, and simply said, 'this game is too dangerous for me to play. I'm risking my long-term health.'"

Here is Borland's interview on ESPN:

Christine Brennan, USA Today national sports columnist, also joined the discussion. This announcement takes concussion and brain health concerns to a new level, she said, because he had a promising career ahead of him.

"Is it OK for us to continually consume a game in which the byproduct is--by the NFL's admission-- that nearly a third of these guys are going to wind up with brain damage, never mind all the other injuries they sustain?" Almond said. "Part of the reason we're able to maintain that disconnect is because any player that is hurt is conveniently taken away from our view. We are insulated from the realities of how violent football is."

What do you think about high contact sports for kids?

Callers:

One caller explained how coaching his son's youth football team led him to pull him from the game:

Another caller argued that playing college and professional sports is a choice and they can choose to accept the risk:

Off the stream:

Erik Packard: "I played football in high school and I loved it. However I suffered TBI in the military and know how that effects a person. My twin boys will not be playing football."

Frank: "To the parents worried about the safety of HS football, you should be more terrified about your teenager driving a car. Yet, I doubt any of parents calling in are going to keep their kids from getting a driver's license. Frankly, I'm more worried about the health problems that will be caused by the childhood obesity epidemic."

Jon: "As someone still recovering from a concussion suffered a year ago (from a dumb slip on ice, not a contact sport) I can't imagine how anyone could risk the short or long-term health of their brain for a sport."

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