The Ethics of Professional Football and Brain Injuries

According to a study conducted in 2000, 60% of professional football players have had at least one concussion and 26% have had three or more. Players who have sustained a concussion are three times more likely to develop symptoms of depression and are 73% more likely to develop Parkinson's disease. However, when delivered these facts, most professional football players are remiss. ESPN the Magazine conducted a poll in 2011 that found 64% of professional football players would take 10 years off of their life in exchange for a super bowl MVP. Why are these players not concerned about the consequences of their incredibly violent and dangerous sport? Should the National Football League Player's Associations (NFLPA), which is in charge of protecting players' rights, intervene in order to make this game safer and to force the league to assist former players with their medical bills, which are almost universal? The answer seems very obvious to an outside observer, but the players are deeply divided on the issue.
Offensive players are much more likely to support rule changes that would reduce the likelihood of brain injuries because it would have a limited impact on their playing style. In fact, the rules would often force defenses to play a more lax coverage - giving receivers, for example, a competitive advantage. Also, quarterbacks and kickers would benefit from the rule changes because it would reduce the aggression that defenders would legally be allowed to use on them. However, defensive players strongly oppose the rules because studies show that they are just as likely to sustain a brain injury, but rule changes would dramatically change their style of play. Forcing them to hesitate before making a tackle and to make sure they properly executed their tackle when they were allowed to do so. It is important to remember that defensive players have played according to a certain set of rules for their entire football careers, from ages 7 until around 32, without and change. To introduce new rules would change the dynamic of the game and could, potentially, take away the livelihood of these players, who have no other backup careers.
As lamentable as it as, there is simply no choice in this matter. The NFL must institute rules to protect players. The game of professional football has become progressively more dangerous as players have become faster and stronger over the years. It is time for the only governing body with and influence, the NFL, to step in and save these players for making the decision between life and football.