Ravens safety Ed Reed hasn’t been shy when it comes to expressing his thoughts about the NFL’s attempts to increase player safety.
Reed said earlier this season that the only way to stop concussions it to stop playing football and the topic came up again in New Orleans. Reed admitted that he has days where he wakes up and wonders where his memory went, but said that he signed up for that by choosing to play a violent game. Reed said that every player signed up knowing that there were repercussions for it, leading to Jerry Sullivan of the Buffalo News asking if the late Junior Seau signed up for it.
“Did he sign up for it?’ Yeah, he signed up to play football. Things are going to happen. Do I want it to happen? No. When I was on a golf course, did I want to hear about Junior Seau? No, I didn’t want to hear that. I grew up watching him play. That was a sad day, a sad day,” Reed said. “Junior gave everything to football, and I’m sure he’s looking down with no regrets.”
Bernard Pollard, Reed’s parter in the Ravens secondary, said this week that he fears football won’t exist in 30 years. Reed’s comments are a pretty good argument against that view. As long as there are people willing to accept the repercussions of football in exchange for a well-paid job, the sport is going to continue to exist.