Want to make NFL better? Address football’s inherent dangers head on | Opinion

The season of disconnect is upon us.

The NFL returns Wednesday, Sept. 9 and, for most of us, it's reason to rejoice. For the next six months, there will be games at least three days a week, including an entire day's worth on Sundays. Hours upon additional hours will be spent reveling in or complaining about our teams, real and fantasy alike.

Appointment viewing isn't the only reason the NFL has a hold on us. There is a communal aspect, too, one of the few common bonds that unites most Americans. No matter where you go or what situation you find yourself in during the NFL season, differences and awkwardness melt away at the mention of the hometown team, its quarterback or its coach.

Or, if you’re outside of Texas, the mutual delight of another miserable Dallas Cowboys season.

If there is such a thing as our national religion, the NFL is it.

Wonderful as we find it, though, enjoying football requires a disassociation. Dwell on the dangers of the game – the head trauma, the broken bones, the shredded ligaments – and no one would play it. Worry about the long-term consequences for the players – bodies that creak…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/sports/