Troy Polamalu admits to lying about concussions to get back into NFL games

[madinmaryland]

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu revealed on Wednesday’s Dan Patrick Show that he has lied about sustaining concussions as an NFL player to get back into a game, and said playing a “tough man’s game” is what makes it so popular.

In response to Patrick asking him whether he has lied to get back into a game, Polamalu said:

“Yes I have,” Polamalu said. “There’s so much built up about team camaraderie and sacrifice and football is such a tough mans game. I think that’s why it’s so popular. That’s why so many blue collar communities and people can really feel attracted to this because it is a blue collar struggle that football players go through.”

He said that the idea is to “just push yourself to be out there with your brothers.” He estimates having suffered eight or nine concussions throughout his career, and he expects the number will be higher by the time he retires. If players count every little “buzz” as a concussion, he said, the number would more likely be 50 to 100.

Read more: http://tracking.si.com/2012/07/18/troy-polamalu-concussions-nfl-pittsburgh-steelers/?sct=hp_t2_a7&eref=sihp

[MightyMopar]

1. One of my favorite players of all time

I watched Troy play on TV when he was in college at USC and told everyone when the Steelers drafted him he would be a star. I worry for him and all the other players now that we know so much more about brain injuries. Football isn't a contact sport but a collision sport. Most plays are like car accidents. It's time for football as we know it to be banned. The cost is too high. I have friend who had a head injury from a motorcycle accident and he went from being a very self sufficient person to having to be watched at all times and can never have a job or drive a car. Maybe we can have some sort of flag football or better yet the spectators should get off the couch and the barstool and get some exercise ourselves..

On another note, these head injury issues are affecting many of our soldiers coming back from battle.

[Auggie]

2. One of very many, I would assume, in the history of the NFL