Harbaugh and the 49ers respond to Obama...

[Upton]

President Barack Obama told the New Republic he would “have to think long and hard” about his answer if he had a son who wanted to play football. His issue: the sport is too violent to be safe. Harbaugh said Obama's stance was good news for his own five-month old son, Jack.

“If President Obama feels that way, there will be a little less competition for Jack Harbaugh when he gets old,” Harbaugh said. “It's still early. Jack is only five months old. He's a really big kid. He has an enormous head. We don't have a 40 time on him yet, but his wing span's a plus-one and as soon as he grows into that he's going to be something.”

The 49ers players who attended Monday's media session agreed with Harbaugh. They would have no issue if their sons played football.

“I'd let my kid play, absolutely,” said offensive guard Alex Boone, who has a son. “If he wants to play, he can play. He's his own man. It's a physical sport. There are going to be injuries, but we're doing things to correct it. I just never understood how you change the game when you have players who are bigger, stronger and faster ever year. It's just football. It's going to be physical.”

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/nfl-rapidreports/21621550/-barack-obamas-concerns-aside-49ers-would-let-kids-play-football

Several other 49ers expressed similar feelings. These players enjoy playing football, and they are compensated quite handsomely.

[trumad]

1. Harbaugh is a fucking idiot...

The big issue swoops right over his head.

[Upton]

2. And don't you wish he was the Dolphins coach..

What do you want Harbaugh to do..break down in tears, call the NFL offensive, and call for rule changes? And I think he has the right to make his own decisions about his family.

Some of us like physical football....and some of us don't...

[trumad]

3. And some of you are idiots.

In the next 20 years---unless they figure out safety issues, the size and speed of football players will make the game unplayable.

Saying "Some of us like physical football" is the sign of someone whose deep thinking consists of ---hey---what am I gonna do in the next half hour.

I hope his son says fuck you Dad---I want to dance on Broadway.

[Upton]

6. Oh no...

trumad is employing his own brand of "deep thinking" on this issue...

It's Super Bowl week. Safety issues will be addressed in the years ahead. Too much in the way of rule changes will eventually drive away the fan base anyway.. Hitting is part of the game. If you can't stand to watch, perhaps it might be in your best interest if you went and found one of those Broadway plays to take in instead, next Sunday and for the future..

[trumad]

21. Safety issues are being addressed now...

That's why the President was talking about it you Moran.

[Upton]

24. Obama is now Commissioner of the NFL?

I didn't know that..

And speaking of Obama, he seems to agree with me:

"I tend to be more worried about college players than NFL players in the sense that the NFL players have a union, they're grown men, they can make some of these decisions on their own, and most of them are well-compensated for the violence they do to their bodies,"

[joeybee12]

15. Dammit...I agree with you...the players agreeing with Hairball are young and foolish...

When you're young, you think nothing bad will happen...

[DinahMoeHum]

4. "Son, I played it (football) so you don't have to"

http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2012/story/_/id/8891779/super-bowl-xlvii-baltimore-ravens-san-francisco-49ers-respond-football-safety-concerns-voiced-president-obama

(snip)
Unlike several players at the Super Bowl, Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed agrees with President Obama that football needs to be made safer. Reed wants to be part of the solution, too.

The 11-year veteran and one of the most respected players in the NFL said Monday at the Super Bowl that Obama's comments questioning the safety of the game are on target. Reed added he'd like to be someone "to help work it out."

"I am with Obama," Reed said after learning of the president's concerns about parents allowing their sons to play football. "I have a son. I am not forcing football on my son. If he wants to play it ... I can't make decisions for him. All I can do is say, 'Son, I played it so you don't have to.' "

Reed, a nine-time Pro Bowler, believes football's medical system is broken.
(snip)



I just might root for the Ravens after all.

[Upton]

5. "I just might root for the Ravens after all"

You say that like I'm supposed to care...

Btw, is this the same Ed Reed who has been fined numerous occasions for illegal hits? Sounds like he's employing a little damage control..

49er Aldon Smith:

“If I ever had kids, if they want to do it, they can do it,” he said. “The game is what we signed up for. We didn't sign up for tennis. We didn't sign up for swimming and didn't realize we were going to go out there and get tackled. We signed up for football, which we knew was a physical sport.”

[sadbear]

7. I wonder what Junior Seau thinks?

Oh, wait....

[Upton]

8. Seau chose to play football..

and he continued to play late into his career despite knowing the dangers. Or are you against choices?

[sadbear]

9. People do a lot of things they wouldn't wish on their own children.

I'm sure he'd rather not have been suicidal. I know I don't want my children to be suicidal.

Yes, it's an extreme, but that's one of the dangers Seau knew about, isn't it?

[trotsky]

10. I don't think ANY football player, up until just the last couple of years...

was fully aware of the actual risks involved. Seau played most, if not all, of his career in considerable ignorance about those risks.

Things are changing, and that's good. I don't care how much football players are paid, for them to risk their lives (and the lives of those around them) for my entertainment bothers me. There's got to be a way for us to enjoy the sport but not devastate people's lives.

[Upton]

12. Well...when you come up with a way of changing the game..

that doesn't involve turning the NFL into something similar to the Arena League, but still keeping it enjoyable for the fans that have made it the #1 sport in the country, you let Roger Goodell know..

Btw, the current players currently are well aware of the dangers, yet they continue to play and defend the sport. So, I'm perfectly comfortable watching them go at it for my enjoyment..If you're not, don't watch.

[trotsky]

13. So what if we end up with something similar to the Arena League?

NFL fans and players from the early years would laugh at what a silly game it's become with such an emphasis on throwing the ball.

The game has changed already, why can't it change more to help protect the players who make it possible?

[Upton]

16. Take out too much hitting..

Fans won't watch...simple as that.

[trotsky]

18. If you think it's the hitting that defines the game...

there's no point in further discussion.

[Upton]

20. I agree...there's no point in continuing

particularly if you honestly believe people will still watch an Arena or even flag football version of the NFL. In fact, the notion is so ridiculous I'm not even sure why I'm bothering to reply...

[RockaFowler]

11. He didn't choose anything

No-one told him the safety risks beforehand. This has only come to light over the past 10 years or less. Seau was already in the league for a longer time than that.

I guess you think hiding safetly issues from the players is a good thing. Just like the Tobacco companies. They hid the dangers of cigarette smoke for years. Yes people chose to smoke, but they were never warned of the dangers inherit in their addiction. Same as Football. Why do you think they are putting all of these restrictions into place NOW. They were sued by former players who are injured or paralyzed.

Have you ever looked at a player from the 70's?? Scary!!

[Upton]

14. The players nowadays are aware of the head injury dangers..

I don't see them running en masse to get out of the league. How do you explain it? I guess they just don't know what's good for them, and need someone like you to set them straight...right?

[RockaFowler]

17. What the heck was that??

Are you unaware of the issues some of today's players are going through??

Just because Jim Harbaugh likes it makes it all better. Do you play football?? My Brother did in college. He was injured and never played again. It was a head injury. He never had the chance to "Make all that money" in the NFL. But it's OK Jim Harbaugh says it's Ok with him.

What a douche - both you and Jim Harbaugh

[trotsky]

19. The funny thing is, if Jim "I want cake!" Harbaugh agreed with Obama,

then you know Upton would be in here championing that side of the debate. His over-the-top homerism prevents him from having his own original thoughts on the topic.

[trumad]

22. Oh that's our boy Upton...

The very meaning of a sycophant.

For years he and his sidekick Cboy would cry and cry and cry because we dared say his hero, Mr. Bonds juiced like a madman.

[Upton]

23. Here..

read about how Jim Harbaugh, when he played for the Bears, fought for equal access to NFL locker rooms for one particular female reporter..it might just give you a different perspective on the man.

http://www.wbez.org/blogs/cheryl-raye-stout/2013-01/super-bowl-will-have-reporter-turn-fan-next-sunday-105137

[RockaFowler]

25. He's a douche

He did one good thing. WOW! Makes up for the other douchey things he's done over the past 2 years. I don't think so

[Upton]

26. Excellent!

Nice to see my suspicions confirmed..as I knew they would be. You're every bit as close minded as your Floridian pal...must be the water.

[RockaFowler]

27. Who is close-minded??

The guy who believes everything is honkey-dory in the NFL because Jim "I'm going to stomp my feet if I don't get my way" Harbaugh says it is or someone who is seeing people die and think maybe it's time for the NFL to clean up the game a little.

You seem to only think the 49ers opinions count. There are many other people in the world except the 49ers.

[KamaAina]

28. That's true

there are also the Raiders, (world champion) Giants, A's, Warriors, Sharks and Earthquakes.

[Upton]

29. Yep, close minded...

And if you're suggesting I value the opinion of Jim Harbaugh over that of some hand wringers...well then, yeah you're right..

[trumad]

31. Yep--you're a Moran.

[bluedigger]

30. People engage in lots of risk taking behavior voluntarily.

With more knowledge of the problem gained by future research they can assess those risks against the rewards to make better choices.

[Upton]

32. I can agree with that...

but if those young men, knowing the dangers and long term risks posed by playing NFL football, choose to do so anyway..who are we to say otherwise?