NFL Players and Science Finally Mix

'Start donating here.'

It has taken more than 80 years, but NFL players and science looked up, noticed each other from across the room and decided to introduce themselves. Though the pair has very little in common, they feel the coupling will be beneficial for each party involved.  NBA players and grammar have now replaced this duo as the most unlikely twosome.

Three current players announced Monday their plans to donate their brains and spinal cord tissue to science, specifically to the Boston University medical school.  The materials will be used by the school’s Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy (your guess is as good or better than mine, but I do know being in a cephalo is illegal in 49 states.)  The study aims to better understand the effect repeated concussions have on the body.  That explains why Matt Birk and Lofa Tatupu decided to promise their brains to the school, but what’s the point of the Arizona Cardinals receiver Sean Morey?  The 33-year-old has 11 career catches.  Is BU also interested in the effect of watching other people suffer concussions?  Maybe science offered the Cardinals a great deal of 33-cents per pound for Morey and they just couldn’t pass it up.  I’m honestly intrigued here.

Reached for comment, Morey said “one of the most profound actions I can take personally is to donate my brain to help ensure the safety and welfare of active, retired and future athletes for decades to come.”  Well now I’m even more confused.  He properly used the word ‘profound’, which suggests he hasn’t been the victim of any big hits.  I think we can all agree that this wasn’t Morey’s idea, however, considering he just said that it’s “the most profound actions I can take personally.”  If he takes it so personally, it likely means he’s being forced into it.  The most profound action he can take period would be to score a touchdown in the NFL, but that’s clearly out of the question so I guess it’s time to settle.

In all seriousness, this sounds like a worthwhile study that could greatly influence the health of athletes and anyone with head injuries in the future.  But do we have to root for these three to die now so the research can get started already?  I guess it isn’t any huge rush, it’s going to take some time for BU to make their storage facility hunchback proof.

Tags: Arizona Cardinals, football, Lofa Tatupu, Matt Birk, NFL, Sean Morey

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