[geophile]

Yes, the NFL should shut down.

Yes, it is worse than the 3rd world child labor scenario. The kid in the 3rd world probably has no other choices, and along with his peers, may actually be improving things for his society. Nicholas Kristof (of all people) pointed this out when it was found that someone documenting the horrible conditions at Foxconn fabricated melodramatic stories. (This was a big kerfuffle on This American Life a couple of years ago.) The football player, living in a 1st world country, has other options. It is criminal that the responsible adults (coaches, recruiters) don't point out that they are signing up for virtually guaranteed severe brain damage.

[prostoalex]

The only reason you don't hear of NFL slump is that contracts between broadcast networks and the league are negotiated well into the future.

TV cord cutting is on the rise, TV usage is down, having to compete with online and mobile time, ESPN figures drag down the entire Disney empire, ESPN is going through layoffs almost each month, seems like. When the time finally comes for cable networks to re-negotiate the deals, NFL numbers won't look as pretty.

Which means lower expenses, higher consolidation, lower player salaries, etc. It won't disappear entirely, but will be just another sport like NASCAR or horse racing, reaching a rather narrow group of avid followers.

[srj]

How is it fair to the people who want to sign up for it that you're making the decision for them? There's no social ill conferred on the greater public by their decision, what's the reason for meddling in their lives?

[mmmrtl]

The general public shouldn't be interested in watching people give themselves brain damage for millions of dollars. Without the monetary incentive, people wouldn't be playing football at this level (or the high school and NCAA feeders), which sure looks like exploitation to me.

If the NFL has known about the risks for years and continued with its business model, it should absolutely face lawsuits and financial ruin.

[rublev]

The kids at the high school down the street from me have no monetary incentive either, yet they love playing, and have played since they were kids.

I agree with everything you said except "The general public shouldn't ..." That is a very dangerous method of thought.

I agree that it shouldn't be banned, but the risks is the thing everyone needs to hear first, they should be plastered everywhere.

I have no problem bringing bloodsport back if it's entirely voluntary and the public has an interest in it. What if two guys want to voluntarily duel it out to death? Why not build a stadium and let them?

[TremendousJudge]

so we should just ban boxing as well? skiing is super bad for your knees I hear, should we ban that as well? motor racing? bricolage?

[geophile]

There is a difference between banning something, which is imposed; and shutting down, which involves no 3rd party.

Boxing: Not banned, but a lot less popular in the USA than it used to be. Maybe this is due to better understanding of the physical toll (brain damage, the occasional death resulting from pummeling in the ring), although there were other factors too. People going in know, or should know, the risks.

Skiing: If you want to risk your knees, go ahead. You know about the risks.

Football: The risks are finally becoming known, but the NFL seems to have known the risks for years, and sought to suppress this information from spreading. The other physical risks are known, and participants make their choices, as in skiing. But the NFL has tried to fool participants about the extremely serious consequences, much like the tobacco companies did with the health risks of cigarettes. Coaches and recruiters -- even in high school -- know the risks and turn a blind eye. How an informed parent can let a child participate in football now is beyond me.

[rjsw]

> skiing is super bad for your knees I hear

Only really for girls, even then almost everyone makes a complete recovery.

> bricolage

DIY as a contact sport is a new one for me.