By Ronald N. Guy Jr.
Washington’s 38-16 Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh
Steelers was a comprehensive destruction of a franchise desperately trying to sow
some semblance of a winning culture. Pittsburgh
treated Washington like a Southern Maryland spring thunderstorm treats a
freshly planted garden full of vulnerable vegetable plants. When the hail and gale force winds subsided, it
was a total loss.
Washington was outplayed, outcoached and outclassed as
an organization. Whatever momentum
Washington had from last season’s playoff berth and whatever mojo QB Kirk
Cousins had after his record-setting 2015-16 campaign was completely
eviscerated after three brutal hours of physical and strategic domination (and
the fog carried over this week against Dallas).
The Black and Gold are contenders; the Burgundy and
Gold are pretenders. It’s that simple.
Washington was universally bad, but its defense was horrific. Pittsburgh ran at will, created explosive
plays in the passing game, neutered Washington’s pass rush and routinely
uprooted the line of scrimmage and shoved it downfield.
Watching the destruction, I longed for perspective
from Sam Huff, Washington’s tough-as-nails Hall of Fame middle linebacker and one
half of the long-time “Sonny (Jurgensen) and Sam” must-hear game day color commentary. Huff would have shredded this defensive
abomination and, in doing so, validated the frustration of irate fans.
But Dr. Huff, having retired in 2013, was
unavailable. Huff did make news in the
week following the game, but it had nothing to do with a tongue lashing of the
defense. Sadly, it seems the icon is
suffering from dementia and an ongoing legal dispute between his caregiver and
daughter garnered the unfortunate attention.
For former NFL players and their families, Huff’s story
has become all too familiar. While prior
generations unknowingly put their long-term health in peril, the disturbing
facts are now indisputable: Football increases the risk of degenerative brain
disease. Huff didn’t know that; current
players do and with this knowledge comes confusion. Do you stop playing a game you love? Avoid it altogether? And if you’re an NFL player, do you truncate
a lucrative and rewarding career?
In short, how do you balance today’s risks against
tomorrow’s consequences?
With early retirements more common, it’s clearly on
players’ minds. After a particularly harsh
beating during the season opener against the Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers
QB Cam Newton was asked about long-term health concerns. Here is the reigning MVP's response: “I’m
worried about winning. That’s it. Winning.
Winning football games. That’s
why I’m here. I’m not here to worry
about retirement plans. I’m not here to
worry about pensions. I’m not here to
worry about workers comp. I’m here to
win football games. Simple and
plain. This is a contact sport. This is a physical sport.”
Part of me loves that response - LOVES IT. Passionate.
Competitive. All-in. Another part of me, a new conscience-laden
version, worries about Newton and his peers and their post-NFL life. A 2014 NFL report indicated that 30% of NFL
players will suffer from degenerative brain disease, making them twice as
likely as the general public to be diagnosed - and many will be diagnosed at disturbingly
young ages. Huff is part of the
30%. Will Newton be? It is a difficult outcome to consider.
But life is a thrilling, hazard-infused odyssey. Living in a risk-free bubble – a place with no
fried foods, red meat or alcohol, where sexual pursuits are closely legislated
and where everyone drives the speed limit - sure would be a drag. And even then, there are unavoidable
stressors – relationships, careers, parenthood, etc. – that can be clear and
present dangers to human health.
Hunter S. Thompson captured our earthly journey well when
he said, “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of
arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in
broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly
proclaiming ‘Wow! What a ride.’”
That about sums it up, indeed. Of course how that quote is interpreted and
applied – how an experience today is balanced against a potential consequence tomorrow
- is unique to every person, pro football quarterback or not.
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