Report says Junior Seau's family not allowed to speak at HOF enshrinement

[IceWhiteice]

I wouldnt let someone thats suing me speak either. All the players that has retired and left the league and not killed themselves. They need to place the blame on the true reason he is not here. No disrespect to him or his family. He probably had some deep secrets and deep depression. It is a lot of people that has jobs that is dangerous and risky but we all have our reasons for doing them. No one ever talk about how these guys play when they are little- when the brain is developing and that could cause most of issues if they want to blame something- but it is no money in little league football to sue for. 

[KillerKat]

I don't see the problem here.

[tondi]

The NFL isn't obligated to let a bunch of loose cannons speak at its HOF ceremony.  Who here would give a platform to people who hate you and blame you (wrongly in most clear thinking peoples minds) for the death of their loved one?

[Port City Cat Fan]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/07/24/hall-of-fames-posthumous-policy-was-adopted-in-2010/

Hall of Fame’s posthumous policy was adopted in 2010

“The policy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame since 2010 regarding individuals enshrined posthumously provides for an expanded presenting video (longer than the videos of living inductees) followed by the traditional unveiling of the bronzed bust and no additional comments made from the podium,” the Hall of Fame said in a statement issued late Friday. “This policy is not precedent setting and was implemented for the first time in 2011 when former Los Angeles Rams great Les Richter was inducted posthumously. The Pro Football Hall of Fame looks forward to honoring the careers of Junior Seau and the seven other members of the Class of 2015 during the upcoming Enshrinement Ceremony.”

"The effort to streamline the process in 2010 should have gone well beyond ending the practice of having someone speak on behalf of the deceased enshrined; the fact that it didn’t will make it harder for many to accept that the five-year-old policy was actually about making a seemingly endless night end a few minutes earlier."

 

[Davidson Deac II]

Don't blame the NFL a bit.  The family has had and will continue to have plenty of opportunities to say what they think.  No need to do it here. 

[cookinbrak]

Ken Stabler's not in the HOF? That's BS.

[MadHatter]

I'm guessing it's because he has no idea what she is going to say. She may blame the NFL for his death and that might look even worse. Goodell is all about protecting the brand.

which is his job

This is s family who has been very outspoken and critics of the NFL....one who blames the NFL for the death of Junior....and who is suing the NFL.   No way ANY organization would let them near the microphone at a company/org event.

Goodell has done some questionable things, but this one is a smart one.  You guys just hate Goodell so much that you can't see it.

[OneBadCat]

I hope I dont come off as classless by saying this, but I am going to say it anyway.

When a player is drafted by the NFL or is signed by a team, I think they should sign a binding agreement clearing the NFL of all responsibility for injuries suffered on the football field. 

I know it sounds heartless, and I should have waited for some more posts before posting this, but I think that lawyers and judges are going to destroy the game of American Football that we all love if the NFL does not take action to protect itself. We have witnessed the game be changed too much already when it comes to touching the QB and other petty rule changes.

Football is a contact sport and people are going to get hurt. That is a risk you take when you sign that multi-million Dollar contract. I am not taking the side of Goodale because I dont like him and think he had been bad for the game. But I am taking the side of the NFL. I watch flootball because it is a tough strategic battle and often won by the team that leaves everything on the field. The further this goes, them more 'flag'football' it will become, and eventually it will not resemble the game we love.

 

For every Junior Seau and Kevin Everette, there are hundreds of athletes who retire wealthy men who do not regret playing the game that they love. 

In general I agree with you. But to be honest the players do not yet know the risk they take with head injuries. If guys are getting their brains scrambled and dealing with psychological effects from that then the game should be changed. No matter how awesome football is. Things like that need to be dealt with.

[Hammerin'Cameron34]

His family didn't make it to the HoF and the guy who did isn't here to speak so ... news here ? 

[pantherclaw]

Considering the family has a lawsuit filed against the N.F.L., I have no problems with this. 

 

I also think any player that plays a contact sport, assumes the health risks that come with thw sport. No one is forcing these grown adults to sign these contracts to play in one of the greatest contact sport of the modern era. 

 

This is more of people wanting to blame anybody else but themselves for the choices they made. 

 

It would be like a drunk driver suing Jack Daniels cause he got drunk, and killed somebody in an accident. 

 

Today's society has no clue what responsibility is. Why should they? America allows these idiots to sluff it off on others.

[tiger7_88]

Yeah, if YOU owned a business and had the power to stop someone from speaking who would use their forum to speak out against you, pretty much guaranteed that the ignorant media would pick up and support the moron speaking out against you, YOU wouldn't let that person speak either.

In general I agree with you. But to be honest the players do not yet know the risk they take with head injuries. 

Fugging bullshit.

Thats like saying boxers had no idea they would live their later years punch drunk.

Or smokers in the 1970's and 1980's had NO IDEA they might possibly get lung cancer.

Hint: Any asshole who doesn't realize repeated head trauma could possibly damage his brain is (or was) a DUMBASS. 

[pantherphan96]

if you didnt know that smashing your head and body into other strong people often was gonna have negative side effects, then you didnt have too much in between the ears to begin with. doesnt make seau's death any less sad, but the NFL is only so culpable.

[t96]

If guys are getting their brains scrambled and dealing with psychological effects from that then the game should be changed. No matter how awesome football is. Things like that need to be dealt with.

No they don't. Prospective players just need to be informed and then choose whether they want to take the risk or not. There are a lot of dangerous activities that are entertaining and none of them need to be changed or dealt with.

[SmokinwithWilly]

which is his job

This is s family who has been very outspoken and critics of the NFL....one who blames the NFL for the death of Junior....and who is suing the NFL.   No way ANY organization would let them near the microphone at a company/org event.

Goodell has done some questionable things, but this one is a smart one.  You guys just hate Goodell so much that you can't see it.

I realize he's doing his job. I was just stating the most obvious reason.