Has football become too violent?

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Welcome back everybody -- -- -- actually weighed in on a growing debate over the weekend that was.

Different for president safety in football.

He did an interview with the new republic and the president said the sport must become less violent to protect the players.

Saying quote I'm a big football fan but I have to tell you if I have a son I'd have to think long and hard before I let him play football.

And I think that those of us who love the sport are going to have to wrestle with the fact.

It will probably change gradually to try to reduce some of the violence in some cases say that may make it a little less -- -- exciting but.

A whole lot better for the players and those of us who are fans.

Well may -- we won't have to examine our conscience quite as much.

Let's talk about Jim -- of sports -- Fox News contributor.

And Trevor Pryce a retired NFL all pro player hey guys thanks for being here.

Today were all for protecting our players.

We're all for limiting liability but truly the science does speak to the fact that there -- injuries but before I get there.

Jim do you think it's an interesting that the president weighed in on this issue with so much on his plate.

Well I think presidents have weighed in on these issues from time to time President Bush mentioned.

Last President Bush number 43 mention steroids in the State of the Union Address six or seven years ago so they weigh in from time to time.

And President Obama is saying the same things the Troy Aikman -- Warner -- MVPs and quarterbacks in the league -- played in Super Bowls and Tom Brady's -- saying that he wouldn't allow his son possibly to play now.

So I think that it probably was time and he's entitled to have his opinion and it's good to hear from him on the subject.

He definitely has -- Trevor there are already so many lawsuits in this case we we pulled some numbers to -- -- for people to understand.

That already there are number of complaints that have been filed lawsuits against not only the NFL -- Teams but also municipalities.

Who are being asked to take responsibility for the injuries we've seen.

Of the 203 complaints.

-- -- hall of famers are involved in concussion lawsuits and take a look at some of the names are ones that you clearly would know.

Trevor what players want and what do you think coaches want.

I think there's two parts of -- you have to look at.

These guitar players to me that the pick a side because you know sometimes -- the same ones as saying.

There what a big hit happens and a guy gets concussion.

All you know put flags on on the -- consists of five.

But the same time disorder and the and the helmet manufacturers for -- he's in my statement -- -- -- pick a side guys you have to pick one of the W can't be.

UK UK complain about the job you did.

And then all of a sudden looked about -- the job we're doing now -- saying that dating play as hard as we did we were more were younger.

At the -- of -- part of it is.

-- The game -- the NFL game stems from college -- high -- Peewee.

And when a kid plays Peewee football you could tell the kids that are probably going to go on a -- caught the -- from the from the seven years -- bigger stronger.

Faster than everybody else they hit harder so we have to look at these kids really get to high school wanted to get to college.

They spent all offseason getting bigger lifting weights and doing and getting -- and getting hit yeah you know remain so that you don't that that pattern hasn't.

-- change -- -- -- the game I think the chain is overcome and what we do an offseason.

As far as bigger stronger faster because being up 190 Arnold Jack is a different -- in the -- -- thirty parliament about.

Let me -- to Jim did you bring up a good point -- that these injuries are current long before these kids reach the and I felt.

Jim have we kept up with technology -- because as a lawyer I can tell you in these lawsuits in order to be successful in the NFL hasn't had to pay out anything yet.

He even if they do.

You must have some causal connection you must have negligence you must have willful disregard.

And the fact is that if their -- being given all that protection they need or can have.

If we're up to speed and technology.

-- -- -- -- Well I think the technology has kept up and I think they're trying to improve but all the time and I think the -- has changed quite a bit in fact if you look at the helmet how it used to be if you go back to the days of George -- and Sonny -- Even before that it was leather helmets but they only had a single guard them of course to me and to a lot of people in professional football.

The helmet has become a weapon and guys think that they're invincible and they think that that thing is going to protect them from everything when in fact that is what is causing the problem and they're using their heads much more.

Well the NFL is change the rules tried to curb that back.

Now the guys get very upset they complain that the rules have been changed Trevor just talked about that to a certain degree.

I'm Bernard Pollard came out with some statements -- that he made to CBS.

That are just coming out this morning.

-- says that possibly now a player may die on the field well we had won several years ago chuck Hughes but that was due to a heart attack.

I did a game.

Back in 1997.

Reggie Brown.

Of the Detroit Lions and he had died on the field they have told us and they were able to revive him and he's well today.

But the initial report from the field was that he had passed away.

So but in the next breath he also says that if you change the rules and if you keep drawing it back and you keep finding guys.

That nobody's going to watch so it's exactly what Trevor says both sides of the issue even in this statement today but I think the technology has kept up.

And I think we'll continue to improve that's good news Trevor let me ask you this it's interesting because the ravens safety.

Has predicted that in thirty years we may not even have football because this is such a problem he's one of the hardest hitters so it's a little ironic.

Larry when you sign your NFL contract don't you sign a waiver.

Accepting the risk of injury.

A 100% -- the first and they put a -- interview was you know you read it -- redo the contrary he says listen.

Yet to know what to getting into where there's also the other side of it wears -- my contract would have never -- -- -- Tom I was and allow the snowboard.

I was -- -- -- skiing sports was it allowed the skateboard so that there to protect their investment.

In order to destroy their investment which is who is a weird way of saying in -- might be a little you know.

Dark coincidence but it's the truth round I think a lot of times we have to realize that.

This game is not going away it's the most popular game -- in this in America in this part of and this part of the world.

And we have to look at and say okay how do we fix it from being.

Such a violent sport and I really believe.

It starts with the training and everybody wants to get bigger and faster Internet you know and do what you can win this win at all costs mentality.

-- and I got to leave it there this this time a year it certainly is very very popular.

The courts will decide if you guys assume the rest thanks so much great to see you Jim -- her.

Thank you.

Good to me -- him.

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Has football become too violent?

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