With violent deaths of former players, a PBS Frontline documentary, a detailed book by a pair of Pulitzer Prize winners and a recent $765 million settlement with former players, the NFL's concussion crisis has been a hot topic in sports and news circles these past few months.
But rarely has it been thrown into such viscerally sharp focus as it was Thursday morning.
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Former NFL safety Hamza Abdullah went on an obscenity-laced Twitter tirade against the league and its management over the effect of repeated head trauma on players, NFL medical care and long-lasting health problems he blames on years playing a violent game. It's raw, it's angry, it's emotional and it provides yet another window into growing backlash against the NFL.
Abdullah played seven NFL season with the Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals. He played his final game on New Year's Day 2012, just as the NFL players, fans and media were beginning to pay increased attention to the longterm effects of concussions and head trauma.
More and more scientific evidence connecting football head trauma and lasting cognitive damage has piled up as the issue gains traction. Many allege that the NFL did not do enough in the past to educate players about potential longterm effects, or enough to cover their medical costs after playing.
Below are selected posts from Abdullah's 29-tweet rant. Be warned, the language is mildly NSFW. For more, you can check out Abdullah's full timeline.
FUCK you NFL for lying to these people and denying the fact that football causes brain damage.— Hamza Abdullah (@HamzaAbdullah21) October 31, 2013
Every player understood the risks of playing football, and we did it, and would do it over again!— Hamza Abdullah (@HamzaAbdullah21) October 31, 2013
We just thought/assumed we would be taken care of after we were done.— Hamza Abdullah (@HamzaAbdullah21) October 31, 2013
FUCK you NFL for denying players their benefits and making us go through all these fucking hoops.— Hamza Abdullah (@HamzaAbdullah21) October 31, 2013
There's a reason 80% of former players either go broke or get divorced within 5 years of leaving the game.— Hamza Abdullah (@HamzaAbdullah21) October 31, 2013
It's not poor choices by the player, it's the fucking NFL loading the gun, and us pulling the trigger.— Hamza Abdullah (@HamzaAbdullah21) October 31, 2013
The reason players cover their injuries up, is because the contracts aren't guaranteed.— Hamza Abdullah (@HamzaAbdullah21) October 31, 2013
FUCK you NFL for misdiagnosing all of our fucking injuries.— Hamza Abdullah (@HamzaAbdullah21) October 31, 2013
December 9th 2007 against KC I knocked myself out, and they said I got poked in the eye! FUCK you NFL pic.twitter.com/Hh8gRRLgdV— Hamza Abdullah (@HamzaAbdullah21) October 31, 2013
Every player should go see a psychiatrist once a week upon leaving the game.— Hamza Abdullah (@HamzaAbdullah21) October 31, 2013
And the NFL should pay for all this. I shouldn't have to pay $120 a week to save my fucking life. You should! Our insurance should— Hamza Abdullah (@HamzaAbdullah21) October 31, 2013
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