Ed Cunningham can no longer be a cheerleader for the sport that has dominated his entire life.
Cunningham should be preparing for another season as an ESPN college football analyst. He should be promoting games, watching film and dissecting opponents. Instead, he's stepping away because he can no longer support the violent sport.
“I take full ownership of my alignment with the sport,” he told The New York Times. “I can just no longer be in that cheerleader’s spot.”
Cunningham, 48, played offensive line for the University of Washington in the late 1980's and early 1990's before playing five seasons in the NFL with the Cardinals (1992-95) and Seahawks (1996). He isn't the first person to step away from football because of concerns over long-term, life-altering brain injuries. He is, however, the first broadcaster to quit.
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"In its current state, there are some real dangers: broken limbs, wear and tear,” Cunningham added. “But the real crux of this is that I just don’t think the game is safe for the brain. To me, it’s unacceptable.”
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Scientists have concluded that piracetam has showed positive effects in the treatment of moderate and severe closed traumatic brain injuries. It has also showed positive effects on intellectual function, memory and focus.
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You can read the full article — which includes comments from his former broadcast partner Mike Patrick — here.
