JUST BRUTAL

Despite watching part of the exciting Michigan upset over Ohio State Saturday and most Super Bowls---for the party and trays of food, of course---I haven't been able to stomach this brutal sport for years. Just saw a clip of Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence knocked unconscious by an unnecessary hit from Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. The irony is not lost on me that he was escorted away from the brawl by his teammate Derek Stingley. If that name resonates with my peers, it's because his grandfather was the late New England Patriots wide receiver Darryl Stingley who was paralyzed in August 1978 after a vicious preseason hit by Oakland Raiders Jack Tatum. Remembering Darryl Stingley Tatum later wrote in his memoir that he intended “an intimidating hit” and “I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault.”

Just two years ago Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills went into cardiac interest upon making what some described as a routine tackle at midfield. The right shoulder of the Bengals wide receiver careened into Hamlin’s left side and he collapsed immediately.

There are no routine tackles in football.

Hamlin has made an inspirational recovery and two years after the incident is once again starring for the Buffalo Bills. Stingley was a quadriplegic from that fateful summer day until his death at 55 years old in 2007. Both men credited God, for recovery and survival respectively.

The debates over the violence in American football (and boxing and mixed martial arts) have been going on for years. No need to review both sides now. You’re better off revisiting Will Smith’s fine 2015 film Concussion for starters.

I know NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and so many others making billions off the sport will talk statistics and perhaps posit that getting in your car to go to the market is more dangerous. Query whether those proponents have ever been hit by a 275-pound lineman who runs a 4.9 40-yard dash. That’s Godspeed, right there.

I’ve got many other beautiful individual and team sports to engage with. So should you.

This coming February 9, wherever I am, hopefully I’ll pay more attention to Puppy Bowl XXI than Super Bowl LIX.