Chad OchoCinco Sends Letter of Support to Roger Goodell
The past week or so has put the National Football League under the microscope. In the wake of future Hall of Famer Junior Seau’s suicide, the landscape of concussions in the NFL has been discussed on every platform, with everyone from analyst to fan playing the role of doctor. New England Patriots wide receiver Chad OchoCinco has decided to voice his opinion, surprisingly coming to the defense of commissioner Roger Goodell.
“I know it has been a rough week, so I wanted to reach out. Players dying, players suing and on top of that my peers are just going off on you in the media,” Ochocinco wrote in a letter to the commissioner. “It does not help that ESPN has all of a sudden become Medical TV with damn near every brain expert on the planet. This has got to be the worst week ever. Since no one is showing any support, I figured I would be the first.”
It is no secret the NFL has been criticized for its handling of concussions in the past. Goodell has actually taken steps to reduce the effects of concussions for active players, but that has not stopped former players from demanding action regarding their healthy. A major lawsuit is in the works against the NFL from former players, and the recent deaths and suicides are not helping the NFL’s case.
“Y’all do a darn near perfect job at portraying this game as one played by heroes,” Ochocinco continued in the letter. “But let’s be real dad. This is a nasty, dirty and violent game with consequences. Sign up or go get a regular job. Watch it or turn off the TV and go fishing with your kids. It is really that simple.
“I know there are probably legal and financial implications that prevent this blunt depiction, but [I] am not sure if you have a choice. If you don’t say it now, the mounting evidence being revealed publicly will say it for you very soon.”
Jeff is an NFL Featured Columnist for www.RantSports.com.
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