Hines Ward Rips NFL: 'They Dont Give A F**k About Concussions'

Michael Silver of Yahoo! Sports interviewed several players, including Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward, about concussions in the NFL for Tuesday's edition of GQ.

Ward, who criticized the league about player safety earlier in the season, ripped the NFL again for being hypocritical.

"To say the league really cares? They don't give a fuck about concussions," Ward said. "And now they want to add on two extra games? Are you kidding? Come on, let's be real. Now that these new guidelines are in place, you'll see more and more guys lying to doctors to stay on the field."

He also pointed out that the league hasn't mandated the new helmets which are supposed to prevent concussions.

"If they're so worried about what concussions will do to us after our careers, then guarantee our insurance for life," he continued. "And if you're going to fine me for a hit, let the money go to veteran guys to help with their medical issues."

The NFL received a negative backlash from the players after it was announced in October that players will be suspended for dangerous and flagrant hits.

In December, Ward added his two cents and said the league doesn't care about the safety of the game.

Comments

[William Munny]

10:03 AM on 02/03/2011

Love Hines Ward.

[Anonisan]

03:39 AM on 02/03/2011

The dirtiest player biggest cheap shot artist in the NFL talking about someone else's lack of concern for players health ?!? Play cleanly and I might listen to what you have to say , hypocrite .

[Martampa]

05:10 PM on 02/03/2011

Jealousy will get you nowhere. Go Steelers

[Musiker]

12:44 AM on 02/03/2011

The NFL, like Chick-fil-A, cares only about money.

[queensboro]

08:49 PM on 02/02/2011

BRAVO HINDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dukeitout]

04:56 PM on 02/02/2011

Players that have been knocked out cold should not be allowed to play again for weeks or months just as required in boxing. If knocked out intentionally by an opposing player, that player should not play again until his victim plays. The excuse that football is a rough tough game and therefore concussions should not be a factor, is not valid. Boxing is as tough or tougher than football.

[blueken]

03:21 PM on 02/02/2011

"the league hasn't mandated the new helmets which are supposed to prevent concussions." True that brother, it should be mandatory. Everybody gets the new improved brain bucket, everybody.

[ReadMyLipstick1]

01:36 PM on 02/02/2011

Hines Ward is not off base here. The NFL and their leaders earn a great deal of money and perpetuate their job security without actually appearing to do much in return - other than yell here and there and fine players. The NFL darn well knows the dangers involved in professional football (as we all do, by the way) and how it can affect a player years down the road. We've all seen and read the stories. There is a new helmet available which registers a hit to the head by means of a light/lights in or near the chin strap, measuring impact. A true NFL governing body would do the following: 1. Require the players wear the helmet and/or other protective gear, and 2. Make sure the players had health insurance for the rest of their lives - they could split the premiums. "Care" like that, in behalf of professional football players shows good will and good intent. The football players currently are exploited, frequently taken advantage of, and then somewhat forgotten thereafter. This is no different than how the government treats the enlisted soldiers once they leave the military. Yes, football players have a choice to play or not to play. That doesn’t mean they can’t be treated well and have their safety and well-being considered.

[BassguyGG]

10:04 AM on 02/02/2011

Ward's right, they are phonies. The NFL is a Sportsopoly that only cares about its product and its image. They're only talking about it now because it's a hot topic. So many young men have been put through the Big Sports meat grinder on the collegiate and pro levels. There is no concern for them.

[LDnearthesea]

09:24 AM on 02/02/2011

I played rugby for quite a few years and had one concussion. Maybe it's the helmets that are the problem after all. I read an article quite a few years ago about a type of helmet that worked well, and at the time a few colleges were using them. It had a rubberized surface. Maybe someone is familiar with this helmet.

[kburlz]

12:27 AM on 02/02/2011

If the NFL doesn't care, why did they make rules to prevent concussions, especially when it takes away some of the hits that sell tickets? They don't care because they don't do what Hines thinks they should do with the money, or they want a couple more games and don't give health insurance to every player for life, even if they only played 1 year? I'd love to have your back, Hines, but I'm not clear on the logic.

[Callyson]

12:34 AM on 02/02/2011

Well, there is the matter of inconsistent application of those rules (the only reason the NFL ended up fining the Ravens for those hits against the Steelers in the December game was because sports commentators highlighted the clear double standard where the Steelers got fined for hits and the Ravens were not even flagged for the exact same kind of hits.)
And the 18 game season just does not make sense from a safety logic--even if you reduce the number of exhibition games, everyone knows players try harder in the regular games since they actually count, so that is no solution to the safety issue.
The issue of health care for life for a player who only lasted one season might be an issue to consider in negotiations--I can see where there are two sides there--but surely for the ones who last several seasons, it should be a no-brainer.
And--GO STEELERS!

[Winthorpe]

08:13 AM on 02/02/2011

Why? Uh, for better PR.

[farmilyman]

12:27 AM on 02/02/2011

Ward wants to play less games for more money.

[dkkght]

11:26 PM on 02/01/2011

Hines Ward is totally correct they dont care. They wanted bigger, faster, strong and harder hitting players for years. Big hits make the news but the NFL will learn the way NASCAR did.

NASCAR could have cared less about the safety of drivers like Adam Petty and Kenny Irwin, but it wasn't until Dale Earnhardt was killed at Daytona. When NASCAR's biggest star was killed then they cared. They developed head restraints like the HANS device which is worn in every major racing division in the world including Formula 1 and designed stock cars with safety in mind. I ask you this, since Dale Earnhardt died name the next stock car driver who died because of a crash?

The NFL wants paralysis or a brain damaged player its simple to see this!

[Brian Watkins]

10:48 PM on 02/01/2011

Leaders like Hines Ward are a major reason why the Steelers are "by far" the most successful sports franchise in history- telling it like it is, all while just winning and winning and winning championships.

[hottingers]

11:22 PM on 02/01/2011

The Steelers were horrible in their first 45 years. Actually horrible would have been an improvement. They actually drafted Johnny Unitas and let him go. But you're probably 15.

[Winthorpe]

08:14 AM on 02/02/2011

By far? Heard of the New York Yankees? The Montreal Canadiens? Even Green Bay has more championships than the Steelers do.

[silentwolf]

08:01 PM on 02/02/2011

If by championships you must mean before the Super Bowl, then yes, Green Bay had 9 championships before the AFL-NFL merger, 3 of those were determined by win-loss percentage, while the Chicago Bears have 8 championships before the merger. Green Bay only has 3 Super Bowl championships compared to the Steelers 6, also since the AFL-NFL merger and the start of the Super Bowl in 1967:
Most Super Bowl Appearance­s (8) Pittsburgh Steelers
Most Super Bowl Wins (6) Pittsburgh Steelers
Most Total Wins (417) Pittsburgh Steelers
Highest Total Win Pct (.612) Pittsburgh Steelers
Most Playoff Berths (26) Dallas Cowboys
Most Division Titles (20) Pittsburgh Steelers
Most Playoff Wins (20) Pittsburgh Steelers
Most All-Pros (64) Pittsburgh Steelers
Most Winning Season (30) Pittsburgh Steelers

just saying

[plages]

10:47 PM on 02/01/2011

He may have a point!

[Shadow Weaver]

10:41 PM on 02/01/2011

by Ward's logic, he should be calling for less games to be played... therefore less chance..
games=concussion

people can always donate their extra monies to the vets... especially those making lotsa...

but... no... it is others in the NFL... not the us, in the NFL..... meh.

[rmarie]

11:53 PM on 02/01/2011

"by Ward's logic, he should be calling for less games to be played"

That's pretty much what he said...