Bruce Smith was one of the most devastating sack artists the NFL has ever known, but the Hall of Famer feels the impact of his 19-year career on a daily basis.
“There’s not a day that goes by that I’m not in pain,” Smith said, per Tyler Dunne of The Buffalo News. “Multiple joints and things that I experience on a daily basis. It can be very frustrating sometimes and painful, but I’m very blessed.”
In addition to Smith’s physical pain, he admitted to Dunne that he forgets things sometimes. But he’s not one to complain about it. In fact, he reiterated the point that he feels blessed, rather than cursed, for having participated in the violent game of football for so many years.
“I’m not one to sit here and complain,” he said. “While I did not know the severity of what continuous head traumas could do to an individual and the mind and so forth, I’m not going to sit here and complain. I’m very blessed to be standing here.”
Smith also divulged his opinion that, while the NFL has taken steps towards making the game safer for its players, those same players will probably never get the full truth about head trauma. Additionally, he made it clear that the league has an obligation to take care of the former players who are dealing with complications from those head injuries.
The issue of concussions in the NFL isn’t going away. The game is inherently violent, and players continue to lead with their heads all too frequently.
There are men and women working tirelessly to improve the safety of the game, though. New helmet designs that employ the latest technology are in the works. Other ideas like a collar system that helps transfer the load of hits to the shoulder pads, rather than the head, is also an interesting solution.
The one thing that seems to be a common theme as it concerns older players who suffer from the impact of playing in the NFL is that most of them don’t regret having sacrificed their bodies for the game. Smith obviously fits into this category, but he also makes excellent points about the NFL’s obligation to make the game safer.