It's no secret that there are fears around brain trauma in the NFL. A study released in December of last year showed that 97 percent of NFL players with a history of head injury have signs of degenerative brain disease. On Saturday, Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson was caught on video saying he would never let his son play football.
Although not made public until Saturday, Feb. 23, the video was taken exclusively by TMZ during last weekend's NBA All-Star Game weekend. Peterson was out and about in Houston, Texas last weekend, and was seen carrying his young son, Adrian, Jr. He said, "This is Adrian Jr. He won't be playing football."
While Peterson didn't elaborate on the statement, the aforementioned scrutiny of the Nation Football League over the long-term health risks that are associated with brain trauma such as concussions has made the question "Would you let your son play football" the source of an ongoing debate, extending down through the pro ranks and all the way to Pop Warner, and perhaps beyond.
The suicides of a number of former NFL players, including Junior Seau, have made the issue a stark and high-profile one.
Even President Barack Obama has commented on the health concerns, saying if he had a son, he would have to think "long and hard" about whether or not he would let him play football.
Peterson, 27, was the 2012 AP MVP. To do so, he had to come back from an injury, but not a concussion. He suffered both a torn ACL and MCL on Dec. 26, 2011.
In 2012, Peterson narrowly missed breaking Eric Dickerson's long-standing record for yards gained in a single season. With 348 attempts, Peterson gained 2,097 yards. In 1984, with the then-Los Angeles Rams, Dickerson gained 2,105 yards.
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