Tom Brady Speaks On Concussions: Risk Of Head Trauma 'Just Part Of Life' For Football Players
By Matt Dolloff, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) -- Tom Brady has played through several different injuries over the course of his career and lost a season due to an ACL tear in 2008, but he has never missed time due to a concussion or other serious head injury. That does not mean the New England Patriots quarterback is not aware of the risks.
"I've been very fortunate over the course of my career [to avoid head trauma]," Brady told ABC News at a promotional event for Beautyrest. "So, part of it, I try to take care of myself and prevent a lot of injuries, as well. When you do get them, you just have to deal with them the best way you can."
"[Head trauma]'s a very important topic," he added. "If you are going to put yourself kind of in the line of fire, so to speak, you better educate yourself."
Professional football's violent and physical nature poses significant long-term mental health risks, including the progressive degenerative brain disorder C.T.E., which has been discovered in dozens of deceased former football players. But Brady accepts that it's the harsh reality of plying a trade as physically demanding as pro sports.
"It's just part of life, you know, not only football but contact sports," Brady said. "It's part of people walking down the street. You run, you fall, you hit your head. There's a lot of sports that are involved."
Concussions and long-term head trauma issues pose a greater risk for positions like lineman or linebacker than they do for quarterbacks. But the late former Oakland Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler was found to have C.T.E. after a postmortem examination. The disorder currently can only be diagnosed in the deceased.
As much as Brady is devoted to playing football, even at age 39 with no signs of slowing, he also values taking good care of himself for the long term. He's a strong advocate for "implementing the right protocols" and treating your injuries "the right away," especially head injuries, which he believes can prolong careers and keep one's quality of life from rapidly deteriorating.
SEE ALSO: Former Patriots Punter Zoltan Mesko Tackling Head Trauma In Football
Brady has also been linked to dubious "concussion prevention" drinks, but he is far from the only NFL player to put his name on a questionable product. With his ability to absorb hits while (presumably) avoiding serious trauma to his head, he's certainly done something right to keep his body and mind in top shape as he approaches 40.
"You'd hate to stop doing something you love to do cause of an injury," he said. "I'm someone that's a proponent, yeah, keep doing what you love to do, but treat your body the right way and then you'll be able to continue doing it."
Despite his love for football and good fortune in avoiding serious head injuries, Brady doesn't want to sacrifice his long-term future for a slightly longer playing career, which has become the mentality of many players as the average NFL career continues to shrink.
"I believe quality over quantity, so play football and love doing that, then take good care of yourself and afterwards, hopefully, try to live a great life."
Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Have a news tip or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.
