A Hall of Famer believes that the game of football will disappear in the next couple decades because of concern over brain injuries.
Lem Barney, who played cornerback and was a return specialist for the Detroit Lions from 1967-77, made his bold statements Friday during the Sound Mind Sound Body camp in Southfield, Mich.
Some of his comments came while participating on a panel with Michigan coach Brady Hoke and Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio. Barney later elaborated on his beliefs to a group of reporters who were present.
“The game is becoming more deadly today,” Barney said. “I can see in the next 10, maybe 20 years, society will alleviate football all together, because of how big it’s becoming and the tenacity it already is. It can only get worse.”
Barney, 67, said that football was “a joy for me” during his career. He recalled how his dream as a kid was to play in the NFL.
But things have changed.
Barney was recently diagnosed with as many as eight concussions from his playing days.
And he knows it’s only more dangerous now.
“It’s very violent today,” Barney said. “The game has gotten stronger, faster, bigger and in a lot of cases, more intelligent. When you look at collisions today, when an immovable object is hit by an immovable force, something has to give, and normally it’s a body part.”
Barney said he wouldn’t play the game if he had to do it all over again.
He also tried to discourage his son and grandson from participating in football. Lem IV, however, plans to play college football starting this season at Jackson State, the same school where his grandfather played.
“People often ask me do I miss the game, do I wish I could still play with all the money they’re making today and I say, ‘Heck no,’” Barney said.
“Football wouldn’t be my choice. If I could play another sport competitively, it certainly wouldn’t be football.”
Barney added, “You look at guys like Bubba Smith that left us, Dave Duerson that left us, Junior Seau as of late, that are killing themselves because of the head injuries they had.
“You hear about guys who played in championship games, Pro Bowlers and Super Bowls, but you don’t hear about the regular Joe who plays the game and has killed themselves. The game is that deadly today.”
