MMA, Not the most violent sport in America

We as Americans simply cannot get enough of NFL gear, fantasy football, tailgating, ribs, beer, and seat licensing. But the dirty secret that is becoming blatantly more obvious is that football is the most violent sport in America.

Take this past weekend. Anquan Boldin, Clifford Russell, Andre Frazier were all carted off the field with neck injuries. If anyone is experiencing Kevin Evertt de ja vu, you are not alone. But it wasn't just neck injuries. The Steelers on Monday night football lost Carey Davis, Kendall Simmons and Rashard Mendenhall, two of which are done for the year.

As someone who digests the NFL with glee and excitement I am included in the group of people who truly do not understand the violence of the game. These men collide with force comparable to small killer whales, on every play. While the pads protect, albeit somewhat, in the short term, they do not protect against the long term degradation that occurs.

Why is it that so many football players pass away in their sixties and fifties, even ones in the who appear healthy in the public eye like Gene Upshaw. Iron Mike Webster, a Hall of Fame center for the 70's Steelers, body was crippled and destroyed by football. He died alone and in pain as described by his son testimony before Congress with other football players in attempt to get more health benefits and preventive measures in the NFL.

The violence in football is masked by the rules of the game, score a touchdown it is six points, field goals are three points, pass interference, holding and the tuck rule. But make no mistake the fundamental element of football is hitting your opponent as hard as is humanly possible. What makes that different then MMA, nothing. The comparable damage to the human body is far worse in the NFL than in MMA and that is what makes football the most violent sport in America (I've written this before). It is our collective duty as MMA fans to debunk (intelligently not Dana White style) those who claim MMA is the most violent sport in America, because it is simply untrue.