Photo Courtesy of Joseph Maiorana, Caption: NFL player Damar Hamlin gets into a collision before entering cardiac arrest.
Disregard of players’ safety in competitive sports
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Sports leagues and associations do not provide many compensations to injured athletes, representing a lack of regard for players’ safety. In extreme cases where players sustain career-ending injuries, they are still not given enough benefits.
NFL player Damar Hamlin, drew attention to the issue of rookie athletes facing injuries and not being able to get the help they need from their league.On the field, Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest. Because he was a rookie with only two years of professional experience, the NFL did not provide him with a pension or any other benefits. While Hamlin was fortunately paid in full, many were surprised to learn that his contract included a split that agreed to pay him a lower rate if he was placed on injured reserve. This incident has also shed light on numerous other player safety issues in the NFL.
After NFL players sustain a career-ending injury, they have the option to apply for total disability. However, they must meet very specific requirements in order to qualify, and most players are left with no help. They must meet very specific requirements in order to qualify. In 2020, New York Jets offensive lineman, Cameron Clark sustained a spinal cord injury during a training camp practice. He faced a high risk of becoming paralyzed if he continued to play football. Having to retire from his football career, he applied for disability. Like many cases, Clark was declined. Many NFL athletes’ careers are cut short due to injuries sustained in NFL facilities, and many believe that athletes deserve the right to receive these benefits.
Even in college sports, players are frequently treated unfairly in terms of benefits following serious injury. The National Collegiate Athletic Association was established in 1906 with the objective of increasing player safety. They do not, however, accept responsibility for the injuries suffered by college athletes. They, strategically, use the term “student-athlete,” implying that they only cover amateur players, not professional athletes working as an employee. Because of this strategic wording, the association can get away with not having to not provide workers’ compensation. For example, back in 1955, college football player Ray Dennison died after a head injury that was sustained during a game. His wife sought benefits but was denied by the court after they decided that his death was not in the football business.
