Obama not sure he'd let son play football

President Barack Obama throws a football at Soldier Field following the NATO Summit working dinner on May 20, 2012 in Chicago. / Pete Souza/The White House via Getty Images

WASHINGTON Football's first fan isn't sure he'd let his son play the game, in light of the impact it takes on its players.

"I'm a big football fan, but I have to tell you, if I had a son, I'd have to think long and hard before I let him play football," President Barack Obama tells The New Republic.

"And I think that those of us who love the sport are going to have to wrestle with the fact that it will probably change gradually to try to reduce some of the violence," Mr. Obama said.

"In some cases, that may make it a little bit less exciting, but it will be a whole lot better for the players, and those of us who are fans maybe won't have to examine our consciences quite as much."

In an interview in the magazine's Feb. 11 issue, President Obama said he worries more about college players than he does about those in the NFL.

"The NFL players have a union, they're grown men, they can make some of these decisions on their own, and most of them are well-compensated for the violence they do to their bodies," Mr. Obama said. "You read some of these stories about college players who undergo some of these same problems with concussions and so forth and then have nothing to fall back on. That's something that I'd like to see the NCAA think about."

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[werntrouble]

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy will bring an end to violent hitting football and perhaps the game itself. I'm told that the pee wee leagues and junior high recruits are dropping rapidly owing to mothers finally saying, "enough is enough, my son is not playing football." So, the modern equivalent of the Roman Coliseum with gladiators has finally run its course. Thanks goodness!

[logictoo]

Its time for an executive order. Basketball should be named the national pastime Who cares about football anyway and hockey should be outlawed.

[NCDEN]

Can Michelle play?

[jimatmadison]

When I was younger, I really regretted not being good enough to play college football. I tried as hard as I could.

In retrospect, I probably would be one of the guys who can't recognize his family any more because I loved making (or taking) a good hit. Even in a crappy high school game, you get 'dinged'. If I would have continued on, who knows how much damage would have been done?

If we can prevent that sort of thing from happening to the current generation of players and beyond, we need to do it.

[pffffft]

How many shots did the photog have to take to get a shot that makes him look like he knows what he is doing. Remember the pitch? This man does not throw.

If he had a son he could put him in a skirt and make him be a cheerleader.Football is a rough game , people get hurt. But a lot of black kids make it to the pros and make millions. It's worth the gamble because they would otherwise be poor and a drain on society for the rest of their lives.

[tb91006]

Yup he even dictates to his kids what they can and cant do. I bet he would teach his son how to choom weed in a VW bus though.

[jimatmadison]

Dang him and his darn 'parenting'.

[Rabgh]

Where do we all live? Is personal choice one of the basic foundations of our society? Is the choice to play football a personal one or a societal one? if i choose to play professional sports whether it be swimming or football...WHAT BUSINESS IS IT OF ANYONE BUT MINE!!! Do you really believe that these players are ignorant of the injuries that occur when you play at either Collegiate, or professional levels? REALLY?

[hsplayerguy00]

If Obama had a son , he would be Trayvon Martin

[myfault2]

Boy oh boy! I sure do care what he thinks about this. No, not really. I don't really care what he thinks about anything.

[jgg000010]

I'm not sure I'd let my son, or daughter, live in Chicago.