Namath: If I Knew Then What I Know Now, I Wouldn't Have Played Football
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- With every passing week, it seems, we're hearing from another football player who says he wouldn't have played -- or wouldn't let his kids play -- had he known about the dangers of concussions.
Some current-day players are even retiring, for fear of long-term health issues, before entering the primes of their careers.
The latest big name to speak on the subject? None other than legendary Jets quarterback Joe Namath.
The Hall of Famer told WPBF-TV that had he known about the kind of damage playing football would cause later in life, he never would have suited up.
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"No," he told the Florida station. "I hate to say that because if I had a child who wanted to play I'd let them play ... but I'd wait 'til he developed a little more. I suffered several 'get-your-bell-rung' hits ... whether you hit the ground and get your bell rung or get hit by a forearm several times. Of course, going back to high school even."
Namath, 71, told WPBF-TV that he started to have some memory issues about three years ago. When he got checked out, a doctor informed him that not enough oxygen was getting to the part of the brain that affects word recognition, short-term memory and sleep.
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Broadway Joe told the station that he's in much better shape after getting treatment.
"The scans are beautiful, and I really feel like I've gotten sharper," he said. "I feel better than ever."