[Goose]

I agree he should retire. But the the risks are pretty known now. If he wants to continue I think he should be able to. There are many dangerous jobs for your current or long term health that aren't compensated nearly as well as an NFL player; loggers, oil rig divers, roofers, miners etc.

Tua doesn't need the money, and for his sake I hope he does retire. But if he wants to keep playing, he would only be harming himself, so I don't see any strong moral or ethical reason to restrain his personal autonomy.

I understand your point. In general, restraining anyone's freedom is to be avoided. However from the NFL point of view if he continues to play and subsequently suffers from severe neurological problems the resulting publicity could be very, very harmful to the league. The public does expect the NFL to "police" the game and reduce (as much as possible) the dangers of playing. The NFL makes players wear helmets. You aren't allowed to play without one. You also can't play without a face mask with specific properties. College football was actually banned at one point as "too violent". It is clearly in the interest of the NFL to limit player injuries.

Tua is a greater risk than other players. I would argue that the NFL can't ethically be an "enabler" of that "excess" risk. Whether it is ethical or not, from a PR point of view enabling that excess risk is itself a risk to the NFL. Given the climate of concern about football player's head injuries it is arguably very advisable to not let it happen.

[Goose]

I agree he should retire. But the the risks are pretty known now. If he wants to continue I think he should be able to. There are many dangerous jobs for your current or long term health that aren't compensated nearly as well as an NFL player; loggers, oil rig divers, roofers, miners etc.

Tua doesn't need the money, and for his sake I hope he does retire. But if he wants to keep playing, he would only be harming himself, so I don't see any strong moral or ethical reason to restrain his personal autonomy.

I understand your point. In general, restraining anyone's freedom is to be avoided. However from the NFL point of view if he continues to play and subsequently suffers from severe neurological problems the resulting publicity could be very, very harmful to the league. The public does expect the NFL to "police" the game and reduce (as much as possible) the dangers of playing. The NFL makes players wear helmets. You aren't allowed to play without one. You also can't play without a face mask with specific properties. College football was actually banned at one point as "too violent". It is clearly in the interest of the NFL to limit player injuries.

Tua is a greater risk than other players. I would argue that the NFL can't ethically be an "enabler" of that "excess" risk. Whether it is ethical or not, from a PR point of view enabling that excess risk is itself a risk to the NFL. Given the climate of concern about football player's head injuries it is arguably very advisable to not let it happen.