NFL

Obama questions dangers of football?

Images: President Barack Obama (© Charles Dharapak/AP Images)
President Obama: 'I'd have to think long and hard before I let (a son) play football.'
Share This Story

Updated Jan 27, 2013 4:20 PM ET
     
 

WASHINGTON

President Barack Obama is a big football fan with two daughters, but if he had a son, he says he'd ''have to think long and hard'' before letting him play because of the physical toll the game takes.

Leaders love sports

LEADERS LOVE SPORTS

Obama's a noted hoops fan, but he's not the only world leader with a penchant for sports.

''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,'' Obama tells The New Republic.

''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, 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,'' 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.''

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello responded Sunday, ''We have no higher priority than player health and safety at all levels of the game.''

Play FOX Fantasy Football!

Related Stories

Member Comments

Please note by clicking on "Post comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be Polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.

powered by
FOX Fantasy Football

Trending Now

Stories | Photos | Lists | Videos

NFL Videos

Superbowl L in the Bay Posted: May 22, 2013
Peter Schrager discusses the recently announced host stadiums for Super Bowl L a...

Billick: Eagles QB situation makes no sense Posted: May 19, 2013
Brian Billick and Taylor Jones on the Eagles QB situation. Find out what Billick...

Te'o models game after Ray Lewis Posted: May 19, 2013
Chargers rookie LB Manti Te'o talks about emulating Ray Lewis on the field.

MORE FOXSPORTS VIDEO »

Fox Sports Store

    itemName itemURL imageSrc price itemDescription
    Nike New York Jets Just Do It T-Shirt - Green - http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_York_Jets/browse/featuredproduct/800466/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_800000/ff_800466_xl.jpg&w=100 27.95 Nike New York Jets Just Do It T-Shirt - Green -
    Nike Pittsburgh Steelers Just Do It T-Shirt - Gold http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Pittsburgh_Steelers/browse/featuredproduct/800489/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_800000/ff_800489_xl.jpg&w=100 27.95 Nike Pittsburgh Steelers Just Do It T-Shirt - Gold
    Nike San Francisco 49ers Blockbuster T-Shirt - Scarlet http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_San_Francisco_49ers/browse/featuredproduct/801102/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_801000/ff_801102_xl.jpg&w=100 27.95 Nike San Francisco 49ers Blockbuster T-Shirt - Scarlet
    Nike Calvin Johnson Detroit Lions Game Jersey - Light Blue http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Detroit_Lions/browse/featuredproduct/825450/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_825000/ff_825450_xl.jpg&w=100 99.95 Nike Calvin Johnson Detroit Lions Game Jersey - Light Blue
    Nike Rob Gronkowski New England Patriots Game Jersey - Navy Blue http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_England_Patriots/browse/featuredproduct/825465/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_825000/ff_825465_xl.jpg&w=100 99.95 Nike Rob Gronkowski New England Patriots Game Jersey - Navy Blue
    Nike Eli Manning New York Giants Womens Game Jersey - Royal Blue http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_York_Giants/browse/featuredproduct/830781/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_830000/ff_830781_xl.jpg&w=100 94.95 Nike Eli Manning New York Giants Womens Game Jersey - Royal Blue
    Nike Peyton Manning Denver Broncos Game Jersey - Orange http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Denver_Broncos/browse/featuredproduct/845755/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_845000/ff_845755_xl.jpg&w=100 99.95 Nike Peyton Manning Denver Broncos Game Jersey - Orange
    Nike Justin Blackmon Jacksonville Jaguars Draft Game Jersey - Teal http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Jacksonville_Jaguars/browse/featuredproduct/851602/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_851000/ff_851602_xl.jpg&w=100 49.99 Nike Justin Blackmon Jacksonville Jaguars Draft Game Jersey - Teal
    New Era Green Bay Packers On-Field Performance 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Green http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Green_Bay_Packers/browse/featuredproduct/853845/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_853000/ff_853845_xl.jpg&w=100 34.95 New Era Green Bay Packers On-Field Performance 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Green
    New Era New Orleans Saints On-Field Performance 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Black http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_Orleans_Saints/browse/featuredproduct/853852/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_853000/ff_853852_xl.jpg&w=100 34.95 New Era New Orleans Saints On-Field Performance 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Black
Microsoft© 2013 Microsoft