Todd Washburn’s article “By the Numbers” makes some valid points. However, he overlooked a more general question about football. At all levels of schools from K-12 through college football is encouraged, but football is by its very nature dangerous. For that reason, it shoud not be allowed on any school campus. Young men are frequently encourgaed by their coaches to “kill” the opponent or else they are sissies. Such comments can be heard in many school locker rooms.  Coaches claim they don’t really mean it and that the don’t see any anti-gay attitude in calling the players “girls.”

On the professional level, if grown men want to put their lives in danger, let them. Coaches and fans expect them to be tough on their opponents. That’s why it is hypocritical to blame the Saints for doing what is expected of all players. It’s just that they got caught. Contrary to what Washburn writes, the NFL knows very well what goes on in the locker room. The NFL is a joke and a paper tiger just as the NCAA is. Both sweep scandals under the rug and don’t care about the integrity of the sport.