I am often criticized for stating that contact and combat athletes often need to be protected from themselves. 

Their hyper-competitive instinct is a large part of what allows them to compete at the highest levels.  Also the motivating factors of significant financial gain, the roar of the crowd and the pursuit of the elusive ill-defined ‘glory’ may combine to cloud a young man’s judgment.

Young players/fighters have a difficult time admitting injury or restraining themselves; older players/fighters often have difficulty retiring and staying so.

But if you don’t believe me just read the words of Miami Dolphin linebacker Channing Crowder as told to the Associated Press:

"If I get a chance to knock somebody out, I'm going to knock them out and take what they give me," Crowder said Wednesday. "They give me a helmet, I'm going to use it."

There's particular concern about helmet hits, but many players are unhappy about the crackdown. That includes Crowder, who said concussions are a normal part of the game.

He thinks he gets one every week and often keeps playing.

"If I'm knocked out, I don't know where I'm at, I can't say my name, now I can't play football," he said. "If I get hit in the head and black out for a second and now I get back up dizzy, OK, I'm ready to go."

Crowder said the NFL is "making a big deal about nothing" and cited money as the motivation.

Like it or not…as an orthopedic spine surgeon intimately involved in sports especially football, boxing and MMA at their highest levels- I am my brother’s keeper.