Football players are bigger, stronger and faster than they've ever been across the board. By the time young players get to college -- at least at the major programs -- they don't even look like they're part of the same species as the rest of us after a year or two in college.
That's part of the reason why the injuries seem more frequent and devastating compared to a generation ago. You have these trained physical freaks running into each other, and you better believe it's going cause significant damage.
This past NFL offseason, more than a dozen players 30 years old or younger retired, with the majority citing health reasons or concern over future health issues.
And the NFL, NCAA and youth football programs see the participation numbers in the sport declining, because so many parents and families are concerned about the impact of head injuries. We see rules changes to protect players as a result.