Will Moms Eventually Kill the National Football League?

Mother's Day is approaching, and if I am remembering correctly, it is the busiest day of the year for restaurants.

That's because it is the one day that moms across the country are not expected to cook.

We know the influence moms have on their children. They are protective, sometimes to a fault. They worry about their kids even when those kids are old enough to have children of their own.

A mom simply never stops worrying.

That leads to this question: How long until moms will sanction their sons playing football?

We know that in parts of the country where football is king moms are as much a part of the culture as dads. However, the focus on head injuries suffered in the National Football League—even from routine, legal hits—probably has raised the risk awareness to a new high among parents.

It's not just in the NFL, either. College and high school football are being played by bigger, faster, stronger young men who are colliding at a greater speed than ever before.

And kids playing peewee football may look cute, but they can be hurt as well.

There is a risk, of course, playing any sport.

Baseball players get hit in the head with pitches; they run head-first into outfield walls.

Hockey is a contact sport played at high speed, and helmets have not prevented concussions and serious head trauma.

There is even a concern in soccer where the question has been raised whether headers lead to brain damage.

For years some journalists advocated the abolition of boxing because of the thousands of punches a fighter takes to the head during his career. 

So that has led to mixed martial arts, which is even more violent. And women in increasing numbers are becoming professional boxers and MMA competitors.

Whether we approve or not, at least we know that the goal in boxing and MMA is to beat your opponent senseless. 

And while tackling is integral to football, Bountygate has revealed that over many years players did more than just tackle an opponent. Some may have been intent on injuring opposing players as well.

There is only so much commissioner Roger Goodell can do to reduce the risk of injury before every game is played like last year's Pro Bowl travesty. The stiff penalties, suspensions and fines he has given players may put an end to the intent to injure, but they can't eliminate injuries.

While the focus is on concussions and role they may play in memory loss and the suicide of Junior Seau, Dave Duerson and Ray Easterling, among others, there are many former players who walk with a permanent limp or have other physical impairments because of football. 

Fans will complain that the sport is going soft and that players know what they're getting into when they put on the pads for the first time. And that's true for young men who are old enough to make their own choices, regardless of what mom or dad says.

However, every sport tries to woo the next generation of participants and fans when the kids are young.

What are the ramifications, then, if moms don't let their babies grow up to play football anymore?