Why Cris Carter's Foolish Statements Actually Forward Player Safety Discussions

This week, former Pro Bowl wide receiver Cris Carter admitted that he used to pay teammates bonuses to protect him by taking out opponents who were targeting him. While Carter claimed that he never wanted opponents to get injured, he said he felt the practice was necessary to protect himself. 

Essentially Carter ran a bounty program, but according to him, the difference was that he didn't want opponents to get hurt, he just wanted to ensure his protection. 

Initially Carter's statements seemed to condone the practice of putting bounties on opponents. But as he clarified what he meant in various interviews, it is obvious that he felt the practice was necessary to ensure his own protection.

Carter's revelations were an honest look into what a skill position player has to go through in the NFL. I commend him for his honesty, especially because he is someone still waiting to be elected to the Hall of Fame. That kind of honesty is rare, and the discussions that has resulted from what he said may actually help the cause of player safety in the NFL.

Right now there is a nationwide debate going on about how to best ensure that football is a safer game for those who choose to play it. The long-term effects of the game clearly take a toll on the minds and bodies of former players.

What Carter revealed was that opponents would often target him, even threatening to end his career. Frankly, that kind of threat had to be taken seriously, especially with what we're learning about the behind-the-scenes culture of the league.

NFL players, owners, league officials and fans need to have a serious discussion right now about player safety in the league. The guys who play the game need to be protected in a better manner than they currently are or the NFL will simply not be able to continue. Player protection needs to be the league's top priority. 

While Carter's admission about bounties may have initially seemed foolish, it actually may help further the discussion of player safety in the long run. 

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