PFT: WR Nicks optimistic, Giants not so much

AP

The father of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady recently made a stir by suggesting that Brady Sr. would be be ?very hesitant? to let his son play football if he were a young boy in 2012.

Generating far less attention was Brady Sr.?s concession that, if Brady Jr. were 14 now, ?and he really wanted to play,? Brady Sr. would still let him.

Brady Jr. has now chimed in on the situation, in comments to our friend and colleague (I need to say nice things so he keeps sending in the links) Tom Curran of CSN New England.

?Everybody has a different take,? Brady said.? ?My dad is always happy to share his opinion with anybody that will ask, often contrary to my own beliefs.?

Brady then explained that, like remarks from earlier in the month made by Kurt Warner, Tom Brady Sr. spoke form the perspective? of basic parental concern.

?He?s always a concerned parent and we as parents are always concerned about our kids,? Brady said.? ?You never want to see your kid fall down and bump his elbow.? You?re always concerned when things are out of your control as a parent.

?But there?s no job I?d rather have in the world.? I?m so fortunate to be in a job that?s so fun for me every day.? What football has taught me in the grand scheme of my life about being a part of a team and working with people and hard work, discipline and mental toughness ? all those things that serve me in life.? The lessons far outweigh anything I?ve experienced in terms of injuries.?

That?s the balance every parent and player eventually has to strike.? As long as the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks, kids will want to play football.? And their parents in all likelihood will let them.

?[W]e all understand the risks and we have to do our best,? Brady said.? ?I love playing this sport.? It will be hard to give it up.?

Curran also points out something that needs to be remembered as the ?should kids play football?? debate continues.? The game is safer at every level than it ever has been, and it will only get safer.

Will there still be risks?? Sure.? But unless we want our children?s only activity to consist of playing Trivial Pursuit from the wrong side of a plastic bubble, there will always be risks.

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