I feel the brutality of the sport every morning when I get out of bed. And I was a scrub for the most part. But I wouldn&#x27;t trade any of it. If it weren&#x27;t for the increase in brain injuries and the muscle-mass maximizing arms race that ends careers (and limp-free middle age) on a weekly basis, I&#x27;d encourage my son to play. I absolutely loved the sport.<p>It still has its merits, and I&#x27;m still a huge fan, but there&#x27;s a lot of ugliness that needs to be fixed before I&#x27;d encourage anyone to play. It&#x27;s a lot like encouraging someone to serve their country. If the mission is clear and moral, no problem. But it&#x27;s rare you&#x27;re gonna find that these days. Just work hard and try to be happy. That&#x27;s honorable.